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When it comes to deer and hostas, one thing you should know is that hostas thrive in the shade. Even worse, the deer love to eat hostas because they are easy to spot. But there is a simple way to deter them. Just remember that deer prefer plants with spines on the leaves, and that you don’t want them munching on your prized plant.
Plants with spines
If you want to keep deer from eating your hostas, there are a few things you can do to make them stay away. One of the most effective methods is to use a deer fence. These fences are effective against deer, but they are expensive and must be applied after rains. Alternatively, you can plant certain plants that have strong scents, like garlic, eggs, and predator urine. These smells will deter deer from coming near your hosta plants.
If you want to keep deer from eating hostas, you can also consider planting Ligularia, a plant with spines that has leathery serrated leaves and yellow flowers. Ligularia is a popular choice for deer repellent because the spines are so difficult to cut. Ligularia ‘Bottle Rocket’ is a better cultivar with thicker, textured leaves and yellow flower spikes above the foliage. It performs best in moist and part-shaded areas.
Another good deer repellent plant is a fern. Deer avoid foliage from ferns, lilies, spurges, hollies, and daylilies. Deer also stay away from plants with leathery foliage, such as most irises, peonies, and scented geraniums. Deer also tend to avoid foliage with spines or other tough parts.
Plants with fuzzy or hairy leaves are also deer repellent. Some species of lamb’s ear are good options. The gray-green leaves are not appealing to deer, and they have flower stalks that are furry. The berries and leaves of cotoneaster are not edible, but the plant’s leaves are. Also, it makes a beautiful specimen plant in low borders.
Another effective deer repellent is to use a scented plant. Deer do not like strong smells, so tie up old t-shirts and shrubs and spray them with cheap perfume. You should reapply this perfume frequently so the smell stays strong and irritating to deer. For best results, use a deer repellent plant in an area where deer tend to hang out.
While deer are most likely to eat plants in spring, they prefer soft, juicy plants. If your garden is in an area with a high deer population, you may need to protect your plants only for the first few weeks of the growing season. Temporary fencing around vulnerable plants may work. Alternatively, you may need to buy hostas with deer-resistant foliage. And if you’re lucky enough to get deer-proof hostas, there’s no need to worry.
Another effective deer repellent spray is a special blend of herbs, such as lavender and rosemary. These plants smell vile, but deer often avoid them, so the spray is highly effective at repelling deer from eating hostas. You can rotate these sprays every few weeks, but be sure to apply after a rain. This repellent spray should have a residual effect, so you can continue with it every few weeks.
Another effective way to deter deer from eating hostas with spine is by creating a web of confusion for them. Deer will not cross it if it cannot see it, so use crimped chicken wire fence or fishing line to create an unattractive environment. If you can’t afford the expense, you can try a humane deterrent. In this way, you’ll have fewer deer in your garden.
You can also try using homemade deer repellents like fabric softener strips or a bar soap mixture. Both of these methods will confuse the deer’s sense of smell. If all else fails, you can try putting human hair around your hosta seedlings. The smell of multiple humans will scare deer away. You’ll soon see your hostas blooming again.
Plants with spines on leaves
You can use plants with spines on their leaves to keep deer from eating your hostas. These plants have fuzzy leaves and strong scents. Even though they are not edible, they’re not attracted to the leaves. Other deer-repellent plants include catmint, lavender, sage, thyme, and ornamental ivy.
Another effective way to protect your hostas is to put ferns around your flowerbeds. Deer do not like plants with fuzzy leaves, such as lamb’s ear. However, you can also plant crinkly-leaved plants like hostas and ferns. Because deer don’t have upper incisor teeth, they tear vegetation.
Another effective deer repellent is cayenne pepper spray. These sprays are strong enough to repel deer, but you need to apply it periodically to ensure effectiveness. This spray contains a concentrated cayenne pepper base mixed with two cups of water and a teaspoon of liquid soap. You can also mix a few drops of cayenne pepper with water to create a mixture that smells so strong that deer can’t stand it.
Plants with thorns or spines on their leaves are another effective deer repellent. Plants with strong aromas and astringent leaves also deter deer. Plants like yarrow and calamint have unappealing foliage. These deer-repellent herbs also produce beautiful flowers and feathery leaves. These deterrent plants are often found growing in flower beds.
Another effective deer-repellent plant is parsley. Parsley, marigold, and rosemary are not attractive to deer. If you can’t afford these deer repellent plants, you can try other varieties. Marigolds are also deer-resistant, and can be planted near hostas. But to prevent deer from nibbling your hostas, you can try placing a 10 foot fence around your property.
Other deer-resistant plants include lamb’s ear and comfrey. Deer will avoid plants with sharp thorns or needles, and lamb’s ear and comfrey are excellent border plants. Other deer-repellent plants include foxglove, ornamental rhubarb, and monkshood.
In addition to hostas, ferns are a great choice for shady areas. Deer usually won’t bother them because their spines and leaves are unpalatable. They’ll continue to browse the plant once new leaves emerge. However, deer are less likely to attack hostas after the plant is in a healthy state. But if they’ve already eaten the plants you’ve grown, don’t worry – they’ll continue to eat them when they’ve recovered.
If you don’t want to spend a lot of money on a deer-proof fence, you can also protect individual plants with lightweight netting. While this will not completely keep deer from eating your hostas, it’s the perfect way to protect them while you’re away from the property. If you’d like to make your hostas stand out from the rest, you can cover individual plants with lightweight netting. These will prevent deer from nibbling their leaves and keep them from damaging your hostas.
If you want to deter deer from eating your hostas, try planting them in a spot where the scent is strong enough to repel them. Deer don’t like plants that have strong scents. You can try growing onions, garlic, fennel, peonies, Russian sage, and yarrow. These plants are highly fragrant and can be grown year-round.
Another way to keep deer from eating your hostas is to use a natural deer repellent. Try Plantskydd or Bobbex, which are organic deer repellents. If you can’t find these, try other organic deer repellents. The Liquid Fence is a good one. In addition to repelling deer, it’s also effective against rabbits and pigs.
