Best Plants for Deer Food

Are deer decimating your valuable garden and landscape plants? According to the Cornell Cooperative Extension in New York, the deer population in the United States has grown from 500,000 to 15 million in just over a century. This is good news if you're a deer or a deer hunter. If you are a gardener or landscape aficionado, it is less good. If your property allows it, you can plant a deer garden--an area of plants that deer prefer over others. It will keep your deer well fed and your green thumb intact.

  1. Trees

    • Fruit trees such apple, plum and cherry are deer favorites. Windfall fruits--those that fall to the ground naturally--attract deer quickly. If you plan to grow these fruits for your family, consider adding a few extra. Damaged fruit can be added to the deer food supply.

      Deer can damage tender bark when they rub their growing antlers. Wrap the trunk of the trees with protective tape or chicken wire to protect the bark.

      Acorns provide a needed protein boost to deer as they head into winter. Plant the largest oak tree you can manage to provide acorns in abundance. Deer may browse the lower branches, but as the tree grows beyond their feeding height, it will provide a yearly acorn bonanza without any maintenance.

    Groundcovers

    • Alfalfa and clover are excellent forage for deer. Inexpensive and easy to grow, they can be used as ground cover in place of lawn. Devote part of your property to a maintenance-free wild area. This will reduce the time you spend on lawn care and offer wildlife, including deer, a safe place to feed and rest.

    Flowers

    • Large, cheerful sunflowers will attract songbirds to your yard in addition to deer. They are inexpensive to cultivate. Cosmos, another annual flower, are deer favorites. Broadcast the seeds of these flowers in your fields and offer deer an alternative to your ornamentals.

      Deer will eat almost anything when they are hungry. Plants are most vulnerable during the winter months when food is in short supply. At this point, you may wish to supplement the food supply with utility-grade apples or a commercial deer food. Check with your county agricultural extension before feeding wild deer; it is illegal to do so in some parts of the country.

      Plants that are native to your area are less likely to suffer irreversible deer damage. Other deer-proofing strategies include the use of repellents and fencing. Be forewarned--repellents need to be reapplied frequently and fencing must be at least 7 feet high.