I have been running deer resistance studies for the past 4 years and I am FINALLY getting around to compiling the data.
Would anyone be interested/willing to review the table:
(1) to make sure I haven't significantly goofed up the bloom times (all referenced to Ohio), bloom color, heights
(2) to let me know if they have had any deer experience with any of the plants, which is different than what I list
(3) any random typos (augh!)
The first table is plants that begin with "A"- 60 listings.
If you are willing, I will email you the list (Excel spreadsheet).
Many thanks.
PS I will make the list available to all once it is fact checked.
Deer Resistance data - anyone willing to fact check?
Hey Rox
I would love to give it a look over. I have 9 beds and 2 are a little ways from the house and the deer go there all the time. I have also been doing research as to what I can grow there and what not to. I have been shuffling plants out of these beds and adding what is "supposed" to be deer proof. I have found this to not always be the case. Maybe Ky deer are different than the ones they are using? who knows. We live on 100 wooded acres at the edge of the Daniel Boone National Forest and have a huge deer population. The outside dogs help keep them from the beds closest to the house, but don't help much with the ones further out. I have tried all the homemade deer repellent, ahem even my own. Used cat litter seems to work best so far. It would prob. be best to send to my regular email.
goodwilly05@yahoo.com
Thanks
George
George-
Fantastic. I would love your input.
I'll send you A-D tomorrow.
Please make suggestions, revisions and additions as appropriate.
ROX
Well, I have a lot of hungry deer here and not many plants. I may be able to help on a couple of things, if you would like to dmail me.
I have noticed that the deer change their eating habits.
A couple years there they were eating young ferns in the woods, they had never done this before to my knowledge, then they left them alone again. Not a food shortage those years. So is it individual tatse? What there mamas show them to eat?
I think it is great that you have gone to the trouble to make this list. good luck.
Cparts-
I can't Dmail an excel spreadsheet. If you are willing to look at the list so far, A-D, [I would be very grateful] please Dmail me your email address.
ROX
Re: eating preferences.
The does definitely show the fawns what to browse as they are growing up. Year to year they seem to establish preferences. For me this is often based on location. For example, one year a doe left her two fawns near a bed for hiding and for several months they returned to that bed to browse. The next year, she established another location as a safe haven for her fawns and that became the preferred bed for browsing.
While does seem to have established patterns, I have had some bucks that seem to wander around and are brazen enough to try anything.
I wonder if the deer you noted were going after the young ferns as they were seeking out water. For the last two years, I have had deer eating my lily pads (usually not on the fav list) out of my small pond. These years have been particularly dry at times and the pond become a major water source.
ROX
Yes, I will dmail you my address.
That is a good idea about the water shortage, but no water shortage here, we live on a lake and have plenty of swamp and streams with water.
I have seen deer eat lilly pads often. Sometimes pulling them up and just eating the stalks and letting the pad drop into the water, sometimes eating the whole thing.
That's interesting about the lily pads! It must be quite a site.
ROX