MEETING THE CHALLENGE gardening journey/ Landscaping with deer-resistant species a quick screen or hedging. Must be planted in Deer were an important food source for is a necessary option. On this month’s the spring. ‘Naylor’s Blue’ is true to its name (ditto this past winter). Native Americans before the colonization Gardening Journey, I offer a list of by Europeans. Hunting by native tribes was conifers to consider when one is forced to GIANT ARBORVITAE (Thuja plicata) effective in keeping a balance between the share gardening space with marauding is very handsome for the home landscape population and their plant supply. With deer. However, readers should keep in with luxuriant, wide-sweeping boughs. It the clearing of land for agriculture and the handles snow and ice well and is good for elimination of their natural prey, deer and mind that lists of “deer-resistant” plants hedging with its single-stem habit. ‘Green forests were almost eliminated. OH, DEER! are always a matter of dispute. In the early 20th century, the state forest Giant’ is a vigorous hybrid. system was established, the designated In recent decades, damage to our DEER CANDY HEMLOCK (Tsuga), the state tree of land regenerated, deer were reintroduced, Pennsylvania, is valued for its fine texture Unquestionably their favorite conifers and their population rapidly expanded. and shade tolerance; however, the species is ornamental garden plants and are YEW (Taxus) and EASTERN About the same time, doe management was not recommended because of its unrelenting introduced, and by the 1930s large portions ARBORVITAE (Thuja occidentalis). the larger landscape caused by demise from a pest, woolly adelgid. Dwarf of the state were experiencing severe Fortunately, yew will sprout from bare wood. choices that could be sprayed by the home habitat damage. Deer populations peaked Arborvitae will recover if some foliage remains, white-tailed deer (Odocoileus gardener include ‘Bennett,’ ‘Cole’s Prostrate,’ in the 1970s and has been out of balance however, it will not resprout from bare wood. ‘Everitt’s Golden’ and ‘Pendula.’ ever since. virginianus) has become an In recent years our forest understory has SELDOM BROWSED BY DEER ALMOST NEVER been dominated by species that the deer increasingly widespread FIRS (Abies) are a good choice. Some to do not prefer: beech, mountain laurel and consider: Abies concolor ‘Candicans’ is BROWSED BY DEER huckleberry. Also, exotic invasives have problem. Once only a rural one of the bluest conifers and far superior moved in: multiflora rose, honeysuckle, and PLUM-YEW (Cephalotaxus). A shade-tolerant autumn olive. Federal studies of forested to the over-used Colorado spruce; Abies understory shrub, C. harringtonia ‘Fastigiata’ annoyance, it is now a complaint koreana ‘Silberlocke’ offers tightly curved- areas in northern Pennsylvania reveal there is markedly upright, formal in appearance and is not enough new native growth to replace in silvery foliage and purple cones; Abies of suburban gardeners. slow-growing. ‘Korean Gold’ is similar with the existing forest. In addition, many wildlife nordmanniana is stately and elegant. For a yellow new growth. ‘Prostrata’ is low-growing, species are affected by the elimination of slow-growing, spreading, bright golden-yellow TEXT AND PHOTOS BY DR. RICHARD L. BITNER spreading 3 to 6 feet. their desired habitat. cultivar, look for ‘Golden Spreader.’ SAWARA-CYPRESS (Chamaecyparis REPELLENTS CEDARS (Cedrus) are another option. Cedrus These should be applied before deer he problem is caused by a number of circumstances. only if the deer pressure is light and, even then, most work only pisiferi). Many cultivars are commonly atlantica, the blue-atlas cedar, is the hardiest, available. ‘Boulevard’ is dense with soft, become habituated to your plants and will The large predators of deer have disappeared temporarily. The only dependable remedy is to exclude the while ‘Glauca’ and ‘Glauca Pendula’ are the silver-blue foliage and benefits from shearing. need to be regularly reapplied. This method because of the clear-cutting for agriculture, which deer with tall fences, an expensive and often unsightly solution. most popular, though often poorly placed. ‘Filifera Aurea,’ ‘Gold Spangle,’ ‘Lemon Thread,’ only works when the damage risk is low. There are numerous recipes for homemade at the same time has created browsing habitat for Smaller specimens can be protected with chicken-wire cages. With global climate change, Cedrus deodara ‘Golden Mop’ and others have golden-yellow, T is worth trying. Great cultivars include the concoctions (usually involving garlic, eggs deer. The deer population is continually losing more of their Dogs, especially beagles, are often effective provided they are in pendulous, string-like foliage. and hot pepper sauce), but success is accustomed haunts due in part to residential subdivisions the garden at night. landscape-sized ‘Karl Fuchs’ and ‘Kashmir.’ For the home garden, consider ‘Devinely Blue,’ JUNIPER (Juniperus ssp). Countless questionable especially during late winter cropping up everywhere. In the early 1900s, the white- Another strategy is planning your garden space by a wide-spreading and flat-topped mound, cultivars are to be had for public and private and early spring. tailed deer population totaled less than 500,000. Today the placing susceptible plants only in protected areas, perhaps and ‘Feelin Blue,’ a dwarf, spreading form. gardens. Almost all have prickly foliage and Commercial repellents are usually odor- or taste-based and must not be used on number of deer is growing, and it is estimated that there are close to the house, in a fenced yard, or in a ring of less- Alaska-cedar (Xanthocyparis nootkatensis are undemanding in cultivation, provided plants intended for human consumption. more than 15 million deer in the United States. preferred species or barrier plants. Syn:Chamaecyparis nootkatensis) ‘Green they have full sun and good drainage. They most often contain active ingredients A deer will eat between 6 and 10 pounds (2.7 and 4.5 kg) Deer develop predictable travel patterns, and prior damage is Arrow’ is a narrow form with branches that Exceptional selections are J. virginiana ‘Corcorcor’ Emerald Sentinel™, narrow and of urine, putrescent egg solids and dried of vegetation a day. A buck requires 4,000-6,000 calories a good indicator of potential future problems. New plantings will sweep straight downward. ‘Pendula’ is an blood. elegant, weeping, landscape tree. conical, remaining a rich green all year and each day, while a lactating doe consumes 4,500 calories likely be susceptible. Deer especially like fertilized plantings! reaching 25-30 feet. ‘Grey Owl’ exhibits SOAP AND HAIR daily. When this is taken as buds, leaves, tender shoots and In my country garden, it seems the deer have completely HINOKI FALSE-CYPRESS soft, silver-gray foliage, abundant cones and Bars of soap or unwashed cut hair placed flower parts, the impact on garden plants is overwhelming. lost their fear of structures and people and boldly browse (Chamaecyparis obtusa) is enjoyed for wide-spreading shrub. in cheesecloth and hung from shrubs have inconsistent success. Whether deer will target a particular plant species depends within a few feet of my windows. I have learned to tolerate a its rich, dark-green foliage that is held in short flat sprays; there is a cultivar SIBERIAN CYPRESS (Microbiota decussata) FENCES on many factors besides palatability: weather conditions, certain level of deer damage. for every possible design, from a small is very cold hardy with low, wide-spreading, Fence options include wire, plastic or availability of preferred foods, seasonal factors, snow cover, fine-textured, lacy foliage in flat sprays. STRATEGIZING container to a 50-foot tree. Rather electric. Fences must be at least 7-feet nutritional needs, previous feeding experience, availability of adaptable to heat and drought conditions. Tolerates high shade. Nice for slopes, it is high and in contact with the ground to alternate foods and movement patterns. Conifers provide structure in our gardens throughout the ‘Crippsii’ is a slow-growing accent with underused. keep deer out. For years I’ve circled smaller treasured plants in plastic mesh fencing. A plant considered resistant in one part of the country can year and are among the longest-lived (and costliest to replace) ferny, golden-yellow foliage; ‘Nana SPRUCE (Picea). The exception is the oriental When circling a plant, the mesh must be be ravaged in another. Because deer lack upper incisors, browsed Gracilis’ is a universally admired selection spruce, P. orientalis, possibly because of its plants in our landscape. Damage to them is particularly taut, or it will collapse with snow or ice. I’ve that reaches only 3 feet. softer needles. A noteworthy choice for the twigs and stems show a rough, shredded surface. Damage caused upsetting because many never recover their natural form. used 6-foot rebars and zip-ties with general home garden is P. omorika ‘Pendula Bruns.’ by rabbits, on the other hand, has a neat, sharp 45-degree cut. JAPANESE-CEDAR (Cryptomeria success. Electric fences marked with ribbons Rodents leave narrow teeth marks when feeding on branches. japonica) is appreciated for its graceful PINES (Pinus). This past harsh winter, for the and baited with peanut butter can be very Deer strip the bark and leave no teeth marks. Caging can help to deter deer from habit, shade tolerance and beautiful foliage. first time, I had damage on the tip growth of effective but are generally not practical for ‘Black Dragon’ is an upright cultivar; and suburban gardens. The antler-rubbing behavior of bucks during early fall is devouring small specimens of conifers pines which, unfortunately, will not recover. during cold-weather months. ‘Globosa Nana’ is broadly rounded. Best SCARE TACTICS damaging to small hardwood saplings and conifers with stem choices for larger specimens are ‘Rein’s DOUGLAS-FIR (Pseudotsuga menziesii). Dogs that are out at night can be very diameters of under 6 inches. For that reason, it is best to cage the Dense Jade’ and ‘Yoshino’ (however, this year effective, but this usually means the property DR. RICHARD L. BITNER trunks of treasured young trees as the first fall chore. the deer were browsing the tender growth on is a horticultural lecturer will need an invisible fence system for the and photographer. He is the author of three books young specimens in my garden). animals’ security. Other methods usually Placing various repellents throughout the garden has been on conifers, most recently Designing with Conifers: work for only a limited period of time: yard suggested – like bags of hair, fragrant soaps, various herbal and LEYLAND CYPRESS (×Cupressocyparis The Best Choices for Year-Round Interest in Your lights, loud radios, shiny objects and motion- garlic preparations – and there are countless widely marketed leylandii) is versatile, adaptable, salt-tolerant Garden. He also teaches a confiers course at the Barnes Foundation’s Arboretum School in Merion. activated water sprinklers. commercial concoctions. These methods are usually effective and very fast-growing for purposes of creating His website is ConifersForGardens.com.

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