Preventing Deer and Rabbit Damage To Your Garden

By Ashleigh Smith

Preventing damage to your garden by critters such as deer and rabbits doesn’t have to be as hard as it may sound. Animals tend to dislike plants with fuzzy textures and strong scents. This makes adding ornamental plants to your garden a perfect way to deter pests without applying pesticides.

They can also help attract beneficial insects while deterring other pests. If you usually have problems with pests inhabiting your garden space, check out our Pest Troubleshooting Guide for specific tips to control large populations.

It's important to remember almost no plant is truly resistant to animals. If they are hungry enough, animals will still go for the plants they find unpleasant. To help further protect your garden utilize protective structures such as fencing, chicken wire, and netting. Netting may also help protect your crops from birds throughout the harvest season.

If you live in an area prone to extreme heat use a shade net to also reduce scorching. Planning out your garden ahead of time can help you to get the most out of a small area and get the most out of your protective plants. Arrange climbing plants near your fencing, preventative plants near garden openings, and plants for beneficial insects throughout the garden. To prevent wildlife from eating your harvest, include some of the following plants in your garden plans.

Plants Deer and Rabbits Find Unpleasant:

• Chives/Ornamental Onion
• Catmint
• Lavender
• Yarrow
• Spurge
• Barrenwort
• Delphinium
• Alchemilla
• Artemisia
• Lambs Ear
• Astilbe
• Perennial Salvia
• Liriope
• Russian Sage
• Marigold
• Lilac