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The Daily Insight

What trees do deer not eat

Author

Nathan Sanders

Published Apr 17, 2026

White Spruce (Picea Glaucus) – Zones 2-6.Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea Pungens) – Zones 2-7.Ginkgo (Ginkgo Biloba) – Zones 3-9.Red Maple (Acer Rubrum) – Zones 3-9.River Birch (Betla Nigra) – Zones 3-9.Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia) – Zones 4-8.

What plants do deer hate the most?

Daffodils, foxgloves, and poppies are common flowers with a toxicity that deer avoid. Deer also tend to turn their noses up at fragrant plants with strong scents. Herbs such as sages, ornamental salvias, and lavender, as well as flowers like peonies and bearded irises, are just “stinky” to deer.

What privacy trees do deer not eat?

  1. American Boxwood.
  2. Japanese Plum Yew.
  3. Colorado Blue Spruce.
  4. Mugo Pine.
  5. Cedar Deodar.
  6. Wax Myrtle.
  7. Howardi Ligustrum.
  8. Wavy Leaf Ligustrum.

Do deer eat all trees?

They feast on fruits of all kinds, from strawberries to fruit trees and fallen fruit. Deer will eat bark, twigs, and leaves of most trees and shrubs. They can also damage woody plants, especially during winter when food is scarce.

What small trees are deer resistant?

  1. 1. California Ash (Fraxinus dipetala) …
  2. Fuchsia Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus forrestiana) …
  3. Monkey Puzzle Tree (Araucaria araucana) …
  4. Vine Maple (Acer circinatum) …
  5. Korean Fir (Abies koreana)

What annual flowers do deer not like?

Heat-loving annuals that deer tend to ignore include lantana, Cosmos sulphureus, angel’s trumpet (Brugmansia) and summer snapdragon (Angelonia). Plants with milky sap, like Diamond Frost-type euphorbia (Euphorbia graminea), are ones deer dislike, as are annuals with strong odors, like marigolds.

What is the best deer repellent?

  • Luster Leaf Fend Off Organic Deer Repellent Clips, 25-Pack.
  • I Must Garden Natural Mint Deer Repellent, 32-Ounce.
  • Deer Out Concentrate Mint Scented Deer Repellent, 32-Ounce.
  • Liquid Fence Rain Resistant Rabbit & Deer Repellent, 1-Gallon.
  • Enviro Pro Deer Scram Granular Deer Repellent.

How do you deer proof a tree?

Fencing is the most effective way to protect trees from deer. If you have many trees, surround the entire area with woven-wire fencing. However, in order to be effective, it must be at least six to eight feet (2 to 2.5 m.) high and angled about thirty degrees.

What do deer hate the smell of?

Deer have a heightened sense of smell, which they use to effectively find food. You can take advantage of this trait and repel deer by using smells they dislike, such as marigolds, putrescent egg solids, mint, wolf urine, tansy, garlic, thyme, oregano, sage, rosemary, and lavender.

How do you scare deer away?

Among the common solutions are sulfur-scented products, which have the odor of rotten eggs, highly scented bars of soap and predator urine. Spray repellents need to be reapplied after rain. Human hair may frighten deer unaccustomed to people; however, deer adjust quickly to human encroachment into their habitat.

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Do deer like evergreens?

Deer dislike the taste and feeling of evergreens. It’s a combination of flavor and the sharp, unpleasant sensation of irritating needles on their tongues that keeps them away. Other times, the pungent scent of certain plants makes deer think twice before chomping down.

Do deer eat conifers?

Deer are destructive elements in the home landscape. They browse on woody plants, including fir trees, living off buds, twigs, tender shoots, leaves and bark. … Some conifers do not taste good to deer or have unpleasant needles that deer pass over for easier-to-eat plants.

Are blue spruce trees deer resistant?

The Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens), white spruce (Picea glauca) and the lesser-known Serbian spruce (Picea omorika) are all categorized by Rutgers University as rarely damaged by deer.

Do deer like eating dogwood trees?

Are Dogwood Deer Proof? The short answer is no. Almost no landscape plant is deer-proof other than tough cactuses and trees that have grown out of a deer’s reach. Dogwood, because of its leafy growth pattern and relatively stocky trunks, is sometimes eaten by deer.

