Lilacs may be vulnerable in the first few weeks after planting, despite their deer resistance designation. The shrub should live even if it has been nibbled on as long as the root structure is unharmed. A lilac plant can be almost completely destroyed and still recover and thrive. Lilac plants are tough and can actually benefit from pruning, even if it isn’t done on purpose.
Agricultural Experiment Station in New Jersey, “Landscape Plants Rated by Deer Resistance,” 2018
How can lilacs be protected from deer consumption?
Commercial deer deterrents that are sprayed on plants or around the garden’s edge give out an unpleasant taste and smell that deters deer from eating there. Building an 8-foot fence at a 45-degree angle is the greatest way to keep deer away from prized plants.
Do deer enjoy munching on lilac bushes?
Lilac bushes are not eaten by deer. Deer would generally avoid them because of their offensive fragrance. Never forget though that no plant is completely deer-proof.
Even if lilac plants occasionally and only rarely have seriously damaged kinds, they are still edible.
During the winter or during times when there are few other food sources, deer will probably devour the lilac shrubs. Because deer will gladly eat lilac bushes when they are young, it also occurs then. There’s a good probability that lilac bushes, if they’re native to your area, will end up being a deer’s preferred food.
Do lilac bushes get eaten by deer and rabbits?
This fall-planted bulb has a distinctly “skunky” smell. Animals will avoid the area because they can smell the flowers or foliage even if you can’t.
When planting, place 1 inch of coarse sand under the bulb since crown imperial needs adequate drainage. And plant the bulb on its side to prevent water from condensing in the top.
Sprinkle fertilizer all around your crown imperials in the early spring as soon as you notice the stems peeking through. Find a general-purpose bulb food with a 9-9-6 analysis. Snip off the blooms once they have faded, but save the foliage to nourish the bulb. After the bulb goes dormant, keep the soil dry.
The big-flowered alliums will still be preparing to put on their show after the deer and rabbits have devoured all of the tulips. The iconic flower in the image above, “Gladiator,” has blooms that can endure up to three weeks. The globes will continue to stand even after the foliage withers, which usually happens before the flowers are finished and the color dries up.
Even if a single specimen is impressive, planting in groups has a greater impact. Per square foot, allow two to three bulbs. They can cost more than other spring bulbs, which is true, but their flowers often persist longer than tulips or daffodils.
Toxic to both humans and other creatures like deer and rabbits, foxgloves are poisonous in all sections. They are aware to leave this plant alone, somehow.
Foxglove with narrow leaves is infamous for dying quickly. By preventing it from setting seeds, you can attempt to extend its life for several years and increase the number of blossoms you get in the process. The plant may use up all of its energy ripening the seeds and die throughout the winter if you fall behind in deadheading and seeds form. If so, allow the seeds to fall to the ground and search for seedlings the following spring. The first year, they most likely won’t blossom, but mark them so you can enjoy the flowers the following year.
Deer and rabbits won’t likely enter a bed in search of food if the edge is made unpleasant to them. This mounding plant looks great in a container or as a low border. Most cultivars feature flowers that are lavender-blue, like this one’s “Blue Pearl.” All of them prefer full light, however in USDA zones 8 or warmer, afternoon shade keeps the color the best.
Not even deadheading is necessary. New growth and flower buds typically cover the old vegetation as the blooms fade. The plant may become a little bit lanky with time. Your plants will start blooming again in a week or two if you lightly shear or clip a couple of inches from the top.
Traffic can be stopped when the flower stalk of this lovely shrub is covered in creamy white bells in the summer. Additionally, it will deter passing hummingbirds from stopping by for a taste of nectar. Deer and bunnies, meanwhile, won’t even nip at the stringy, stiff foliage. The leaves of ‘Variegata’ are blue-green with creamy yellow edges. The evergreen trees’ leaves become rosy pink in the fall.
Spanish dagger is actually a shrub, but because it grows so slowly, most people grow it as a perennial. It will eventually grow a trunk that elevates the leaf rosette after around 10 years, making a remarkable focal point.
Lilacs might be found blossoming carelessly in abandoned lots. One explanation for why lilacs thrive when left alone? Deer and rabbits ignore them in favor of chewing on more appetizing objects.
Here, there are Persian lilacs that are incredibly fragrant and resemble well-known French hybrids. But compared to its well-known cousins, it appears a little bit smaller and more fragile.
The fact that most lilacs bloom for such a brief period of time is their worst flaw. Plant a variety of deer- and rabbit-resistant plants and cultivars. You can do this to extend the season of color and scent for as long as a month.