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I’ve read a lot of plant packages saying plants are deer-resistant and then the deer come through during winter and decimate them anyway. How do I know which aredefinitelydeer-resistant?

Although a plant may be marketed as deer-resistant, unfortunately, deer are curious and hungry creatures. Mothers and fawns, especially, are known for their voracity and their tendency to nibble many plants as they move along a landscape. The result is that a planting of young pawpaws or currants, both marketed as “deer-resistant,” might have all the leaves chewed off overnight. After eating a “deer-resistant” plant, an individual deer may feel sick or realize (after a few big bites) that they don’t like the taste of the leaves. If the plant is small to begin with, it may be already dead after being munched. And there will likely be more, unfamiliar deer that also need totastetheplanttocometothesame conclusion.

The only sure-fire solution is to use netting while the plants are small. Some have suggested planting allium crops around young plantings, as deer don’t like the smell. But, I think physically blocking the plants from deer will workbest.If youareabletogrowthe “deer-resistant” plant out to a large enough size — perennials usually reach this stage around 2 or 3 years –you can let deer graze on it and learn theirlessonwithoutworryingthatthe plant will die from its leaves getting eaten off.

Ken Estes,Master Gardener