are majestic creatures and have been admired since before the ancient Greeks tied them to the goddess Artemis. Some homeowners love deer watching in their backyards, but this isn’t advisable as they can do some serious damage to your landscaping! Luckily, there are ways of keeping deer away from your yard so your landscape can continue looking great through the fall and winter seasons.
Why Are Deer Attracted to Your Yard?
Deer love yards for 3 primary reasons. The first reason is that they’re hungry, and, surprise, there’s food on your property! Deer eat almost anything, but they prefer eating plants that offer more than what regular foliage can provide. Some of their favorite plants and flowers to eat include blackberry bushes, juniper, flowering dogwood, fruit trees, clover, sunflowers, wild strawberries, and geraniums. The second reason is that they’re thirsty! If your landscaping contains a pond, trench, a kiddie pool, or a birdbath, this may attract thirsty deer. The third reason is that they love lawn fungi. If you have a lot of mushrooms in your lawn, this may also be bringing the deer to your yard.
Planting Deer-Proof Plants
If you want to keep them out, consider adding some plants to your landscaping that deer don’t like. Some good deer-resistant plants include brunnera, Lily-of-the-Valley, sea holly, Virginia bluebells, and lungwort.
Tips for Reducing Damage from Deer
Perhaps you don’t want to completely redo your landscaping with new plants, or deer intruding on your lawn is simply unavoidable. There are a few things you can do to reduce the damage they can do to your landscaping. You could:
- Keep up with the harvesting of edibles.
- Install wind chimes, reflective surfaces, and garden ornaments with movable parts. Deer are easily spooked by the unfamiliar.
- Consider having a fence installed.
- Use deer repellents, available at your local gardening store. If you go this route, be sure to switch up brands from time to time to prevent repellent immunity, and always reapply after it rains.
Need Lawn Maintenance? Get In Touch With Atlantic Maintenance Group Today
Expert advice, installation, and care is a key factor in maintaining the integrity of your property year-round. The Atlantic Maintenance Group offers quality landscape, asphalt, snow removal and concrete maintenance services. We have the expertise to help meet all of your needs. Click here for a free quote today, give us a call at 410-768-4720 or contact us via our website to start planning for your maintenance needs. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+.