Your garden is not meant to be a snack! If you live in a region where deer are a problem, you’ve probably experienced the disappointment of coming outside to chomped-off blooms and stalks. Save yourself the headache by selecting plants that deer won’t want to munch on. We cannot promise that your garden will be 100% deer-proof even if using these plants, but these varieties shouldn’t seem quite so… succulent to them.
Sedum (Stonecrop)
This variety of succ thrives in rocky soils, as you might have guessed from the name. You can choose from a variety of sedums, including ground covers to upright plants that can grow up to two feet. Ground covers is generally the most popular/tolerant outdoors and can range from blueish-green to reddish-pink or even off-white! Plus many of them put out beautiful blooms when they’re extra happy.
Hens and Chicks
These babes are some of the most common outdoor succulents in the U.S. due to their tolerance for many seasons. The leaves grow closely together in short mounds and don’t get very tall. If you want to cover more grounds, detach the tiny “chicks” (the small rosettes growing at the base of the plant) from the “mother hen” (main plant) and propagate the cuttings! If not, let them be and the bbs will form a dense layer across the ground.
Prickly Pear Cactus
Can you use a fence to keep deer out? Yes, absolutely. Can you also use prickly pear cactus as a fence to keep deer out? YES, ABSOLUTELY. This cactus can create a barrier to keep those hungry deer out of your garden. They can grow anywhere from half a foot to two feet tall and even will show off adorable yellow flowers! Pro tip: Put your prickly pear cactus next to the hens and chicks for a gorgeous pairing.
Want to quickly grow your prickly pear cactus fam? Try propagating the cactus pads!
We cannot completely promise you that your plants will never get nibbled on by a deer, but using deer-resistant foliage is a great way to keep them at bay!
