While taking care of your plants is difficult, cultivating plants is a fantastic method to keep healthy. If you enjoy growing succulents and reside in a rural location where deer are common, you may wonder if deer consume succulents.
Deer love to eat vegetation because they are herbivores. They can eat any plant that they come across because they have a voracious appetite. Succulents, on the other hand, don’t appeal to them and they would avoid them.
A deer may eat anything to satisfy their appetite, including a succulent. A deer in need of food would consume anything without giving it any thought. You may need to take care of your succulent plants if you grow them and live close to a wildlife park, a forest, or another such wild environment.
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What succulent plants won’t deer eat?
Sempervivum, Sedum, and other succulents have an impressive list of advantages. They can withstand dryness, require little maintenance, have vibrant leaves all year long, and many are winter hardy. In addition to all of this, sedum and hens-and-chicks are frequently included in lists of plants that are resistant to deer.
Unfortunately, the deer herds haven’t been evenly divided with the lists of plants that are resistant to grazing by deer. You’ll notice that every list says resistant rather than deer-proof. This is due to the fact that deer-proof plants are a myth. There are other varieties that deer don’t enjoy as much, but that doesn’t mean they won’t occasionally take a mouthful.
Browsers are deer. They nibble here and there and eat an entire garden somewhere else. Deer will eat just about anything, as anyone who lives in a region where deer are common is aware, and they can wreak serious havoc in gardens.
Hens and chicks are deer-resistant plants, as are other succulents. Deer typically do not accept them. They would like to eat something different because they are not their favorite food. However, they will only consume just enough to be annoying and keep you on the lookout.
They typically only consume your sempervivum plants in the winter, when food is more limited. But this is not a hard-and-fast rule. I had a tomato plot a few feet away from a succulent wreath that was hanging. I discovered several breaches in the succulent wreath when I went outside one morning in the early summer.
Your hen and chick plants frequently need an extra layer of protection to keep deer and rabbits away. While surrounding the plants with fences or nets will keep them secure, it may not always be the most appealing option. We typically suggest a deer repellant like Liquid Fence when individuals report deer problems in their yards. This is a fantastic way to prevent deer and rabbits from nibbling on your succulent plants.
Don’t lose hope if the deer do eat your chickens and chicks. A plant that has had a bite taken out of it will grow other plants to take the place of the damaged one. The stumps that once represented your lovely rosettes will start to grow again after being consumed all the way to the ground. A fitting name for hens and chicks is sempervivum, which means to live forever. Even when you think the deer have killed them, they typically cling to life and come back.
What kinds of animals consume succulents?
Examine the soil and the area around the pot to see whether birds are consuming your succulents. Do you notice any feces? Birds will produce little, rounded droppings. Additionally, you might notice tiny white faeces; those are urates, pee that has solidified. Small holes rather than large bitten portions are more likely to be found since birds like to eat succulent foliage.
It might have been a larger animal if there are more portions removed or if you observe chew marks. The larger rodents like voles, possums, mice, squirrels, and others can consume succulents. Even cats and dogs will occasionally eat succulents, but they frequently quit after only one bite. Make sure your succulents are not hazardous to dogs or cats if you have pets, and keep them out of their reach if you do. Succulents can also be harmed and eaten by smaller insects like snails and slugs.
But don’t assume that your succulents will only be damaged by birds and other animals. Small vermin can consume your succulents or at the very least sap their juices. These include, for instance, aphids. Aphids are tiny insects that are frequently colored green, black, or yellow. Spider mites are tiny and come in a variety of hues. Additionally, they absorb plant liquids. Succulents might suffer unfavorable effects from scale bugs as well. Succulents can also be harmed by slugs and snails.
Always be sure to inspect your succulents’ roots for damage, pests, and discolouration. You can use natural remedies to get rid of pests if your succulents are afflicted. Neem oil, horticultural mineral oils, and insecticidal soaps are a few examples.
Do succulent plants appeal to deer?
Succulents have been known to be eaten by deer who stray into gardens. However, if there are more appetizing foods around, deer will not go after succulents. Additionally, certain succulents can withstand deer.
Succulents are resistant to both deer and rabbits.
I must admit that I was a little late to the cacti and succulent bandwagon. I couldn’t help but notice that every gardening journal was featuring them because I am a gardener. After that, they appeared on social media. Then all of my pals began to engage with them. I made the decision to try a few, including the desert rose and the panda plant, both of which I’ve always loved as houseplants. Here are six factors to think about if you’ve never grown succulents, based on my experience:
1. Growing succulents is simple. It goes without saying that succulents are low maintenance and require little water. That’s certainly one of the primary factors contributing to their initial level of popularity. Many places allow you to keep them outside where sufficient natural rainfall will keep them content.
