Gardening in areas with a healthy deer population means browsing animals often view vegetable patches as an easy food source. Understanding the feeding preferences and aversions of deer is the most effective way to protect your harvest. This knowledge allows for strategic planting decisions and targeted defenses, turning a potential buffet into a less appealing dining spot.
Naturally Resistant Vegetables and Why Deer Avoid Them
Deer resistance in vegetables is often dictated by the plant’s natural defense mechanisms, which fall into categories of taste, texture, and scent. Plants with a highly pungent or aromatic quality are generally the least favored because deer possess a highly sensitive sense of smell. This group includes alliums, such as garlic, onions, and leeks, whose sulfur-containing compounds are unpalatable to browsing animals.
The essential oils found in many culinary herbs also act as a strong deterrent, masking the appealing scent of other plants nearby. Rosemary, thyme, sage, and mint all contain powerful oils that deer find bitter and unpleasant to consume. These plants can be strategically interplanted throughout the garden to create a protective barrier.
Texture is another significant factor, as deer prefer soft, easily digestible foliage. Vegetables that have a rough, fuzzy, or prickly surface are often bypassed for smoother options. This group includes many types of winter squash, cucumbers, and globe artichokes, whose leaves and stems have a notably abrasive feel.
Some plants are avoided because they are toxic or cause digestive upset. Rhubarb leaves, for example, contain high levels of oxalic acid, which makes the foliage toxic to deer and other mammals. While these inherent traits make vegetables resistant, remember that a starving deer will browse on almost anything, meaning “resistant” does not equate to “proof.”
High-Value Targets Deer Actively Seek Out
Deer are browsers that naturally seek out tender, protein-rich, and easily digestible foliage, making certain garden crops irresistible. Any vegetable with high sugar content and a soft, supple texture is a prime target. This includes the foliage and fruit of all members of the legume family, such as beans and peas, which offer both high water content and necessary nutrients.
Young, leafy greens, especially lettuce, spinach, and tender kale, are among the most attractive foods, as they require little effort to chew and digest. The initial, soft growth of any plant, including young cabbage and broccoli seedlings, is particularly vulnerable to browsing. Deer also frequently target the green tops of certain root vegetables, notably the foliage of carrots, beets, and radishes, while often leaving the subterranean root untouched.
Sweet corn and most berries are also highly attractive because of their concentrated sugar content. The appeal of these high-value crops means that simply planting them is an open invitation for deer unless robust protection is in place.
Physical and Scent-Based Deterrents for Vulnerable Crops
The most reliable method for protecting high-value crops remains physical exclusion, primarily through fencing. Because deer are adept jumpers, a successful perimeter fence must be at least 7 to 8 feet tall to deter a calm deer from attempting to clear it. Alternatively, a double-fence system with two shorter fences spaced a few feet apart can also confuse the animal, making the jump seem less safe.
Smaller, vulnerable areas, such as individual raised beds or rows of leafy greens, can be protected with wire cages or lightweight row covers. These barriers physically prevent access to the foliage, especially for young plants that are otherwise easily consumed. The materials used should be secured tightly to the ground to prevent deer from nudging or pushing under the edges.
For a non-physical defense, scent- and taste-based repellents can be used to make plants immediately unappealing. Commercial repellents often contain putrescent egg solids, which mimic the smell of a decaying animal and trigger an ingrained fear response in deer. Other effective ingredients include capsaicin, the compound that makes peppers hot, which is applied as a taste deterrent.
DIY solutions like mixtures of hot pepper, garlic, and water with a sticking agent like dish soap, can also be effective. These liquid repellents must be reapplied every 10 to 14 days, and especially after heavy rain, to maintain their potency. Rotating between different repellent formulas is also recommended to prevent deer from becoming accustomed to a single scent or taste.