Keep ‘springtime snackers’ out of your garden – my favorite pretty plants will repel deer, rabbits, and squirrels
RABBITS and deer are notorious for snacking on blooms that took months of hard work to grow, but there is a clever way to deter them from your patch.
There are a variety of specific flowers that can be strategically planted to warn animals not to get near.
John VanDerLaan is the founder of DeerHuntingGuide.net, a platform for expert tips and reviews related to hunting.
He has advised gardeners to swap roses, tulips, and holly for three different flowers if they want to avoid a visit from “springtime snackers.”
At the top of his list of recommendations are the bell-shaped flowers foxgloves, which come in pink, rose, white, and yellow varieties.
They grow in clusters and can be used to fill out a front or back yard.
They should be planted in well-drained moist soil with full sun in spring or autumn.
Foxgloves flower from May through July.
“The reason why they aren’t in danger of being eaten by deer or rabbits is that they contain cardiac glycosides, which can cause heart failure in many animals,” John said.
“Over generations, animals like deer and rabbits have learned to steer clear of these flowers, so they will not go anywhere near them.”
“Just don’t plant these anywhere near horses, as they will eat them and get sick,” he added.
John said their vibrant color and the “strong odor” of a second flower turns many wild animals away.
Hyacinths come in such a wide variety of colors that it’s easy to find bulbs that complement the theme of most gardens.
They should be planted between September and December for flowers throughout spring.
Hyacinths can grow higher than some small rodents can reach.
“Their bulbs are also poisonous to rodents, so they are very unlikely to be dug up by rabbits or squirrels,” he said.
The wildlife expert revealed that daffodils are arguably the “most deer-resistant flower.”
The low-maintenance plants come in early and late-bloom varieties, both can be planted for several weeks of flowers the animals won’t touch.
Their colors range from bold yellow, and cream, to warm orange.
“These flowers have a well-earned reputation for repelling deer, this is because they hate the taste of daffodils,” John said.
“Because of this, planting these all around your yard will keep the deer from coming in because they have no interest in them.”