For us humans, spring has certainly been far from picture perfect.  But if you are part of the plant, shrub or tree family you probably have been enjoying a lovely rainy, albeit chilly, spring.  Regardless of the weather, spring is here, bringing with it the joy and excitement of hopefully another beautiful, bountiful outdoor season for all of us.  Seasonal items have been arriving at Turpin’s by the truckload, including 20 of the best Deer Resistant Annuals for Chester County Gardens, and it is nothing short of a riot of colors and textures.  Our Landscaping Team has started planting as the temperatures have finally risen to acceptable levels.

With the anticipated return of sunshine to the estimated 500,000 residents of Chester County we would like to share some insight on one of the most frequently asked question to our Landscaping Team, “What are the best plants to use in the garden if you have a deer problem?” Well, we have compiled a list of over 20 of the best Deer Resistant Annuals for Chester County Gardens to answer this question.

Although some homeowners love the daily visits from these gentle, graceful animals, many others are not as happy to see them arrive, or more importantly the damage they inflict on our plants!  Deer are found in many different ecosystems throughout much of North America.  They can live in wetlands, deciduous forests, grasslands and mountains, making them quite comfortable in Chester County, Pennsylvania!

Here are just over 20 of the best Deer Resistant Annuals for Chester County Gardens our Landscape Team uses that you may want to check out:

• Agapanthus – Lily of the Nile 

• Agastache –  Annise Hyssop or Hummingbird Mint

• Angelonia – Summer Snapdragon

• Antirrhinum majus – Snapdragon

• Begonia

• Cleome – Spider Flower

• Coleus – Painted Nettle

• Cosmos

• Digitalis – Foxglove

• Euphorbia – Spurge

• Gomphrena – Globe Amaranth

• Helichrysum – Strawflower

• Heliotrope – Cherry Pie

• Lantana – Shrub Verbena

• Lavendula – Lavender

• Lobelia – Cardinal Flower

• Lobularia – Alyssum

• Marigold

• Nicotiana – Flowering Tobacco

• Pelargonium – Geranium

• Pennisetum – Fountain Grass

• Petunia

• Salvia – Sage

• Senecio – Dusty Miller

• Strobilanthes – Persian Shield

• Torenia – Wishbone Flower

• Verbena bonariensis – Tall Verbena

• Vinca – Periwinkle

In the past many had us believe that Vinca and Marigolds were our best choice for deer resistant plants, aren’t you glad the list is considerably larger and varied?

Just a few more tips to keep in mind when dealing with unwanted deer on your property.  Deer are nocturnal, selective feeders.  Some factors that affect their feeding habits include: population, weather, food availability/attraction and distance from safe cover.  Deer are browsers when it comes to eating.  They often move from location to location throughout the night to consume their total food intake.  Full grown deer can eat up to 6 to 8 lbs. of plant material a day!  There is still hope, with a little bit of planning and some wise plant material choices the neighborhood deer will find another location for their nightly smorgasbord.  Happy Planting!