Wildlife, particularly deer and rabbits, can be a source of stress for many gardeners. Chewed plants with jagged edges, particularly on fruits and vegetables or the buds, leaves and stems of woody plants, can indicate that deer have invaded your garden. Rabbits are likely the culprit if you find your succulent leaves, shoots, or flowers are nibbles, or if tender young growth has been chewed to the ground. Damage to trees can also indicate a visit from these critters—male deer will often gouge tree limbs to polish their antlers, and rabbits will strip bark from young trees and shrubs. Fortunately, there are a few ways to prevent these uninvited guests: Repellant Products: There are a wide variety of sprays and granules that can be used to repel deer and rabbits. There are also products which release sounds and scents that deter these animals from your garden. Barriers: There are many easy alternatives to installing fencing if deer and rabbits are getting into your garden. Methods such as caging your tree saplings until they’re older and more naturally resistant, using fabric covers on your vegetables, and using clear mesh netting on your ornamentals could be enough to keep out animals. Using a single strand of clear fish line as a makeshift fence around your garden could also confuse animals and keep them out. Resistant Planting: Unfortunately, deer appetites vary by region and over time, and there is no such thing as a deer-proof plant. However, there are plant choices that are more and less likely to be damaged by deer and rabbits in our area; notable plants have been listed below.

Shrubs Annuals, Bulbs, and Herbs  Beberis – Barberry  Ageratum  Buddleia – Butterfly bush  Begonia  Buxus – Boxwood  Canna  Caryopteris x clandonensis – Caryopteris  Chrysanthemum  Forsythia – Forsythia  Common dill  Gaultheria procumbens – Creeping  Daffodil Wintergreen  Hyacinth  Hibiscus syriacus – Rose of Sharon  Lantana  Ilex glabra – Inkberry  Lavender  Juniperus chinensis – Chinese Juniper  Marigold  Leucothoe – Leucothoe  Mint  Nandina – Heavenly bamboo  Nicotiana  Osmanthus – Holly Osmanthus  Oregano  Philadelphus – Mock orange  Rosemary  Pieris japonica – Japanese Andromeda  Snapdragon  Potentilla - Potentilla  Sweet alyssum  Prunus laurocerasus – Cherry laurel  Thyme  Spirea – Spirea  Zinnia  Syringa - Lilac  Viburnum – Viburnum  Weigela florida – Old fashioned Weigela  Yucca – Yucca Perennials  Nepeta – Catmint  Pachysandra terminalis – Japanese spurge  Acanthus spinosus – Bear’s breeches  Paeonia – Garden peony  Achillea - Yarrow  Papaver orientale – Oriental poppy  Aconitum - Monkshood  Perovskia – Russian sage  Actaea - Snakeroot  Platycodon – Balloon flower  Agastache – Hyssop  Pulmonaria – Lungwort  Ajuga – Bugle weed  Rudbeckia – Black Eyed Susan  Alechemilla mollis – Lady’s mantle  Salvia - Sage  Anenome x hybrid – Japanese anemone  Santolina – Lavender cotton  Aquilegia – Columbine  Scabiosa – Pincushion flower  Arabis – Rockcress  Sempervivum – House leek  Armeria – Sea thrift  Stachys – Lamb’s ear  Artemisia – Wormwood  Tiarella cordiflora – Foam flower  Aster - Aster  Tradescantia – Spider lily  Astilbe – False Spirea  Tropaelum majus - Nasturium  Aubrieta deltoidea - Rockcress  Verbena - Verbena  Aurinia saxatilis – Basket of Gold  Veronica – Speedwell  Baptsista – False Indigo  Bergenia – Berginia Grasses and Ferns  Brunnera – Siberian bugloss  Acorus – Sweet flag  Calamintha - Calamint  Carex – Sedge  Ceratostigma - Plumbago  Calamagrostis – Feather reed grass  Chelone – Turtlehead  Chasmanthium – Northern sea oats  Chrysogonum – Golden knee  Cortaderia – Pampas grass  Cimicifuga racemosa - Snakeroot  Dryopteris marginalis – Wood fern  Convallaria – Lily of the Valley  Festuca - Fescue  Coreopsis - Tickseed  Hakonechloa – Japanese forest grass  Crocosmia – Montbretia  Matteuccia struthiopteris – Ostrich fern  Dianthus – Pinks  Miscanthus - Eulalia  Dicentra spectabilis – Bleeding Heart  Onoclea sensibilis – Sensitive fern  Digitalis – Foxglove  Ophiopogon – Mondo grass  Echinacea - Coneflower  Osmunda regalis – Royal fern  Epimedium - Barrenwort  Panicum – Switch grass  Euphorbia - Spurge  Pennisetum – Fountain grass  Galium – Sweet woodruff Trees  Geranium - Geranium  Betula nigra – Birch  Helenium - Sneezeweed  Chamaecyparis japonica – Japanese False  Helleborus – Lenten Rose Cypress  Hibiscus – Hardy Hibiscus  Cornus florida – Flowering Dogwood  Hypercium – St. John’s Wort  Cornus kousa – Korean Dogwood  Iris - Iris  Cryptomeria – Japanese Cedar  Kniphofia – Red Hot Poker  Gledistia triacanthos – Honey Locust  Lamium – Dead Nettle  Ilex opaca – American Holly  Lamiastrum – Yellow archangel  Ilex x aquipernyi ‘Dragon Lady’ – Dragon  Liatris – Blazing star Lady Holly  Ligularia – Leopard plant  Picea abies – Norway Spruce  Lobelia – Cardinal flower  Picea glauca – White Spruce  Lupinus - Lupine  Salix - Willow  Lychnis – Catchfly  Mondara – Bee Balm