Boxwood: deer proof evergreen shrub
Is boxwood deer proof? The answer is “yes”.
Keep in mind, though, that if deer have the run of a property, they will taste just about anything new that appears. As one writer remarked: “They’re in the restaurant and they’re going to try the entire smorgasbord.”
Boxwood is a slow-growing evergreen deer proof shrub. It can be grown “natural” (see photo of untrimmed boxwood shrub below) or trimmed into a variety of shapes (see photo of trimmed boxwood).
Boxwood is available in most local nurseries. If you prefer mail order, reputable mail order nurseries for shrubs include Rare Find Nursery, Fairweather Gardens, and Roslyn Nursery.
Generally speaking, boxwoods are slow growing. However, there are different varieties and some grow faster than others. Check with your nursery staff.
Untrimmed boxwood
Boxwood trimmed into a shape
Deer repellents are basically anything that deer don’t like to smell or taste. One of the best tips in this short video on deer repellents is that deer get used to any repellent – so change your products from time to time. Also, deer repellents wear off so you need to reapply, especially after a rain. Or you could do what I do and forget about deer repellents and just concentrate on planting things that the deer don’t eat or can’t reach!
This video is hosted by well-known New England meteorologist and horticulturist David Epstein, from
www.GrowingWisdom.com.
A little known fact about deer is that although they are good jumpers, they don’t like to jump wide and high at the same time. Gardeners can take advantage of this by building a double fence. Homegrown Gardens explains how this is done:
The key is to build two parallel fences, about four feet tall, and place them about four feet apart. This way, the deer trying to jump into your garden won’t try for fear of getting stuck in the gap. Planting between the fences will create even more of a visual barrier, further discouraging the deer, try a vine or a climbing rose. Prevent the deer from crawling underneath by using a picket fence for the outside barrier, or pin a wire fence to the ground with landscape staples.
Deer Fencing (photo by AmericanNettings.com)
To discourage deer from eating your garden, you have have five basic options:
1. Fence the deer out.
Although fencing your property or garden area takes time and money, this is by far the best solution. It will save you stress and hassle in the long-term.
Fencing can range from the black netting shown in the photo at left, to wire, wood, branches or stone. The important thing about fencing is that it needs to be high enough (six or even seven feet high) or wide enough (you can get away with a four-foot fence if you use the double fence method). Also, make sure that the deer can’t crawl under it (they are amazingly adept at flattening their bodies and squirming under fencing), poke their noses through the openings, or lean on it and push it over. I speak from experience!
2. Plant things out of reach of deer.
One of the best deer proof gardening tips I ever got was from a local landscaper who advised me to put my money into one mature tall tree rather than two or three small trees. If the branches are too high for the deer to reach the tree will be off to a good start. If you’ve already bought ornamental trees and they aren’t out of reach of the deer, I suggest you put fencing or wire cages around the trees for a few years to allow the branches to grow out of reach of the deer.
3. Scare deer away.
A dog can be your best friend in the deer proof garden. Deer tend to stay away from yards that have dogs. No dog? There are gadgets on the market designed to scare away deer. These range from scarecrow type things that move in the wind (or are even motorized) to automated sprinklers and floodlights that get triggered when deer get too close.
4. Make your garden unpleasant for deer.
The most common way to make your garden unpleasant for deer is to spray bad tasting stuff on your plants. My experience with this technique is that it is time-consuming (you have to reapply the spray regularly, especially after rain) and of limited benefit.
5. Choose plants deer don’t like.
If you can’t do #1 (fencing), then choosing plants that deer don’t like is your next best strategy. Here is a list of deer resistant plants.
One of the most charming deer proof gardens I have ever visited is the Yellowpoint, BC garden of artists Grant Leir and Nixie Barton. They have their entire garden fenced with handmade willow panels. You can visit their garden during their art gallery open hours, which are 11 – 5 Thursday through Sunday.
Here are some photos that I took recently while touring their deer proof garden.
Some people will tell you that there is no such thing as “deer proof.”
While it’s true that deer will eat just about anything if they are hungry enough, there are some plants that are safe from deer damage (i.e. the deer rarely eat them), some plants that are unsafe (i.e. the deer always eat them), and some plants where it just depends (e.g. they may eat yours but leave your neighbour’s alone, or they may eat just the tender tips but leave the rest of the plant alone).
