Question
Deer and Rabbets are eating all my annual flowers
Begonias,Inpatients and the leafs on my Hydrange
plant. Can you suggest some annuals that the animals might not like.


Answer
You can try to spray your begonias, impatiens and hydrangeas with deer repellants, such as deer-off, liquid fence, etc. (do not use ropel. It is not effective). Deer-off is best because it combine taste (hot pepper sauce) with smell (coyotee urine). I use it every 14 days in spring, and every 4 weeks in summer and early fall. It is most important to reapply after a heavy shower.

It wont work where the deer population is extremely strong or in winter where food is limited, but in spring and summer it can do great.

Here are some plants which are deer resistant (not deer proof). Best used with some spray as above.

Spring (March, April, May, Early June)
Sun

Short Snapdragons
Medium Snapdragons
Tall Snapdragons
Calendulas (sometimes)
Dianthus (sometimes)
Annual Salvias
Annual Verbena
Zinnia Linearis

Shade
Salvia Coccinea
Coleus

Summer (June, July, August, September)
Sun

Zinnia Linearis
Annual Salvia
Annual Verbena
Periwinkle After June 1st only
Gomphrena
Marigolds (sometimes)
Profusion Zinnias

Shade
Salvia Coccinea
Coleus

Deer resistant perennials (list):
http://www.bgperennials.com/deer_resistant_perennials.html

Deer resistant annuals (list):
http://www.bgperennials.com/deer_resistant_annuals.html

Again, deer resistant is a variable term. It depends on the amount of deer gracing, whether they have gotton used to feeding in your yard, and the season.

You need to "break the habbit" for deer (and rabbits) and you can do that with "Deer Off" or similar products (those that combine smell and taste repellants are best) and you can then plant deer "resistant plants". Eventually, you can replant flowers such as impatiens, begonias, lilies, etc but make sure you have gotten the deer and rabbits used to look elsewhere for their meals.

One effective solution is to plant deer resistant bulbs in spring (daffodils, alliums, hyacinths etc) as opposed to deer favorites (tulips, crocus, etc). During this time the deer has limited feeding options and are much more likely to enter your yard. Later in the season (with regular spraying) you can then get the deer to avoid your yard even if you plant impatiens, begonias, etc. But if they are attacted to your yard from early spring, they may get used to come there (habit) and that will make it difficult for almost any plant you consider.

Discourage early (e.g. careful selection of early spring bulbs) and frequent spraying in early spring will give you much more options later (broader selection of plants and less frequent spraying). Even so, deer may on occation return to your yard and kill a begonia or a patch of impatiens. The impatiens will rebloom (sometimes better) and you can just spray again in mid summer if this should happen.

I know what you are going to. It is very discouraging, but trust me, you can get the deer to change their mind (unless you happen to live on a forest preserve which feature deer for example). I live next to a public easement which is also a track for deer, and my yard is not enclosed in wire, so I am usually their favorite dish in the neighborhood unless I attack this problem systematically and consistently.

Kenneth