Fall and Spring Planting Guide: Deer and Rabbit Resistant Plants

Come on and admit it. You really enjoy seeing those cute little baby bunny rabbits frolicking in your yard, scampering about; watching the Bambi-deer amble through your yard, gracefully gliding, prancing, running hither and thither. They are fun to watch. Until, of course, they stop and decide to have lunch in your yard and chomp the life out of the plants that you have been nurturing so lovingly. 

Well, not to fret. There are plants you can include in your yard that are resistant to these cute four-legged rascals. Including them may mean that you have to remove some of the plants they enjoy now and re-plant with these suggested plants. 

Removing those plants may be a problem for you. They were handed down to you. You just like those plants. Digging them out can amount to work. One alternative is to spray your ornamentals and other non-edible plants with products like Deer-Off or Liquid Fence, for example. The key is to spray immediately in the spring when the plants emerge as the ground thaws. If you wait until mid-spring or early summer it is too late. The animals have grown accustomed to eating those plants and, often, spraying them late in the spring or growing season has little negative effect on those cute bunnies and bambies, which by now are the size major eating machines. 

Here are a few deer and rabbit resistant suggestions for you to consider if you want to replace some trees, shrubs, bulbs, or vines in your yard. 

Trees: Fir, Japanese Maple, Cedar, Redbud, Magnolia, Pine, Mountain Laurel 

Ground Covers-Vines: English Ivy, Japanese Spurge, Periwinkle, Wisteria 

Shrubs: Barberry, Butterfly Bush, Boxwood, Juniper, Lantana, Lavender, Sumac, Lilac, Viburnum 

Perennials, Annuals, Bulbs: Yarrow, Columbine, Aster, Serbian Bellflower, Dahlia, Bleeding Heart, Ferns, Cranesbill, Daylilly, Herbs, Iris, Lupine, Bee Balm, Lamb’s Ears, Grasses, California Fuchsia

There are many other options to consider. Talk to your favorite garden center for their recommendations. Take heart. There are many plants that are resistant to four-legged critters. You can use sprays, but planting resistant varieties may be a better long-term solution for you.

And you can plant now before the ground freezes. This gives your plants time to set some roots before the really cold weather comes into your backyard.