Climbing plants are a great way to add greenery and beauty to any garden. They can be trained to climb up fences, walls, and even trees. But what about deer? Do they avoid climbing plants or will they happily nibble away? In this article, we will explore what climbing plants deer do not eat, so you can have an attractive and safe garden.Deer typically avoid eating climbing plants, such as vines, clematis, honeysuckle, morning glory, and ivy. These plants are usually quite tall and lack the nutrition that deer prefer. Other climbers that deer usually ignore include moonflower, bougainvillea, wisteria, jasmine, and hops. Additionally, deer are less likely to consume some of the thorny varieties of climbing plants like roses or brambles.
Reasons Deer Don’t Eat Certain Plants
Deer are selective grazers, meaning that they prefer to eat certain types of plants over others. Several factors influence why deer may not choose to eat a certain plant, such as its taste or nutritional content. Other reasons why deer may shy away from certain plants include the presence of compounds that are distasteful to deer or even poisonous. Here are some of the primary reasons deer do not eat certain plants:
Taste: Just like humans, deer have their own preferences when it comes to food. Some plants simply don’t taste good to them, so they avoid them. This is why you will often find more mature and tastier crops being munched on and not the younger ones.
Nutrition: Some plants simply lack the nutritional value that deer need for optimum health. While they may not be completely toxic to them, these plants can offer little in terms of sustenance so they tend to look elsewhere for a meal.
Toxicity: Certain types of plants contain compounds that are poisonous or distasteful to deer, so they avoid them altogether. These compounds can range from naturally occurring toxins in the soil or specific chemicals produced by the plant itself as a defense mechanism against herbivores like deer.
Physical Attributes: The physical attributes of a plant can also influence whether or not a deer chooses to eat it. For example, some plants have spines or thorns on them which can make it difficult for a deer to reach and consume its leaves or fruits. Other plants have tough leaves which are hard for a deer’s teeth to break down and digest.
List of Climbing Plants Known to be Avoided by Deer
Climbing plants can make a great addition to any landscaping design, but in areas with deer, it is important to select plants that they are not likely to eat. Fortunately, there are several climbing plants that deer tend to avoid, including sweet autumn clematis, star jasmine, and Japanese honeysuckle.
Sweet autumn clematis is a large vine that grows quickly up trellises and fences. It produces white flowers in the late summer and fall. The foliage is light green and lacy in appearance. This plant is not favored by deer because of its bitter taste.
Star jasmine is an evergreen vine with glossy leaves and small white flowers with a strong fragrance. This plant climbs quickly using aerial rootlets and can eventually reach lengths of up to 30 feet. Deer do not like the taste of this plant, so it makes a good choice for landscaping if deer are present in the area.
Japanese honeysuckle is another evergreen vine that produces fragrant white or yellow flowers in the spring and summer months. This fast-growing vine can reach lengths of up to 20 feet or more when given something to climb on. The flowers attract hummingbirds but are avoided by deer due to their unpleasant smell and taste.
These climbing plants can be used to create privacy screens or add greenery and beauty to any landscape design without fear of them being eaten by deer. With proper care and maintenance, these plants can provide years of enjoyment while keeping deer away from gardens and landscaping areas.
Strategies for Protecting Climbing Plants from Deer
Deer are common garden pests, and when they get into your garden, they can wreak havoc on your climbing plants. If you have climbing plants that are vulnerable to deer, it’s important to take steps to protect them. There are a few strategies you can use to keep deer away from your climbing plants.
One of the most effective ways to protect your climbing plants from deer is to use physical barriers. Deer are large animals, so a physical barrier like a fence is often enough to keep them out of your garden. Fences should be at least 8 feet high and made of solid material such as wood or metal. If you don’t want a permanent fence, you can also use temporary fencing or netting around the area where your climbing plants are planted.
Another way to deter deer from coming into your garden is to use chemical repellents. There are many different types of chemical repellents available, and some are more effective than others. Repellents that contain putrescent egg solids or ammonium soaps are generally thought to be the most effective for keeping deer away from plants. Repellents should be applied every few weeks during the growing season for best results.
You can also use visual deterrents such as motion-activated lights or flags to scare away deer from your garden. Motion-activated lights will turn on when they detect movement in the area, which can frighten away any deer that may be lurking around your plants. Flags work in a similar way; when they wave in the wind, they create an unpredictable environment that deer find unsettling and avoid if possible.
Finally, planting certain species of plants near or among your climbing plants can also help protect them from being eaten by deer. Species such as garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) and European ginger (Asarum europaeum) have strong odors that repel deer and other animals, making them less likely to come into contact with vulnerable climbing plants in the first place.
By using one or more of these strategies for protecting climbing plants from deer, you can ensure that your garden remains safe and healthy throughout the year. With a little bit of effort and planning, you can create an environment where both you and the local wildlife can coexist peacefully!