They can be brought inside, as well. In contrast to many annuals, it can be quite simple to keep a succulent alive over the winter provided you have a bright, sunny window. Success in this situation depends on providing it with a lot of bright light and being careful not to overwater it.
3. Succulents can withstand heat. Even the hardiest annuals would take a little break during the hottest portion of the summer when I used to live and garden in the Midwest. Additionally, I’ve discovered that several perennial favorites (like geraniums and dahlias) won’t survive the summer in Miami. Succulents, though? In the heat, succulent care is not a problem.
4. Normally, deer and rabbits don’t eat them. Usually. At least that is what people who have trouble with deer and rabbits in their yards tell me. Despite the fact that no plant is entirely safe from deer or rabbits, it seems that they prefer other plants to succulents.
5. The texture is incredible. Actually, it’s the textures of succulents that have won me over. There are many different textures available, ranging from the fuzzy panda plant to the steely-appearing echeverias to flapjacks, all of which look fantastic on their own, in combination, or with other non-succulent plants totally.
Learn more with our free guide to cultivating and using succulents as decor (indoors and out). Now download it!
Does eating Sedum plants appeal to deer?
A perennial flowering plant with succulent properties is called sedum (Stonecrop). Sedum primarily stores water in its leaves and stems. Sedum, which is frequently planted in the spring, will thrive and blossom through the winter. Some types of sedum are more resistant to deer than others. Remember that being deer resistant does not mean being deer proof.
Sedum is classified as Occasionally Severely Damaged on the scale used by Rutgers University, which ranges from Rarely Damaged to Frequently Severely Damaged.
Deer will try practically any plant at least once before eating it. Deer dislike the bitter flavor and sticky texture of, for instance, Sedum Autumn Joy, but they nevertheless eat it. Deer will nibble on sedum plants if there is nothing else to eat because they grow up to winter and food is scarce at this time.
Some animals appreciate sedum, while deer prefer to eat hostas, daylilies, and plants that have been fertilized well. The young branches of sedum have been observed to be consumed by squirrels. Birds that are parched in the summer will avoid the sedum’s blossoms in favor of its juicy foliage.
Do deer consume jade plants?
Award-winning Crassula ovata (Jade Plant), one of the most popular succulents, is an evergreen subshrub with glossy, spherical, fleshy dark green leaves that are frequently accented with red borders. In full sun, the coloration on the tip is more vibrant. From fall to spring, a profusion of little starry white or pale pink flower clusters appear. The jade plant grows into a lovely, bushy shrub. As it gets older, the firm gray trunk and strong limbs grow enormous and thick, resembling a small tree. a fantastic option for pots or rock gardens.
- Winner of the esteemed Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit
- reaches heights of 2-9 ft (60-270 cm) and widths of 2-5 ft (60-150 cm).
- thrives in medium to poor soils that are either full sun or partial shade, dry, well-drained, rocky or sandy. The best leaf colouring is achieved in direct sunlight. little irrigation is needed, and it can easily get by with only a little rainfall. Root and stem rot will result from excessive moisture, especially if the soil is slow to drain. This succulent can withstand drought.
- ideal for pots, seaside gardening, or rock gardens.
- resistant to deer
- Take stem or leaf cuttings in the spring or early summer, or plant seeds in the early spring.
Do rabbits consume succulents?
These little creatures will devour your plants, including succulents, if you let them roam free in your garden. Similar to deer, rabbits typically avoid succulents if there are more appetizing options on the proverbial buffet table, but they will consume succulents in the absence of better options.
Will deer consume cacti?
Depending on the season and the area of Texas where they live, white-tailed deer consume a diverse range of plants. In fact, a research on eating habits at the Rob and Bessie Welder Wildlife Refuge in San Patricio County discovered over 160 distinct plant species in the rumens of the deer they looked at!
WHAT MAKES KNOWING WHAT DEER EAT IMPORTANT? From a management standpoint, one of the most crucial tasks for a deer manager or biologist is to increase the nutritional quality of the habitat. Nutrition has a direct impact on antler growth. Any time of the year, antler growth won’t be optimized if nourishment is limited.
Managers and biologists must first be aware of what deer eat in order to identify, conserve, and even produce the most highly favored plants in order to ensure that present and future nutrition levels are enough. Knowing the most popular plants for each season of the year is crucial since deer choose different plants at different times of the year.
Knowing the vegetation that deer choose as their top choices during the fall will help hunters choose areas for stands. Additionally, hunters will be more successful in taking down their game if they are aware about their prey.
HOW ARE STUDIES ON FOOD HABITS CONDUCTED? First, during each month or season, a minimum of 15-20 deer of each sex should be harvested. Studies on fall eating patterns are easier because deer from hunter-harvested animals can be used. Deer must be harvested under a scientific collection permit from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department throughout the winter, spring, and summer.
