As gardeners, not only do we face the challenge of trying to provide our plants with a good growing environment and adequate water and nutrients, we’ve got the joy of battling pests in the landscape. The first pests that always come to my mind are insects, diseases and weeds. But all too often I forget about wildlife! Moles, voles, deer, squirrels, birds…and the list goes on and on. These critters are not only difficult to catch in the act, they’re fairly hard to control.
The leaves of this weeping cherry tree were stripped clean at the classic deer-munching height of 3-6 feet.
Photo Credit: Sarah L. Ivy
Small piles of deer scat (or poop) near damaged plants are a good sign that these four-legged creatures are the pest to blame for garden munching.
Photo Credit: Sarah L. Ivy
In my opinion, the most elusive – and maybe the most damaging – of these wild landscape invaders is deer. Although Bambi stole my heart, I don’t want him stealing my plants. Deer can annihilate buds, leaves and stems on just about any ornamental plant or herbaceous perennial. If you suspect deer are the culprits of your plant damage but you’re not entirely sure, look for the following signs:
Deer tracks: Deer have distinct tracks that make it easy to tell who’s been walking in your landscape beds. Look for hoofprints with “two toes” on each foot. The front and back feet look similar, except the front feet are slightly smaller.
Jagged or missing leaves: When deer chew on leaves, they leave a jagged margin. Often, though, entire leaves will be missing from the plant with only stems left behind.
Height of damage: Deer can dine on plants as high up as 6 feet. If you’ve got plant damage that reaches this high, you can rule out rabbits and other shorter hungry animals.
Scat! (or should I say, “poop”): Look for deer droppings in your garden – especially around plants you suspect have been damaged by deer. I never thought I’d be so excited to find little piles of poo in my yard, but it sure was rewarding to find another clue to help me diagnose my plant problems.
If all else fails and you still haven’t positively ID’d deer as your garden-eating culprit, keep a sharp eye out: You may be able to catch them in the act. With the increasing urbanization of land, deer are moving into suburban – and even some urban – neighborhoods, looking for food. And they’re quite bold creatures! If you rise early and keep an eye on your windows overlooking your yard, you might very well see them making their way through your garden, ordering breakfast.
So if your landscape looks as if a herd of deer trampled through it, that just may be the case! Keep an eye out for the telltale clues these garden invaders leave behind. Knowing what you’re dealing with is half the battle in protecting your garden from unwanted pests – no matter how big they are.
