Deer and Tulips (iris, landscape, growing, cat)

[uncleharley]

Our mule deer seem to avoid the tulip plants that are close to our Irises. They graze merrily on the rest of our Tulips, but seem to leave anything that is planted close to the Irises alone. Is this just a coincidence or has anyone else noticed this or something similar happening? Are there other plants I could pair our Tulips with that would discourage the deer? They are Mule Deer rather than Whitetails.

uh

[need4speed2012]

No plant is deer proof and this is just a coincidence, also deer will stay away from dryer vents as well, something I learned many many years ago.

Top Deer-Resistant Plants for Your Region

Top Deer-Resistant Plants for Your Region

[cdelena]

I will not let people bring Iris into the house because of the odor. Maybe the deer feel the same way.

[fisheye]

We only have whitetails here in NEPA. However I presume that their diet is very similar to your mule deer. Our deer remind me of raising pigs. If you raise one pig; they are finicky eaters. If you have two pigs; they eat everything. One pig will just smell a new food and the other one thinks that the first one ate the food - then they have to have it. Like was stated in post #2; it was only coincidence that the deer did not finish off your tulips. They are easily distracted by the smell of other deer, predators, humans or other food - but don't worry; they will not forget where your tulips are located!

Lowes and Home Depot have a deer fencing (more like netting) that is 7 ft high and 100 ft long for about $20 (here is one for $14: Shop DuPont 84-in x 100-ft Black Plastic/Polyresin Perimeter Fence at Lowes.com). It is almost invisible, thin, black plastic. You could try deer repellents - I'm not a big fan of those because they do wash off and you can easily forget to re-spray.

[Cambium]

I gave up on tulips and protecting shrubs. Figure I let the wild life enjoy and I don't have to make my landscape look "pretty". Good luck with what you do.

Oh, and I'd rather have nothing growing then put netting over stuff. That's an eye sore itself.

[fisheye]

Originally Posted by Cambium

I gave up on tulips and protecting shrubs. Figure I let the wild life enjoy and I don't have to make my landscape look "pretty". Good luck with what you do.

Oh, and I'd rather have nothing growing then put netting over stuff. That's an eye sore itself.

There are two shrubs you could try. English Boxwood and Japanese Andromeda. That does not go for all Boxwood; only the ones with the rounded leaf tips that also smell like cat urine. I have other shrubs that were nibbled to pieces right along side of those and they suffered no damage. Holly are also pretty immune - although the deer will nip the new shoots.

Yes the netting is ugly close up; but relatively invisible at a distance. I can understand your position; it is just that many of us do not want to totally give up. We like to think of ourselves as smarter than the average deer. The only problem with that statement is that deer are looking for a snack 24/7 and we do not have the patience! It is hard to accept defeat!

[Cambium]

Yup, whatever the reason is for others, I find myself enjoying seeing wildlife closeup and happy rather then making my property look pretty for 1-2 months a year with the bulb stuff.

In other words, I enjoy wild life rather then plant life.

I live in the woods so we got it all here including Black Bears, coyote, deer, rabbits, ect. Had a moose nearby as well.

[uncleharley]

Thank You for the responses. After talking to a few of the local residents, I am convinced that deer will avoid Irises for whatever reason. Time will tell if they do not like Irises enough to leave the rest of my stuff alone, but so far, so good.

uh

[Toyman at Jewel Lake]

Originally Posted by uncleharley

Thank You for the responses. After talking to a few of the local residents, I am convinced that deer will avoid Irises for whatever reason. Time will tell if they do not like Irises enough to leave the rest of my stuff alone, but so far, so good.

uh

Deer don't like Iris here either. One of the few plants they leave alone. Now if I could just get the fur bearing terrorists to leave my little Ponderosa pine seedlings alone for a few years!