How can I keep deer away from my garden?
A way to deter the deer is to cover plants with bird netting. A 4-6 foot galvanized wire mesh fence can also be used, attached to wooden stakes or fence posts surrounding newly planted shrubs.

There are no real deer repellent plants, but a rain garden can be interspersed with plants that deer tend to avoid. The deer population in Wisconsin is continuing to grow, but the resource base from which they feed is not. Deer are therefore becoming less selective, and browsing a larger range of plant species. However, they tend to avoid plants that have aromatic foliage, tough/leathery or hairy/prickly leaves, or milky latex/sap.

For more information regarding plants unatractive to deer as well as deer repellent, visit the Deer Tips page.

Show All Answers

1. Will a rain garden breed mosquitoes in my yard?
2. Do rain gardens attract ticks?
3. Can I buy a wildflower seed mix instead of individual native plant seedlings?
4. How can I keep deer away from my garden?
5. How can I be sure that I am purchasing / planting a native species, and not a look-alike?