Deer Resistant Landscapes
Here in mid-Missouri, there are many pests to watch for in your landscape but “deer resistant landscape” is a phrase we hear day in and day out. If you’re tired of fighting the deer in your landscape and feel like giving up, we get it. But there are many plant choices to consider that deer usually leave alone.
“Deer resistant” is not the same thing as “deer proof.” With deer resistant plants you should have better luck, but we can’t guarantee that some deer might be an exception to the rule. There are more options than you think so we’re going to talk about a few of our favorites.
Shade Shrubs:
If you’re looking for some plants for the north or east side of your home, you’ll want to check out our shade shrubs.
- Fothergilla: You’ll get three seasons of interest with spiky white fragrant spring blooms, blueish green summer foliage, then outstanding fall color.
- Red Twig Dogwood: This is a great opportunity to add some winter interest to
your landscape with its bright red stems. - Weigela: There are a few different types of weigela prized for their bright spring blooms and dark foliage.
Sun Shrubs:
These are historically deer resistant shrubs that are proven to be Missouri-hardy and can handle afternoon sun.
- St. John’s Wort: this beautiful plant with its blue foliage and bright yellow blooms is also great for pollinators.
- Ninebark: There are a bunch of different size and color options that you can
choose from to best suit your location or preferences. - Viburnum: My favorite is the Korean Spice Viburnum because the fragrance
on these plants is amazing but there are many varieties of viburnums that you can check out.
Evergreens:
Evergreen shrubs are a necessity for any landscape and here are three excellent
choices for a yard that must take deer into consideration.
- Common Boxwood: their classic shape can be used universally in landscapes and does well in both shade and sun.
- Junipers: This is a fun opportunity to select a different foliage color, whether you want yellow, blue, or green.
- Mugo Pine: if you’re looking for a rounded form, but with little to no maintenance, this is your evergreen.
Perennials:
There’s a lengthy list of perennials (both shade and sun) that can stand up to deer but here are a few examples.
- Columbine: a beautiful early springbloomer available in a variety of colors and ideal for shady locations.
- Astilbe: another shade perennial that comes in a wide range of colors. It will flower in late spring and its wispy, cloudlike blooms are super fun.
- Salvia: we love salvia even if you don’t have a deer problem. Due to its fragrance, deer tend to steer clear of this one. Other scented plants such as Nepeta would accomplish the same goal.
- Dianthus: this super bright, petite little perennial bring a delicate texture to your landscape.
Honorable Mention — Grasses:
In general, grasses are always a good choice if you have a deer problem. Anything from the small 1’ liriope to a mature 8’ maiden grass should be pretty safe in your yard.
Selecting deer-resistant plants is a wonderful starting point to preventing regular damage to your landscape if you have a deer population around your home. However, we recommend considering products such as Liquid Fence, which is a
repellent spray, or Deer Scram, a granular repellent, which will help deter deer from
creating additional damage.
For questions about these deer-resistant plants and all the other options, contact Superior Garden Center or visit our website and utilize our Plant Finder tool.
Kelly McBride grew up in Columbia just down the road from Rost Inc., and she’s happy to still call Columbia home. She has a degree in plant science and landscape design from MU and was hired as Rost’s landscape maintenance manager after graduation. Her love for plants makes this job very enjoyable when assisting clients with their outdoor tasks. Outside of work, you can find her cooking, gardening, sewing, or doing other outdoor activities
(573) 445-4465
rostlandscaping.com