![]() ![]() ![]() This year, he is experimenting with onions as well as garlic around other vegetables. What keeps the deer from destroying his garden? He believes it’s the noise from Route 652, but that’s not the end-all solution. His take on insects and animals is simple: “It’s nature-93 percent of insects are good for your plants.” He’s had deer, rabbits, field mice, voles and even bears invading his 6,000-square-foot Edenesque space. The trick with herbs, flowers and bulbs- such as garlic and green onions-that attract the good insects and deter furry creatures is to intersperse them along with your garden flowers or garden vegetables and find out what works with what.īob Hoffman, whose Victory Garden is located on Route 652 in Beach Lake, PA, has been gardening all his life. ![]() Conversely, roses and tomatoes are not good companions. For example, tomatoes, basil and peppers grow nicely together the basil’s scent camouflages the scent of the tomatoes and peppers from pests like thrips and moths. Research “companion plants” that bring good insects to fight the bad ones. Anecdotally, garlic oil sprayed on plants will repel everything from insects to deer. Planting onions and garlic around/within your gardens might also help. They are edible, they self-seed, and they smell yucky to critters. Ornamental onions, like the above-mentioned allium, come in a delightful array of colors. Self-seeding yarrow is not only a rabbit and deer deterrent, but repels some bad insects and attracts good insects.ĭo your research, though: Marigolds, said to deter plant lice and mosquitoes, might deter rabbits but they are eye candy, as it were, for deer.īasil, sage, thyme, dill, coriander, fennel, parsley and caraway are not only tasty herbs, but also attract good insects while deterring rabbits and deer. The benefits go beyond browse resistance, as those flowers also attract pollinators. Others include salvia, Russian sage, Moonbeam tickseed, Firewitch dianthus and the allium Summer Beauty (not a surprise, since alliums are in the onion family). Lavender is one such plant that they avoid. Strong odors-and, surprisingly, not just foul ones-are deterrents to furry friends as well as repellent to mosquitoes and flies. Have you ever seen your tulips disappear, but not your daffodils? Deer and rabbits stay away from daffodils because daffodils are poisonous.Īccording to the Farmer’s Almanac, “ avoid eating daffodils, bleeding hearts, foxgloves, and poppies.” All four of those plants are gorgeous as well as poisonous-and flourish in our Zone 5 landscape. Poisonous plants have been used for generations to buffer the effects of animal browsing. These bugs kill off the bad bugs eating the vegetation, but are not harmful to us. Unfortunately, there are only deterrents, and nothing is foolproof-unless you are lucky enough to have a flat roof to plant upon.įortunately, many plants that deter rabbits and deer are the same plants that attract “assassin insects.” Predatory wasps, ladybugs and hoverflies (they look like tiny bees, but are harmless to humans) are just a few desirable insects in your gardens. The culprits eating your plants or vegetables are most likely deer, rabbits and insects.Īfter all the time, money and hard work tending your gardens, it’s normal to feel disappointment when your garden bounty is eaten by something other than humans. REGION - If you’re a novice or expert gardener, you’ll probably encounter critters in your garden.
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