Do deer eat pink dogwood trees?

Common NameFlowering DogwoodLatin NameCornus floridaTypeTreesRatingC

Will deer eat serviceberry trees?

Serviceberry (Amelanchier) – This native shrub has beautiful white flowers in early spring, and edible berries, but it is usually left alone by deer.

What are deer afraid of?

As neophobes, deer fear new, unfamiliar objects. Though they aren’t always attractive, scarecrows, sundials, and other garden ornaments—especially those with movable parts—make deer skittish. Use them in combination with wind chimes or bright lights to keep deer out of your yard.

Do coffee grounds deter deer?

Deer have a strong sense of smell, which they use to find accessible food sources. While there is no scientific evidence that coffee grounds will deter deer, the bitter smell of spent coffee grounds may signal to deer that humans are nearby and keep them away from your property.

Do wind chimes repel deer?

Because deer are so skittish, adding wind chimes or even the static from a radio can be enough to scare them away. Anything unfamiliar will throw them off and make them too nervous to come any closer. Adding plants that deer dislike can keep them from exploring other areas of your yard.

Is Black Eyed Susan deer resistant?

Named for their dark brown centers peeking out of the gold or bronze petals, black-eyed susans thrive in the sun. Because its covered in course hair, deer and rabbits stay far away from it. These daisy-like blooms are perfect for a late summer or fall bouquet.

Are hostas deer resistant?

When it comes to hostas, only the artificial ones are deer proof! … Green (non-variegated) hostas and those with fragrant flowers are reported to be the most vulnerable. For various methods to control deer damage in the garden, see Deer-resistant Companion Plants.

Do marigolds help keep deer away?

All varieties of marigolds are a turnoff for deer because of their strong, pungent scent. However, signet marigolds (pictured) have a lighter citrusy smell and flavor, making them popular for culinary use.

Do deer hate mothballs?

Mothballs contain naphthalene, a powerful pesticide that presents potentially serious danger to children, as well as bird, pets and wildlife. Any effectiveness as a deer repellent is short-lived, because mothballs vaporize into a toxic gas before dissipating.

What is a good homemade deer repellent?

  • Recipe #1: 3 Tablespoons hot sauce. 3 raw eggs. 3 Tablespoons of minced garlic. …
  • Recipe #2: 4 Tablespoons of ground cayenne pepper. 1 cup white vinegar. …
  • Recipe #3: 1 egg. 1/2 cup milk. …
  • Recipe #4: 1 cup sour cream. 1/4 teaspoon liquid dish soap. …
  • Recipe #5: 1 egg yolk. 1 Tablespoon baking powder.

Does Irish Spring soap repel deer?

Irish Spring soap repels mammal pests, such as mice, rabbit and deer. … Irish Spring soap does not always eliminate pests completely , but can be a helpful tool to reduce the rate of attack on plants.

What can I put around trees to keep deer away?

Choose a brand with a powerful fragrance, and hang bars from strings in trees or large shrubs. Or, attach soap bars to stakes and place them around the edges of your garden beds to keep the deer at bay.

How do I protect my deer from spruce trees?

Wrap evergreens, shrubs and small trees in burlap or other breathable plant covers. This will discourage foraging deer. Wrapping also protects evergreens from winter burn and road salt.

How do I keep deer from eating my plants?

The most popular deterrents are bars of deodorant soap. Simply take several bars of soap, punch a hole in each one, and use twine to hang the bars of soap from the trees and fencing around your garden. Deer will smell the soap and steer clear of your crops.

Does human urine repel deer?

Conclusion. So in the end, human urine probably won’t run most deer off, and it may even pique the curiosity of some of them. If you’re going to drop your britches and answer the call of Mother Nature in a scrape or underneath your stand, just make sure that’s all you’re leaving.

What is a natural deer repellent?

The most effective natural, homemade deer deterrent is a spray made of putrid smells, namely eggs, garlic, and chili peppers. All you have to do is spray the mixture on your plants, and deer will not go near due to the offensive fragrance that the spray gives off.

What evergreens do deer not like?

This article has already mentioned several evergreen shrubs that will look great year-round, without appealing to hungry deer. This includes many juniper species, boxwood, pieris, heavenly bamboo, and holly.