If you plant deer resistant plants with plants that deer like, will the deer resistance work?

Question

Is there a "bubble" created by plants that are deer resistant to protect deer prone plants from being attacked?

Answer 1

No. Deer resistance is based on taste, not smell. You are confusing mammal pests with insect pests. If you look at the odor-based deer repellents they are super strong, and sometimes don't work.

"Deer resistant" plants are plants the deer do not prefer, but they still still eat them if it's a harsh winter and there is no other food. We've had deer eat hosta and daffodils, which are supposed to be deer resistant. Now thorny plants will be even more deer resistant.

The harshest time of the year is the spring before many shoots and berries are available. So that's when the deer are the hungriest.

If you value your plants, put hot pepper powder on them and replace after every rain. Mammals can taste the hot pepper juice.

But your best protection is a 6 foot high fence. But even then SOME occasional desperate/stupid deer have been known to jump those and get trapped in the garden. lol.

Answer 2

I have three solutions:

• thick plants that physically keep out deer.
• Thorny plants (maybe a climbing rose)
• Enclosure (possibly with wood) or wire mesh (this could be small and enclose also a single plant).

And possibly keep some ground for them, so that they will stop where you care less.