Woodie’s Picks: Deer & Rabbit Resistant Plants For The Early Spring Garden
With the beginning of spring comes a multitude of beautiful displays, from bright new blooms to eye-catching leafy green foliage. While this is such a magical time, flowers and leaves are not the only things emerging from the woodwork–pesky woodland creatures like deer and rabbits are back out in full force, and they are coming to your landscape as an all-you-can-eat buffet!
If deer and rabbits are destroying your landscape, you are certainly not alone. But we are here to offer solutions! In this blog, we will highlight a few great ways to deter deer and rabbits from your landscape. We will also highlight four of our favorite deer and rabbit-resistant planting options for your spring garden!
Deterring Woodland Creatures From The Spring Landscape
Fencing
The number one way to keep woodland creatures out of your landscape is by creating a barrier that they can not intrude upon. The most obvious barrier would be a fence. However, you must consider height and open spacing within the fencing, as deer can jump and rabbits can fit through small spaces.
You can double down on this fencing tactic by planting a privacy hedge around the perimeter of your landscape that would create another obstacle for animals to get through. On a smaller scale, you may consider using Deer Netting to cover your plants and protect them from harm’s way.
Repellants
The next best way to deter rabbits and deer from your outdoor plants is to intermittently spray them with deer and rabbit repellent. There are several ethical, no-harm sprays available that will simply make your plants less appealing as a snack to local wildlife.
Fragrance
A final tactic to fight against deer and rabbits is to incorporate a range of fragrant plants in your garden. By incorporating natural scents they dislike, such as garlic, lavender, mint, and cinnamon, and applying them strategically around your garden, you can create an invisible barrier that protects your plants without harming the animals.
The Best Deer and Rabbit Resistant Plants For Spring
Pieris Katsura
Plant Pieris 'Katsura' for its striking, year-round interest, featuring vibrant burgundy-red new growth that matures to dark green and attractive, rose-pink bell-shaped flowers in early spring, making it a great focal point or accent plant. The Katsura Pieris, also known as Japanese Andromeda, is known for its deer resistance, making it a good choice for gardens where deer are a concern. This striking shrub is also considered ‘critter resistant,’ so rabbits should not be a problem either!
Lynwood Gold Forsythia
Often called a harbinger of spring, the Lynwood Forsythia is a standout deer and rabbit-resistant shrub for the early spring landscape. You can look forward to an explosion of golden yellow blooms in early spring, followed by bright green leaves in summer, and a show of color transitions in the fall. Growing at a quick rate of 2 feet per year on average, this golden shrub is an ideal option for a season privacy hedge in the spring and summer months!
Lilac Miss Kim
Next on the list of plants to deter deer and other unwanted creatures from munching is the fragrant and oh-so-stunning Lilac Miss Kim! Lilacs, including the Miss Kim variety, are often listed as deer-resistant due to their firm, woody stems and the fact that deer generally find them less palatable than other plants. Periwinkle blooms and bright green foliage make this shrub a standout option in any landscape!
Helleborus Frost Kiss Molly’s White
Last on the list of plants your local woodland creatures won’t enjoy is the Helleborus Frostkiss Molly’s White.
This early spring blooming perennial produces elegant white blooms with warm golden yellow stamens. The thick, leathery leaves on hellebores are distasteful to deer, rabbits, and voles. Plant these cold-hardy bloomers in mass for a gorgeous statement early on in the spring season!
Shop Deer and Rabbit Resistant Plants Online
Regardless of your stance on wildlife, everyone can likely agree it’s a hassle and disappointment when animals make a meal of our landscape that we spend so much time and money to make look pristine. Shop our wide range of deer-resistant plants online today and sleep with ease, knowing that your garden won’t be destroyed this planting season!