Protecting Your Arborvitae: Tactics to Deter Deer from Your Garden Landscaping

Understanding Deer Behavior and Preferences

Deer, much like humans, have preferences based on the type of food that’s available. They select succulent, nutritious plants when they can, though they’re not that choosy when food is scarce. To protect your arborvitae and other plantings from hungry deer, understanding their behavior and preferences becomes utmost important. But first, let’s pinpoint the reasons why deer find your garden irresistible.

What Attracts Deer to Gardens?

Gardens, for deer, are a smorgasbord of delicious offerings. They’re drawn to a few aspects in particular:

Variety: Gardens offer a wide array of plant types, many of which are among the deer’s favorite food items.
Accessibility: An open, easily accessible garden provides effortless grazing for deer.
Water: If there’s an available water source in your garden, deer will get inclined towards it. Such sources include bird baths, water ponds, or even a waterlogged area.

4.Accessible food and water aren’t the only enticements, your garden’s safety and shelter aspects also attract deer. For instance, if fewer natural predators or traffics exist nearby, deer find it an inviting place to hang around.

Natural Food Sources for Deer

Being herbivorous, the dietary choices of deer are wide-ranging. Several plant types make up the majority of their diet, but their preference can shift depending on availability. Here are few natural food sources deer usually seek out:

Shoots and Leaves: During the spring season, nutritious, young shoots and leaves are often their go-to food.
Nuts and Fruits: During fall, deer gravitate towards fruits and nuts that pack a caloric punch, preparing them for the upcoming colder months.
Woody Browse: In winter when food is scarce, deer munch on twigs, buds, and the bark of certain trees to survive.
Herbs and Grass: Various herbs and grass types are also a part of deer diet, especially during summer.

Arborvitae, with their evergreen nature and nutrient-rich leaves, unfortunately, often find a place in this menu, more so during winter months when other food sources become scarce. Hence, if you notice nibble marks on your arborvitae leaves, plausibly deer have paid a visit to your garden.

Arborvitae: A Popular Landscaping Choice

Beloved for their practical uses and aesthetic, arborvitae are frequently seen in landscapes across America. This section of our informative piece sheds light on what makes them such a preferred choice and why deer take such an interest in them.

Characteristics of Arborvitae

Arborvitae, commonly referred to as Thuja, exhibits a set of notable characteristics distinguishing them from other plant species. They are often admired for their tall, columnar shape, making them useful for creating privacy screens or windbreaks. You’ll notice they come in many different shades of green, from dark rich hues to brighter lime shades.

As evergreens, arborvitaes hold on to their foliage all year round. You’d so find them vibrant even in the coldest of winters. Bark of the arborvitae provides a rather unique visual appeal, typically featuring a reddish-brown tinge and peel-offs in narrow, vertical strips.

Also, arborvitae are also highly adaptable. They can strive in a variety of soils, from wet to dry types, and tolerate different acidity levels. Finally, they grow at a moderate speed, increasing their height by around 1 to 2 feet per year.

Reasons for Including Arborvitae in Landscapes

The reasons for choosing arborvitae in landscapes are numerous. Foremost among them is their unmatched aesthetic value. Their lush, evergreen look along with remarkable columnar nature adds depth and structure to landscapes. It’s no wonder they are often the go-to option for creating garden hedgerows and compelling focal points.

Another plus is the low maintenance requirement of these evergreen trees. Barring some simple care steps like occasional watering and pruning, arborvitae don’t demand much attention. They’re also remarkably resistant to diseases and pests. With strong arborvitaes in your garden, you’re not just creating scenery; you’re setting a safety barrier, too.

These attributes not only make arborvitae stand out as a popular landscaping choice, but they unfortunately also make them a favorite food source for deer. In the next section, we investigate into why deer frequents arborvitae and how you can protect your precious plants from their harm.

Deer and Arborvitae Interactions

Do Deer Eat Arborvitae?

