Question
We have deer in our yard - the neighbor feeds and waters them - at almost anytime of the day.  There are more of them (sometimes as many as 11) near dusk.  I have tried to plant 'deer resistant plants' but they have eaten everything regardless of the fact that there is all sorts of vegetation because we have had plenty of rain.  Recently we put chicken wire around four bushes and have fenced a very small section of our 'woods' to try to establish a shade garden.  Any help or advice you can give would be very appreciated.  I believe we live in zone 4-5.  Thank you.

Answer
Hi Dianne,

Normally I can help with problem deer.

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However when fed as "pets" during daylight hours, there isn't much I can offer other than you need to get your neighbor to respect them as wildlife and quit feeding them.  An unnatural situation is occuring that will result in a higher than normal deer population that will be out of touch with their normal instincts and parental teaching.  Eventually there will be a very sad time when these deer will be destroyed by their own imposed ignorance or by destroying them to reduce the population.

There really aren't much in the way of truely deer resistant plants if the feeding pressure is high.  They might avoid mint, spiny cactus and a few other things but most desirable plants are going to be "sampled" to the ground as food becomes scarce or variety is sought.  You will need 8 foot high mesh fencing all the way to the ground to keep them out.  One low spot and they will find it.  A six foot jump is easy for them.  Wish I could offer more help.

Dan