Top 5 Hedging Plants That Will Deter Deer
Deer will particularly be looking for foliage to munch on when food is scarce- i.e. during the much colder months.
If you're one of those people who then experience many difficulties with deer nibbling at your lovely plants, these 5 specific hedging species will be sure to keep them at bay!
1. Shrubby Honeysuckle (Lonicera nitida)
Lonicera nitida is a bushy, dense, fast-growing evergreen hedge that is highly popular amongst gardeners looking for an averagely-sized hedge. Though it is fast-growing, it's also easy to maintain! Though we cannot explain why, wildlife seem to avoid this hedging plant, so it's the perfect option if looking for something to deter deer!
2. Boxwood (Buxus Sempervirens)
Box hedging is the perfect species for hedges, borders, or even to use for a classic topiary plant. It is shade tolerant and suited to many sites and soil types (including wet/windy), so is the perfect hedge for any beginner, especially since it's so easy to grow!
Boxwood helps to deter deers as the plant itself contains something called alkaloids, which does not taste pleasant to deers. The evergreen foliage produces a very strong scent, too.
3. Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
Russian Sage is a deciduous, perennial plant that produces clusters of little, purple-blue flowers that cling to its white, thin stems. The distinct, grey coloured leaves have a gorgeous, herby scent, which deer seem to dislike somewhat!
The blue flowers stay fresh for weeks, too, from the middle of Summer through to Autumn. It's a tough little plant that's resistant to heat, poor soils, drought, and pests! It's the perfect plant for any poor garden conditions, or gardening beginner.
4. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
Wonderfully evergreen and fragrant, Rosemary sits as a stunning shrub or hedge. It's known to be a culinary herb, but can act as a wonderful deer resistant hedge in your back garden, due to the scent it produces!
You will be gifted with year-round interest, not only with its deep, evergreen leaves, but also with the lovely, purple flowers it produces each summer.
5. Lavender (Lavandula 'Hidcote')
The Hidcote Lavender plant is ideal for any UK garden, giving you an "old-fashioned English garden" look. The Hidcote is a pleasant variety of English Lavender, but the key feature is it's dark-purple, elegant flower spikes!
Being native to the British Isles, it's deeply fragrant flowers are perfect for attracting bees and other pollinators. Lavender will grow to around 50cm, so acts as a perfect low-growing hedge.
Deer tend to stay aware from plants that have highly scented aromas, or hairy foliage. In that case, Lavender acts as the perfect deterrent!
Though these plants have been successful at deterring deer in the past, they can certainly be unpredictable, so you're never quite sure if your plants are safe. However, it seems as though deer will avoid any plant that produces a heavy fragrance, so it's probably best to ensure you go with something that is scented in general.