OH DEER!!!
Spring is right around the corner and now is the time to start thinking about the landscape improvements you are planning to make. Getting your lawn in order, firing up that irrigation system, and creating new planting beds is probably on top of the list. We often search the landscape for pest that are unseen. Pest that attack or lawns, flowers, shrubs, and trees. But one of the most damaging pests to our landscape is those friendly woodland creatures known as Deer. The deer population is on a severe increase in N.C. and with more deer come more mouths to feed. So when you start your spring planting beds there are few plants to keep in mind that you should not plant if deer are creeping around your gardens.
As far as trees go, if deer are a problem in your neighborhood, you should stay away from all cherry, plums, crab apples, and pear trees. Japanese Maples can become victims if the population is heavy. River birch, hawthorn, crape myrtles, magnolias, pines, and oaks are all OK.
When it comes to shrubs stay away from euonymus, aucuba, indian hawthorn, and azaleas, roses, and blue berries. If the deer are really hungry then your camellias could be a tasty target. Abelia, barberry, boxwood, gardenia, inkberry holly, loropetalum, wax myrtle, butterfly bush, beauty berry, spireas, and tea olive are all OK to plant in deer prone areas.
Perennial and annual flowers seem to be the greatest victims in our landscapes due to deer damage. Stay away from day lilies, hostas, impatients, sweet potato vine, and pansies if deer are a plenty. Instead try columbine, coreopsis, bee balm, purple hearts, snap dragons, coleus, pentas, marigolds, and vinca.
