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Why Deer Eat Mums — and How to Protect Your Fall Flowers
Gardeners can deter hungry deer with repellents, chicken wire and fences, but experts say deer still eat almost anything when food runs short.
- Chrysanthemums are iconic fall flowers, yet they frequently fall victim to deer seeking sugar and nutrients to bulk up for winter. These "eating machines" often decimate entire patches of freshly planted mums.
- Christina Stembel, founder and CEO of Farmgirl Flowers, warns that "deer-resistant" is merely a "marketing word". Hungry deer consume almost anything, leaving few plants truly safe from their appetite.
- Gardeners can employ repellents like Liquid Fence or DIY garlic sprays, though effectiveness varies. Stembel advises keeping mums near doorways or using chicken wire cages to discourage deer from approaching.
- Beyond deer, rabbits also pose a threat, leaving stems cut clean rather than ragged. At her Farmquarters property, Stembel invested in fencing to protect about 350 heirloom mums after discovering the culprits.
- For safer fall options, Stembel suggests fragrant plants like rosemary and lavender, or toxic varieties like hellebores. She also recommends Japanese anemones, particularly "Honorine Jobert" and "Dreaming Swan", which deer typically avoid.
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27 Articles
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Total News Sources27
Leaning Left0Leaning Right0Center27Last UpdatedBias Distribution100% Center
Bias Distribution
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