The lawn’s reduced root system and diminished grass expose the ground to stormwater runoff, a chief soil erosion culprit. This shrub is fairly low maintenance, simply requiring pruning to keep its shape, though it should be protected from cold winter winds. Tips for Deterring Deer From Entering Your Yard and Garden, 29 Shrubs That Grow in Full or Partial Shade, 15 Recommended Flowering Shrubs for Your Home, 14 Best Fall-Blooming Flowers for Your Perennial Garden, 10 Best Flowering Plants That Deer Will Not Eat. Some animals still might choose to take a bite out of these shrubs, especially if food options are limited. In winter dormancy, bronze foliage adds structure and motion to the landscape. Deer might nibble on these trees if they're desperate for food, but the foliage is definitely not their first choice. Astilbe are also deer-resistant plants … It stays under 10 inches tall, spreads well beneath trees but does not climb, and gives a subtle display of creamy white flowers in early summer. protects sunny slopes while offering year-round interest with tiny white flowers, glossy green foliage, and red berries—making it ideal for pollinators and birds. Beautiful and robust ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) is a great erosion control plant for low-light graded areas. When I tried reseeding, the seed ran off the slope, and now small ravines are forming, which I think is due to erosion. This hardy perennial has been used for generations to beautify steep banks and arm them against erosion. David Beaulieu is a garden writer with nearly 20 years experience writing about landscaping and over 10 years experience working in nurseries. It is the fragrance of bayberry that deters deer from eating it. Forsythia may have a short bloom season, but … The right type of grass is perfect for erosion control on mild slopes because it provides a dense root mass and tough foliage that holds up well under foot traffic. (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) Most of the deer-resistant, noninvasive ground covers are … The 8 Best Plants for Erosion Control in Your Yard - Bob Vila Oct 2, 2012 - Drought tolerant, deer resistant hillside. Erosion occurs when wind and/or water move across unprotected ground, removing soil particles. Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia), which is technically a subshrub, has bluish flowers with silvery-gray foliage. In general, shrub roses are good plants where deer are a problem due to their thorny stems that deer don't like to eat. It’s suited to USDA zones 3 through 9. Cut back in early spring to make room for fresh new foliage. If you water your plants, you will have more damage. Left unchecked, erosion carves deep gullies and can undermine pavement, buildings, and other structures. Branches grow roots where they touch the soil, adding even more soil protection. Plant in sandy, loamy, moist or wet, and acidic soil conditions. … Zone: 3 – 9. Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster spp.) Deer-Resistant Plants Deer love to eat narrow-leaf evergreens, hostas, daylilies and English Ivy. Some new cultivars, such as 'Blue Chip', have few seeds or are seedless, making them less able to spread. Sometimes the damage is merely cosmetic, and the plant can recover. Can you suggest some plants that will flourish while helping to control erosion? Juniper generally is low maintenance, simply requiring some pruning to control its growth. Sea holly is a delight to butterflies and flower arrangers alike and is a tough plant that is very tolerant of drought. They also require little care. Deer Resistant Plants. Plant spaced 4 feet apart in USDA zones 6 through 9. It grows to roughly 6 to 10 feet but can get even taller in the right conditions. Space plants 5 to 6 feet apart in USDA zones 5 through 8. It’s suited to USDA zones 3 through 8. There are many possibilities among evergreen species, flowering shrubs, and other specimens that deer aren't likely to munch on. Boxwoods (Buxus) are broadleaf evergreens, meaning they have broad leaves like deciduous plants but keep their leaves in the winter. Disclosure: BobVila.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Copyright © 2020 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. The berries also are toxic to people and pets, so take care when planting the shrub. Japanese spurge (Pachysandra terminalis) forms a glossy, broadleaf, evergreen carpet that controls soil erosion in shady areas. Remember "deer-resistant" is not "deer-proof." This fast growing ground cover for slopes grows well in … Plants that are toxic to deer like daffodils and foxgloves … Plants that leaf out early and hold their leaves until late fall, however, rise to the top of the heap. One of our favorite deer-resistant perennials are bleeding hearts (Lamprocapnos spectabilis, aka Dicentra spectabilis). Ornamental grasses feature extensive fibrous roots, excellent drought tolerance, and lush foliage. Examples include: 1. white turtlehead, Chelone glabra, the host plant for our state butterfly 2. turk's cap lily, Lillium superbum 3. And who better to recommend these plants … Prune the shrub once a year after it's done flowering to control its height. