Downtown magazine article on deer proof gardening

There are not too many gardens in the Regional District of Nanaimo that are not affected by our resident deer population. While there is no truly foolproof method of protecting your garden from the ravages of a hungry deer population, there are ways of encouraging them to visit your neighbors’ more succulent buffets. Plants that are prickly, bitter, coarse, toxic, hairy, tough, aromatic or having a milky sap are generally less likely to be consumed by deer. Some examples of plants having these qualities include, Yarrow, Monkshood, Bee balm, Russian Sage, Pieris, Potentilla, Montbretia, Buddleia, Arctostaphylos, Thyme and Ferns. For a more complete list check the Internet at turleysflorist.com or deerresistantplants.com. Many gardeners have found that by including these plants in their garden, deer are less likely to visit your garden. This is especially true if neighboring gardens do not include any of the less favorable plants.

Other methods of discouraging deer include completely fencing your yard not to keep deer out but too keep a dog in. There are also many products on the market that are designed to discourage deer from visiting your garden. The one we have found to be most effective is Plantskydd. This blood product was developed in Sweden to protect seedlings in the forest industry from browsing reindeer. It is now being used in many areas of BC during re forestation. The advantage of this product over others on the market is that our wet weather does not diminish its effectiveness. The key to success with Plantskydd is to spray on dry foliage when you do not expect rain for a couple of days. Apply in the fall and the spring to discourage over winter and early spring browsing. One application will last for 2 to 4 months, however it is less effective during very warm weather. Always apply to newer growth for best results.