KEEPING YOUR LANDSCAPE FREE FROM ANIMALS
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As towns and cities expand into previously undeveloped areas, wildlife habitats are invaded, bringing people into more contact with local wildlife, especially rabbits. People building in outlying areas of Southern Utah and Nevada also have considerable trouble with deer. Planting new yards in these areas is like ringing the dinner bell! There are many things we can do to discourage our furry friends without causing any harm. Following are some handy tips to keep rabbits and deer at bay and a list of plants, not all inclusive, less likely to attract them.
RABBIT REPELLENT TIPS:
There are a number of products on the market (Star Nursery carries several) that you can spray on your plants and diminish their desirability to rabbits. Sometimes these work and sometimes not. Here is a listing of some home remedies that you can try:
Spray diluted fish emulsion around plants.
Spray diluted garlic like Garlic Barrier on and around plants.
Use mothballs (if no children are present) or talcum powder.
Use powdered Aloe.
Sprinkle wood ashes on the ground.
Scatter blood meal (not effective at low temperatures).
Scatter highly scented soap around the garden area or hang in mesh bags.
Wrap base of young trees in winter to stop rabbits from chewing off bark.
Cats and dogs can give effective rabbit control.
Remove any overgrown brush, weeds or woodpiles close to your garden.
Use mesh fencing around vulnerable shrubs and small gardens.
RABBIT REPELLENT PLANTS: There aren’t many plants immune to rabbit nibbling! If your pesky rabbits are hungry enough, they’ll eat just about anything! Plant the largest specimens you can afford, i.e., 5 gallons are much better than 1 gallons. Here are a few that you can plant with little worry.
Dusty Miller
Nasturtium
Garlic (ornamental & herb varieties)
Onion and flowering onions (Allium)
Mint
Lantana varieties
Garden Penstemon varieties
Autumn Sage (Salvia species)
Artemisia
Lavender varieties
DEER REPELLENT TIPS:
Deer stay away from highly aromatic plants.
Scatter red or black pepper on the ground.
Mix hot sauce with water and spread around the planting area.
Place human or animal hair clippings around the yard.
Use mothballs (if no children are present).
Scatter blood meal (not effective in low temperatures.
Use highly scented soap in plastic mesh bags. Hang about 2 1/2 feet off the ground.
DEER REPELLENT/RESISTANT ANNUALS/BIENNIALS:
Ageratum (Floss Flower)
Impatiens
Gopher Purge
Zinnia
Iceland Poppy
DEER REPELLENT/RESISTANT PERENNIALS:
Anemone
Artemesia (Mugwort/Wormwood)
Australian Racer (Myoporum)
Black-eyed Susan
Blanket Flower
Calendula
California Poppy
Coreopsis
Dusty Miller
Ferns (many varieties)
Four O’ Clock
Green Bush Daisy
Lamb’s Ear
Lantana varieties
Lavender varieties
Marguerite Daisy
Peony
Plantain Lily (Hosta)
Potentilla (deciduous varieties)
Red-Hot Poker
Salvia species (Sage)
Shasta Daisy
Trailing African Daisy
Yarrow varieties
DEER REPELLENT/RESISTANT BULBS, TUBERS OR RHIZOMES:
Begonia (tuberous varieties)
Chives
Daylily varieties
Freesia
Iris & cultivars
Lily-of-the-Nile
Narcissis
Tulip
DEER REPELLENT/RESISTANT VEGETABLES AND HERBS:
Artichoke
Fragrant Herbs: Chives, Lavender, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme
Rhubarb
Squash plants (deer may eat the blossoms)
DEER REPELLENT/RESISTANT GRASSES AND VINES:
Cape Honeysuckle
Carolina Jessamine (Jasmine)
English Ivy
Lily Turf varieties
Mondo Grass
Most ornamental grasses
Pampas Grass
Star Jasmine
DEER REPELLENT/RESISTANT SHRUBS:
Bamboo varieties
Barberry varieties
Bear’s Breech
Bottlebrush
Boxwood varieties
Cactus
Coyote Bush
Germander varieties
Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina)
Holly varieties
Hopseed
Juniper varieties
Myrtle
Oleander
Rockrose
Rosemary varieties
Santolina
Yew Pine
DEER REPELLENT/RESISTANT TREES:
Acacia varieties
American Sweet Gum
Ash Varieties
Mediterranean Fan Palm
Pine varieties
Silk Tree (Mimosa)
Smoke Tree
Spruce varieties
Strawberry Tree
Sumac varieties