Deer seem to look past the thorns on roses, but rose thorns seem fleshy and soft when compared with those of the Firethorn. One important thing to note is that Eastern red cedar is an alternate host for cedar apple rust and should not be planted near apples or crabapples. phone: (603) 862-1520 Hours: M-F, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. It is very similar to the American Arborvitae of the east coast, which deer devour, so it seems like they should eat this one, too. While no plant is ever entirely safe from deer, the following selections usually escape damage in all but the leanest of times. (Myrica spp.) Milkweed is taking over my perennial garden. It is deer resistant, evergreen, easy to maintain, drought-tolerant, and grows well in full sun. Inkberry is easy to grow in most landscapes, provided there is full sun or part shade. It grows fast, which is another bonus since it can quickly become a tall enough hedge to discourage them from trying to leap over it or go through it. This is an especially good choice for cold, mountainous regions where deer are plentiful and hungry. Part of it has to do with timing, especially for the deciduous hedges on this list, as the trees are leafless when the deer are the most hungry. Fortunately, we grow a selection of deer proof hedges as well as hedges that deer just don’t prefer to eat unless they are really hungry. How can I save some for the monarch butterflies but keep it from spreading. Taylor Hall, 59 College Road, Durham, NH Directions. Native to Japan, Korea, and eastern China, multiflora rose (... *Pictured above: improperly applied mulch. Zone: 3 – 9. When the leaves are more succulent, the deer have tastier things to choose from. Pieris has glossy dark green leaves year-round and drooping white flower clusters in early spring that attract bumblebees and other pollinators. Fortunately, there are some evergreen shrubs that are mostly avoided by deer. Not exactly a choice salad. Green Mountain Boxwood (Buxus x ‘Green Mountain’) is a hybrid boxwood hedge that deer avoid at all costs. Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) is one of the few native evergreen shrubs that deer largely ignore. Green Giant Arborvitae is a hybrid between Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata) and Japanese Arborvitae (Thuja standishii). Despite occasional issues with lacebugs and winter injury, Japanese pieris is almost never bothered by deer. Make your front yards pest free! Wichita Blue Juniper (Juniperus scopulorum ‘Wichita Blue’) has a strong aroma and somewhat prickly foliage, which is unappealing to most deer. Flame Amur Maple (Acer ginnala ‘Flame’), much like the European beech, is simply not in leaf when the deer are hungry enough to consider it during the winter months. Juniper varieties are members of the cypress family and give off a heavy … All we can say is “they don’t.”. Shrubs to Try. It has small, glossy, dark green leaves that are spineless, and produces small black fruit that are enjoyed by various songbird species. Gardeners in New Hampshire, particularly those in the southern counties and along the Connecticut River Valley, will undoubtedly come into conflict with deer at some point in time. Boxwood is best suited to sheltered locations where it will have some protection. Common boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) has long been a favorite shrub for hedges, and it is one of the most deer-tolerant plants for gardens. They generally ignore it. Copyright © 2020 InstantHedge. Though boxwood does not sport showy flowers, its deep green foliage grows densely and can form a good screen. Kate Karam | October 1, 2019. If you are planting evergreens for privacy, the last thing you want to worry about is deer damage. They grow quickly, too, so they make a great fence to keep deer out of the whole garden. They have … Many additional cultivated varieties have been introduced to the nursery trade that have blooms in various shades of pink, red and combinations thereof. In many locations in New Hampshire, the evergreen foliage tends to turn brownish-yellow when plants are grown in areas with full sun and winter winds. Soil Requirements: Various Soils – Moist tolerant. In winter, when other options are limited, the beech has only bare branches and dry, crunchy leaves. European Beech (Fagus sylvatica) is not a deer-favorite. This is because these trees are resistant to deer damage. Chinese juniper is also susceptible to cedar apple rust and should not be grown in the vicinity of apples. Boxwood is hardy to zone 5 but may suffer damage in harsh winters.