Keep ‘spring snackers’ out of your garden – my plants deter deer and rabbits

RABBITS and deer are notorious for snacking on flowers that have taken months of hard work to grow, but there’s a clever way to keep them out of your spot.

There are several specific flowers that can be strategically planted to warn animals not to come near them.

John VanDerLaan is the founder of DeerHuntingGuide.neta platform for expert tips and reviews related to hunting.

He has advised gardeners to swap roses, tulips and holly for three different flowers if they want to avoid the visits of ‘spring snackers’.

At the top of his list of recommendations are the bell-shaped flowers of foxglove, which come in pink, pink, white and yellow varieties.

They grow in clusters and can be used to fill a front or backyard garden.

They should be planted in well-drained, moist soil with full sun in spring or fall.

Foxglove blooms from May to July.

“The reason they are not at risk of being eaten by deer or rabbits is that they contain cardiac glycosides, which can cause heart failure in many animals,” John said.

“For generations, animals like deer and rabbits have learned to avoid these flowers so they don’t come near them anymore.”

“Just don’t put these near horses because they will eat them and get sick,” he added.

John said their vibrant color and “strong scent” of a second flower deter many wildlife.

Hyacinths come in such a wide variety of colors that it is easy to find bulbs that match the theme of most gardens.

They should be planted between September and December so that they can bloom all spring.

Hyacinths can grow higher than some small rodents can reach.

“Their bulbs are also poisonous to rodents, so they are very unlikely to be dug up by rabbits or squirrels,” he said.

The wildlife expert revealed that daffodils may be the ‘most deer-resistant flower’.

The low-maintenance plants come in early and late flowering varieties, both of which can be planted for a flowering period of several weeks where animals will not touch them.

Their colors range from strong yellow and cream to warm orange.

“These flowers have a well-deserved reputation for repelling deer, this is because they hate the taste of daffodils,” said John.

“As a result, planting these anywhere in your garden will prevent the deer from coming in because they have no interest in them.”

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