deer defoliated my moutain laurel!

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amergina Pittsburgh, PA(Zone 6a) Apr 06, 2006

Last spring, I planted a Carousel Mountain Laurel in my back yard. It did wonderfully last summer, all fall and most of the winter.

But now, all the leaves have been eaten off by the deer. I didn't think this would happen, as laurel are generally deer resistant. However, it looks like they must have gotten quite hungry, because my poor shrub is bare.

Is there any hope of recovery? Is there anything I can do to encourage new growth?

If it makes it, I plan to net or fence it next fall/winter, so that the deer won't snack on it again.

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Resin Northumberland, United Kingdom(Zone 9a) Apr 07, 2006

Maybe the deer knew something about deer populations and wanted an abortion (Kalmia is also known as 'Lambkill', and for good reason!)

I'd have thought the chances of regeneration are quite good, but put a deer cage round it so it doesn't happen a second time.

Resin

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alyrics Beachwood, OH Apr 07, 2006

Ahh - welcome to hybrids. The wild kalmia apparently has more of the chemical that is toxic to them. I have had the exact same problem. They 've eaten a Hearts of Fire 2 winters in a row - and always around this time when the grass isn't quite growing yet and everything else is dead from last yr. I thought I got away with it this year but nope, they got every last leaf off it a few weeks ago. They will leaf out again, baby it so it doesn't have to work too hard.

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