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, Daphne (Daphne x burkwoodii 'Carol Mackie'). … Space plants 12 inches apart for complete coverage within a season in USDA zones 3 through 9. RELATED: 10 Lush Landscaping Ideas for a Hilly Backyard. This shrub is a favorite of many pollinators, and it's drought-tolerant. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. Meanwhile, blue rug juniper (Juniperus horizontalis 'Blue Rug') often serves as a ground cover on hillsides. Slope Attributes: deer resistant. Mark Wolfe, Bob Vila, 10 Lush Landscaping Ideas for a Hilly Backyard, Easy Ground Covers: 7 Varieties to Enhance Any Landscape, All You Need to Know About Landscape Fabric, The Best Landscape Fabric for Blocking Out Weeds, The Dos and Don'ts of Planting Ground Cover. Also included are hard-to-find plant lists of special traits and useful characteristics: self-seeding, fra-grance, long-blooming, minimal litter trees. Solomon's plume, Maianthemum racemosum 4. all orchids, for example the lady slippers, as shown at left 5. ninebark, Physocarpus opulifolius 6. smooth Solomon's seal, Polygonatum biflorum var. Daylilies; Sedums; Echinacea; Succulents; … This low, spreading, evergreen shrub reaches one to 2 feet tall and spreads three to 4 feet wide in just a season or two. You also mentioned Sage (Salvia) and while many sages are classified as low water use and deer … Native Plants for Shady Slopes. Plant Life columnist Valerie Easton talks with an expert on slope erosion. Some bloom in Winter, and many of them are evergreen! A carpet of pink, purple, red, or white flowers each spring makes creeping phlox (Phlox subulata) one of the showiest plants for erosion control. Andromeda (Pieris japonica) is a dense, flowering, deer-resistant shrub. This shrub also will spread, so remove its suckers if you want to keep it contained in one area. They're fairly low maintenance, except for an annual pruning to maintain their shape and remove unhealthy portions. Space plants 3 feet apart in USDA zones 3 through 8. This entire list is deer and drought resistant, tried and true. Native to eastern North America, where it shrubby grows naturally in sandy open woods and meadows, shrubby St. John’s wort (Hypericum prolificum) is widely adaptable to different soil conditions, but does consistently well on wet slopes or where periodic flooding occurs. Plants listed as 'Deer proof' hold up well but are nibbled on once or twice/year. This makes them a very popular choice for hedges. Golden bell is drought tolerant and deer resistant. Blue star juniper (Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star') is a small, slow-growing, rounded bush that is a good choice where a bluish accent is needed. Lawn And Garden. And because deer have a sensitive sense of smell, they tend to dislike any plants with a strong odor. Growing conditions: Full sun. Juniper varieties are members of the cypress family and give off a heavy fragrance. BEST plants for 30 tough garden sites: dry shade, slopes, lakeshores, all locations that call for tough, durable plants. Daffodils (Narcissus spp.) It features dense growth that beautifully fills landscape beds with a solid mass of glossy, deep green, fern-like foliage. Commonly referred to as dwarf coyote bush, this ground cover is a California native, which grows 1 to 2 ft. high with a 6 to 8 ft. spread. Its fragrance is one of the true delights of the spring garden, but the aroma and poisonous berries are distasteful to deer. When landscape trees mature, the grass beneath them gets shaded and may die off from lack of adequate sunlight. Muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris), a widely distributed native North American perennial grass, boasts beautiful cotton candy-like pinkish bloom spikes that rise above the foliage in fall. Moss phlox. Explore. When their … Creeping Myrtle. Plants for Moderate Level Deer Problems The fruit trees have no fruit or leaves below 4'. Plant Muhly grass at a 3-foot spacing in USDA zones 6 through 10. Spread: 1 to 2 feet. Zones: 3 to 9. To keep the plant well-shaped and flowering, cut it back by about half in the early spring. In general, prune roses in the early spring before blooms start to show. Height: 3 to 6 inches. Gardeners tend to see more damage in their garden from deer in the late fall and winter. Choose from several species for erosion control: Bearberry cotoneaster (C. dammeri) grows one to 2 feet tall and 6 feet wide, Rockspray cotoneaster (C. horizontalis) grows two to 3 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide, and willow leaf cotoneaster (C. salicifolius) grows two to 3 feet tall and 5 to 6 feet wide. I avoid plants with excessive pest or disease problems and that stray too far from their original planting site. Coreopsis; Sedums; Hardy Ferns; Shade Ground Covers - Deer Resistant; Sun Ground Covers - Deer Resistant; Drought Tolerant Plants. Sod gives immediate coverage but requires more time for preparation and installation. Ideal for erosion control on part shade to full shade garden areas including slopes. And erosion problems are increasing; not just because of climate-change extremes. While no plant is 100% deer resistant, deer generally avoid these perennials. Some gardeners even choose to trim the stems down to the ground in early winter to give their landscape a cleaner look. ... Drought Tolerant Landscape Landscaping A Slope Landscape Outdoor Landscaping Luxury Landscaping Plants Ground Cover Plants Deer Resistant … Seed is less expensive and easy to install but takes four to six weeks to grow in. Although the butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii) is considered invasive in many regions, it also can be a striking addition to a landscape. Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia), which is technically a … Creeping plum yew (Cephalotaxus harringtonia ‘prostrata’) is one of a few shade-tolerant conifers. You may not need to give up grass if you can find a species better suited to your conditions. ), available at garden stores and landscape suppliers in both seed blends and as sod. Kathleen Miller is a Master Gardener and Horticulturist with over 30 years experience in gardening and sustainable farming. But while bees and butterflies like its flowers, the plant's heavy scent repels deer. By Mark Wolfe and Bob Vila. Remove dead, diseased, and overgrown wood to promote better airflow, which helps to prevent pests and diseases. Do not plant these plants in a moderate deer … It's generally low maintenance, though you might have to remove suckers to prevent new plants from spreading where you don't want them. Spring Glory Forsythia. This deer-resistant shrub bears reddish fall foliage and bluish berries in addition to white flowers in the spring. It stays low (under 6 inches) and spreads at a moderate pace. An added bonus is that deer won’t eat it. Fescue is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 3 through 7. Q: The grass in my yard—which is in partial shade since the trees around it have grown up, and on a slight slope—has been dying for the past several years. Here are 10 varieties of deer-resistant shrubs. Pruning is optional if you wish to keep the bush compact with more prolific flowers. Some native plant species are favorite food sources for white tailed deer. Design a beautiful landscape filled with breathtaking blooms and distinctive foliage, without worrying about destructive In contrast with creeping juniper, creeping myrtle (Vinca minor) is … Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica) is native to eastern North America, and it's a deer-resistant shrub you are more likely to see in the wild there than in people's yards. Deer resistant and easy to grow fern. Clear-cutting is the major … biflorum 7. pinxter azalea, Rhododendron periclymenoides … … For shade tolerance, one good choice is fescue (Festuca spp. You mentioned Coast Live Oak, Valley, and Toyon which all seem like good choices. Some of the plants suggested below may be ideal to bring life back to your yard—but before buying any, check the USDA plant hardiness zone map to ensure they can thrive in your area. This plant is somewhat difficult to grow, as it requires a delicate balance of soil moisture and sharp drainage. Thorn-free shrubs always make maintenance a little easier. Oct 2, 2012 - Drought tolerant, deer resistant hillside. Roses have every leaf removed each summer-fall. 'Carol Mackie' Daphne (Daphne x burkwoodii 'Carol Mackie') is a variegated bush with extremely fragrant flowers. ... How to plant CA natives on a slope… Tried and true deer-resistant plants for the Sierra Foothills; Cool Links. The tenacious root system of the forsythia shrub makes it an excellent choice for erosion control. As a result, they are disappearing from natural areas. Bluebeard or the blue mist shrub (Caryopteris) blooms in late summer at a time when relatively few bushes are flowering. A: You may be correct about your troubled turf! Plant it in partial sun to shade at 3 feet apart to grows into a low 3-foot mound with glossy blue-green foliage and showy yellow flowers. Deer-resistant plants often feature a texture or smell the animals try to avoid. More ... Eastern … Some shrubs might die without an obvious cause, so choose a planting area that allows for easy removal if necessary. Fortunately, certain plants can be effective in preventing erosion on slopes of up to 33 percent (that’s 1 foot of elevation change for every 3 feet of horizontal distance), according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Aquilegia canadensis. It produces beautiful blooms for most of the summer and will attract many pollinators to your garden. Landscape shrubs are not the preferred food for white-tailed deer, but deer will still eat them in a pinch. These plants are magnets for pollinators—hence their common name—but deer tend to avoid them. Wild Columbine. Likes … But if the bark is completely stripped from a shrub or tree, that can mean the end of the plant. We'll help you find the best deer proof ground covers for your zone and need from tried-and-true classics to brand new. Deer-Resistant Plants for Shade. The plant also is tolerant of drought, erosion, and salt. You get a 3-for-1 deal with arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum). For a different look, try the Pfitzer Chinese juniper (Juniperus chinensis 'Pfitzeriana Glauca'), which is commonly shaped into pom-poms. It is drought-tolerant and deer-resistant. This smell is what makes deer recoil and avoid eating the plant. 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