Indeed, deer find arborvitae plants quite appealing. This preference aligns with their love for a variety of fruits, nuts, and green plants. Arborvitae, with their lush green foliage all year round, serve as an inviting dining option for deer. Especially during the winter, when food options become scarce, deer turn to arborvitae for sustenance. It’s critical to note that while deer consumption of these plants aids their survival, it can result in significant harm to your arborvitae hedge.

Consider this: In 2012, Rutgers University carried out a study where they rated deer preferences for certain plants, arborvitae fell into the category of “Frequently severely damaged”. This designation brings home just how susceptible arborvitaes can be to deer.

Factors Influencing Deer’s Diet Choices

Numerous elements sway a deer’s feeding patterns. Seasonal changes, food availability, and environmental stressors play pivotal roles. For instance, in spring, deer feed on emerging shoots and leaves. But, with winter’s approach, and the corresponding decrease in available food, evergreens like arborvitae become prime targets.

Deer possess a broad-ranging diet and can adjust to what their environment offers. When their preferred food items, such as wild berries, apples, and acorns, dwindle or disappear, they readily switch to bushes, twigs, and arborvitaes.

Population density also impacts their feeding choices. Areas with a high density of deer invariably see more instances of arborvitae damage. Why? Because as food becomes scarce with more mouths to feed, deer are compelled to munch on readily available but not-so-preferred options that they would otherwise leave alone.

Another influencing factor is the deer’s previous experience. If a deer has consumed arborvitae before and found it palatable, it’s more likely to dine on the same plant species again, even if other food sources are available.

With this understanding, it becomes clear why deer are drawn to arborvitae in your garden. It’s a combination of necessity dictated by scarcity, adaptive feeding habits, conditioned behavior, and survival instincts.

Preventing Deer from Eating Arborvitae

Deer’s unwavering appeal to arborvitae seems challenging to curtail. Let’s investigate into effective ways of keeping these fascinating creatures at a safe distance from your precious greenery.

Effective Deer Repellents

Recognize the power of scent repellents. Deer boast a keen sense of smell, often stronger than their vision. Some gardeners employ repellents, such as garlic clips, capsaicin sprays, and commercial deer repellents. As odious as these repellents seem to deer, they’re harmless to your arborvitae and other plants.

Next, try visual and sound repellents. Scare tactics, including motion-activated sprinklers, lights, and ultrasonic devices, have proven usefulness in repelling deer. These fear-provoking devices deter deer from venturing too close to your garden.

Finally, consider physical barricades. While deer are known for their agility and nimbleness, a high fence (at least 8 feet) can prove too daunting to cross, efficiently shielding your arborvitae from deer.

Alternative Deer-Resistant Plants

Still finding it hard to keep the deer away? Switching up your plant choice could be a viable option. Here are some deer-resistant alternatives to consider:

Boxwood shrubs, for instance, have a naturally unattractive taste to deer. The pungent leaves deter browsing, keeping these creatures at bay.

Hollies’ prickly leaves act as a natural deer deterrent. They’re beautiful, versatile, and available in various species, making them an ideal substitute for arborvitae.

Lavender’s potent fragrance, while pleasant to humans, is a significant turn-off for deer. This hardy plant is not only deer-resistant but also drought-tolerant, making it an outstanding landscaping choice.

Remember, “deer-resistant” doesn’t mean deer-proof. In desperate times, deer might browse on some of these options. But generally, they’ll prove less tempting than your beloved arborvitae.

Conclusion

So, you’ve learned that deer do indeed find arborvitae a tasty treat. Even though their beauty and low maintenance, these evergreen hedges may not be the best choice if you’re dealing with a persistent deer problem. But don’t lose heart. There are effective ways to keep deer at bay, from scent and sound repellents to physical barriers. You’ve also got a list of alternative plants that are less likely to tempt deer. Remember, while boxwood shrubs, hollies, and lavender are more deer-resistant, they’re not completely deer-proof. It’s all about making your garden less inviting to these four-legged visitors. With these tips, you’re well-equipped to protect your garden and still maintain its aesthetic appeal.