The deer damaged the gardens of Tennessee residents; those who are not able to cope with deer damage can understand how maddening it is to see their garden being eaten during the night. The most intelligent way to keep your investment in landscape safe, as well as save on the amount of maintenance and keep the landscape beautiful, is by choosing deer-resistant plants that are easy to grow. These drought-resistant species will do well in Tennessee's natural environment with their deer-deterrent nature and minimal care habits.
TN Nursery has been focused on providing quality native and ornamental plants for a pollinator garden that deer will always avoid.
Why Are Deer-Resistant Plants Essential in Tennessee Gardens?
The significance of deer-resistant plants in Tennessee gardens is that they are time-, money-, and frustration-saving products as opposed to plant replacement or installation of expensive fences. These types have some special features that cause their innate unattractiveness to browsing deer (nasty smell, hairy leaves, coarse feel, or distasteful flavor).
Plants of low-maintenance deer-resistant plants are also selected, which contributes to healthy ecosystems. Numerous deer-resistant varieties are native species, which sustain organisms in the soil, enhance the microbial diversity, and serve as food sources to pollinators. Their root systems naturally increase the organic matter without the need for fertilizers. To obtain science-supported information on how to ensure a landscape is deer-resistant, the USDA Plants Database offers free materials on how to manage wildlife.
Top Easy-to-Grow Deer-Resistant Plants
TN Nursery has some of the best plants that deer do not eat that are adapted to Tennessee environments. Here are the top picks:
Button Bush
It is a native wetland shrub that grows unique spherical white flowers and has outstanding rooting in damp to wet soil. The buttonbush is one of the surest, fastest-growing deer-resistant shrubs that are resistant to deer, with flowers that appeal to butterflies, and deer prefer not to touch its bitter leaves.
Virginia Creeper
This is a fast-growing native vine, which has beautiful five-leafed foliage that changes to a brilliant red color in fall. The Virginia Creeper is a good option of plants that are deer-resistant to be used in creating fences, arbors, and slopes.
Carex Pensylvanica
This is a graceful clump sedge native to the sedge with an arched blade, and can withstand deep shade and dry soil. The Carex Pensylvanica is among the best low-maintenance, deer-resistant plants in problematic shaded areas.
Great Blue Lobelia
This is an eye-catching native, which is a perennial that grows tall spikes of bright blue flowers all through summer, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. The Great Blue Lobelia is one of the prettiest plants that deer do not eat, and it grows in moist soils and partial shade.
Red Hot Trio
This is a collection of colorful red perennials that provide rich color in the summer, and the deer never go near their leaves. The Red Hot Trio is an implementation of three exceptional deer-resistant plants, which can be used in mixed borders.
Step-by-Step Planting Guide for Deer-Resistant Plants
Proper planting of deer-resistant plants would lead to good establishment. Follow these steps:
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Select the proper site: Where sun and shade fit: Buttonbush likes moist soils (when it is dry, choose Carex Pensylvanica).
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Preparation of the soil: Planting holes by digging and incorporating compost and organic substances into the medium to ensure that roots develop well.
- Space correctly: Provide the opportunity to achieve the mature size of the plants, which can be 18 to 36 inches between plants of different species.
Post-Planting Care
Newly planted, low-maintenance deer-resistant plants grow deeply, either once or twice, in the first growing season. Use two to three inches of mulch on the base. TN Nursery comes with detailed instructions on how to properly care for every order to ensure that your fast-growing deer-resistant shrubs grow successfully.
Landscaping Ideas Using Deer-Proof Plants
Deer-resistant landscaping ideas that are imaginative will turn susceptible yards into attractive and secure gardens. Plant fast-growing deer-resistant shrubs such as buttonbush to form natural screens for privacy in front of property lines where deer browse is intense.
Plant in layers the plants that deer do not eat according to height and texture to make naturalized borders. Plant tall shrubs such as Great Blue Lobelia as a background, middle shrubs such as Button Bush, and ground cover such as Carex Pensylvanica in the edges.
Plant together plants for a pollinator garden with deer-resistant plants with beneficial insects to help pollinators, as well as safeguard your investment. Most of the native ones, such as Great Blue Lobelia and Button Bush, are bee and butterfly attracting and are also deer resistant.
Seasonal Care Tips for Tennessee Gardens
Deer-resistant plants can easily be maintained throughout the seasons of Tennessee. During spring, rake off the dead matter of winter and put in new mulch. When the weather becomes hot and dry, use water-resistant, low-maintenance deer-resistant plants to ensure that the foliage is fresh.
During fall seasons, it is better to have the fast-growing, deer-resistant deciduous shrubs to show the autumn coloring and then cut off the dead foliage in late winter. Keep seed heads that winter on plants such as Great Blue Lobelia to feed birds. These easy measures ensure your deer-resistant landscaping ideas always look good all year round.
Conclusion
Deer-resistant plants are important to Tennessee gardens that are easy to grow and withstand damage by deer, provide the landscape with beauty, and regenerate ecosystems. These disease-resistant types have natural qualities of repelling deer as well as growing with low care. The wetland-loving buttonbush, the climbing Virginia Creeper, the versatile Carex Pensylvanica, the colorful Great Blue Lobelia, or the colorful Red Hot Trio, either way, every type that is produced at TN Nursery is a good one. Trust TN Nursery as your sure bet when it comes to plants for a pollinator garden in which deer fear to enter.
FAQs
What plants are deer-resistant in Tennessee?
The best Tennessee deer-resistant plants include buttonbush, Virginia Creeper, Carex Pensylvanica, and Great Blue Lobelia.
How do I plant deer-resistant plants successfully?
Prepare soil using compost, find a balance between sun/shade needs, deeply water the first season, and use mulch to retain water.
Which deer-resistant plants require the least maintenance?
Carex Pensylvanica and buttonbush are excellent low-maintenance, deer-resistant plant species that require only a minimal amount of water and annual mulching.
Can deer-resistant plants survive partial shade?
Yes, deer do not consume plants such as Carex Pensylvanica and Great Blue Lobelia, and they make excellent selections in partial or full shade.
How do I protect my garden from deer naturally?
Eliminate deer-resistant plants by planting fast-growing, deer-resistant shrubs and perennials and by developing layered plantings with deer-resistant landscaping concepts.
Where can I buy deer-resistant plants online?
TN Nursery provides the highest quality deer-resistant plants, such as native and decorative plants, with professional advice provided.
