Show Notes
Deer can turn a carefully planned garden into an all-you-can-eat buffet overnight. But is there really such a thing as a deer-resistant plant?
In this episode of The Shade Gardening Podcast, Marcus explores the reality of gardening in areas where deer are regular visitors. Rather than chasing the myth of a completely deer-proof garden, he shares a more practical approach: understanding deer behaviour, choosing plants that are less appealing to browse, and designing gardens that remain beautiful even when wildlife occasionally pays a visit.
You'll discover why some plants are generally avoided by deer, how to build a more resilient shade garden, and why adjusting our expectations can often be just as important as choosing the right plants.
In this episode: • Why no plant is completely deer-proof • Understanding deer behaviour in the garden • Plants that are often more resistant to browsing • Deer-resistant shade garden favourites including hellebores, epimediums, ferns, brunnera, pulmonaria, and Japanese forest grass • Designing borders that are both beautiful and resilient • Finding a balance between gardening and wildlife
If deer are part of your gardening life, this episode will help you spend less time feeling frustrated and more time creating a garden that works with nature rather than constantly fighting against it.
Join the conversation in The Shade Gardening Facebook Group and share your own experiences of gardening with deer.
Happy Gardening.
More from The Shade Gardening Podcast
Why can one gardener grow magnificent heucheras, hostas or brunneras while another repeatedly watches the same plants struggle and disappear?
There comes a point in late summer when some shade gardens seem to lose their way. The spring bulbs have disappeared, the hellebores finished months ago, the foxgloves are fading and even the hostas and ferns may be looking tired. Autumn hasn’t quite arrived either, leaving the garden caught somewhere between two seasons.
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