Each deer’s 4-chambered stomach is then opened, and the rumen section is taken out. The rumen’s contents are then washed into a series of graduated sieves, which separates the plant debris from the other rumen contents. This plant material is then separated and, if necessary, identified to plant species using a microscope. On occasion, feces samples are also taken.
The quantity of each plant species found in deer rumen as well as what proportion of the total volume each plant species makes up are then determined. Walking various transects, or strips, through the brush allows for the determination of plant availability. Then it is determined how many times each plant species appears on the range. The preference ratings for each plant species and the seasonal feeding habits of deer for each sex are then calculated using these three numbers.
WHAT EAT DEER IN SOUTH TEXAS? In Texas, there have been many investigations of the feeding habits of deer. However, the majority of these research have been conducted in south Texas.
Southern West Texas On the Zachary Rendado Ranch in Hidalgo County, Leroy Arnold and Lynn Drawe captured 73 deer between 1972 and 1974. There were 61 does and 11 bucks among the deer. They discovered that species of browse accounted for the highest portion of the deer diet (33 percent), followed by forbs (29 percent), cactus (21 percent), and grass (7 percent). The top ten plant species were as follows: (1) Lazy daisy (2) Granjeno (6) Prickly pear cactus (perennial) (3) Mesquite beans (7) Catclaw acacia (8) Euphorbia prostrata (9) Lazy daisy (10) (annual) (9) Desert Lantana (10) Lime Prickly Ash (5) La Coma
These researchers discovered that, by volume, the prickly pear cactus constituted the biggest portion of the deer rumens studied. Additionally, more prickly pears were found than any other kind of plant. Prickly pears were primarily consumed from October to January and from June to September, accounting for 36% of the diet. Cactus was the least popular choice from February to May. Lazy daisy was the most favored forb (broadleaf weed). In general, forbs were preferred from March to May and made about 50% of the deer diet in the spring. Deer during the months of June through September were quite fond of mesquite beans.
Everitt and Gonzalez conducted a second research in Hidalgo County between 1973 and 1976. To find out what the 94 hunter-killed deer like to eat during the fall, they looked into their rumens. They also looked at deer killed by hunters in the eastern south Texas counties of Kenedy and Willacy. These researchers discovered once more that prickly pears made up the majority of the deer diet in Hidalgo County (61 percent by volume and 55 percent by occurrence). Forbs (12%) and grasses (16%) were the next most abundant plant types, followed by browse (16%). (3 percent).
Because there were few forbs accessible at the Hidalgo County site, these researchers believed the prickly pear was most likely chosen. They said that their top picks for plant species included lime pricklyash, bluewood, cenizo, twisted acacia, granjeno, ebony, and Mexican persimmon.
When Everitt and Gonzalez looked at deer slain by hunters in the fall in the counties of Kenedy and Willacy, they discovered that forbs accounted for the biggest volume of the animals’ rumens (38%). Browse came in second (27%) and was followed by grasses (25%) and prickly pear (20%). (4 percent). The higher annual rainfall totals in eastern south Texas enable greater forb production. Deer preferred forbs above all other plant varieties when there were more forbs available. In eastern south Texas, browsing and grasses were both more carefully chosen, whereas prickly pears fell to last.
These researchers came to the conclusion that longtom, burhead, water clover, and frog-fruit were the most significant forb species. Lime pricklyash, bluewood, cenizo, twisted acacia, granjeno, ebony, and Mexican persimmon were the most significant browsing species.
Kie, Drawe, and Scott captured 67 deer on the Welder Wildlife Refuge in San Patricio County between 1975 and 1976. They discovered that forbs (87 percent) and browse (10 percent) made up the majority of the deer’s annual diet (3 percent). All of the months had forbs as the main food source, with spring seeing the highest proportion of intake. The best times to eat grass were in the winter and early spring. Never did browse consume more than 6% of the diet in a given month.
Malvostrum, western ragweed, prairie coneflower, orange zexmania, and bladderpod were the most significant forb species. Texas wintergrass and rescuegrass were the two most significant grass species. The best times to eat grass were when it was growing quickly because it was easier to digest.
Chamrad and Box studied the rumen contents of 60 deer that were captured in the winter and spring in the Welder Wildlife Refuge between 1963 and 1965. 160 different plant species, including 107 different forb plants, 30 different grasses, and 23 different species of browsing, were discovered in the rumens. From January through May, they claimed that forbs and grasses constituted more than 90% of the deer’s diet. Forbs accounted for 68% of the diet during this time, followed by grasses (22%), and browsing (5%). The best month for forbs was April, and the best months for browsing were January and May. The top 10 plant species (all forbs or grasses) were as follows: