Question
Dan
You've probably answered this before, but I can't find it. We live in suburban Maryland, just outside DC. Our property abuts the woods. My wife's the expert in plant identification, but she's out of the country so I'm afraid we'll have to settle for the little I know.

Something is having a field day eating our plants. Most of our hastas are eaten down to the ground. We have a small shrub-like plant whose flowers resemble roses. They've been eaten too, as well as a right red, waxen leafed plant we've got in our more shaded areas. We see deer in our garden and backyard all the time, especially in the morning, so I'm inclined to think they're the culprits. We've tried mothballs, but no good. What can we do?

Answer
Hi Bruce

I would think deer if you have seen them around.  They are primarily nocturnal so you would not actually see most of their presence. The other culprit might be groundhog, but they are primarily a daytime animal and you would see it from time to time.  I hear a lot of complaints about deer eating hosta.  They must be a delicacy. Things like mothballs and pepper don't have much if any effect on deer.  I developed my own solution that is very effective.  It is an electronic deterrent that makes deer think a cougar is in the protection area.  The deer have an instinctive fear of cougar and leave.  Here is my website.  You can ask further here or use my email at my site.  These work very well indefinitely without losing effect over time. My original test site is over 6 years.  Because of the time of year and the dog day night noises, I recommend the model 2014 because it can be heard better.

http://www.freewebs.com/walnut_creek_enterprises/?

Dan