Do Deer Eat Butterfly Bush? Using it as Deer Resistant Fencing

Butterfly bush is a beautiful perennial found in many gardens across the United States and the rest of the world. It is known for its brightly colored flowers that attract butterflies and other creatures.

However, there is one big question that gardeners often ask: is butterfly bush deer resistant? In this blog post, we will explore the answer to that question and provide some tips on how to keep your butterfly bush safe from deer damage.

Do Deer Eat Butterfly Bush?

Butterly Bush is a deer-resistant plant that deer don’t enjoy eating. However, if there is nothing else for them to eat, young deer may nibble on the leaves or flowers of butterfly bush. However, deer almost never eat butterfly bush if there are other food sources available.

Deer can accidentally damage butterfly bush when they rub their antlers against the stems or branches. This can cause the plant to lose its leaves or flowers. Deer may also damage butterfly bush plants by walking through them and trampling the plants.

How to Protect Butterly Bush from Deer?

To really deter deer from your garden, you will need to take some proactive steps.

1. Remove food sources

First, you should remove any existing food sources that might attract deer to your property. This includes things like fallen fruit, bird seed, and pet food. You should also avoid planting butterfly bush near other plants that deer like to eat, such as roses or daylilies.

This means the deer will likely skip over your garden in favor of another garden in your neighborhood that has many tasty snacks.

2. Fencing

Another way to keep deer out of your garden is to build a fence around the perimeter. The fence should be at least eight feet tall and made of materials that deer cannot easily jump or climb over, such as wire mesh or chicken wire.

You can also add an electric fence to deter deer. Be sure to follow all safety instructions when installing an electric fence. However, this can be a costly option and may not be necessary if you take other precautions, such as removing food sources and using repellents.

I like this netting from Amazon as it’s an affordable and effective option. This netting is also simple to remove and relocate if you need to, as it’s only lightly attached to the ground with small metal stakes.

3. Hanging Baskets

If you have butterfly bush plants that are already established in your garden, you can protect them by hanging them in baskets. This will make it more difficult for deer to reach the leaves and flowers, and it will also deter them from rubbing their antlers on the stems.

To hang a basket, simply place the plant inside the basket and secure the basket to sturdy support, such as a fence post or trellis. Be sure to use heavy-duty wire or rope to keep the basket securely in place.

4. Deer Repellents

There are a variety of deer repellents that you can use to deter deer from your garden. Repellents work by either making the plants taste bad or by emitting a scent that deer find unpleasant.

You can purchase commercial deer repellents, or you can make your own at home. One homemade repellent recipe calls for mixing garlic, chili peppers, and water in a blender and then spraying the mixture on the plants.

Another recipe calls for mixing one part milk with nine parts water and adding a few drops of dish soap. This mixture should be sprayed on the plants every two weeks.

5. Sprinklers

An automated sprinkler system can also help to keep deer away from your garden. The noise and movement of the sprinklers will startle deer and deter them from entering the area. You can purchase an automatic sprinkler system, or you can simply hook up a hose timer to your existing garden hose. This will turn the water on and off at regular intervals, keeping the deer at bay.

You see, deer dislike the random, unpredictable movement of water droplets, so an automated sprinkler system can be quite effective in keeping deer away from your garden.

Can Butterly Bush Be Used as Deer-Resistant Fencing?

Yes, butterfly bush can be used as deer-resistant fencing. The plants have a strong, offensive odor that deters deer from entering the area. In addition, the plants are tall and can form a dense barrier, making it difficult for deer to jump or climb over them.

The plants also grows quickly so it can be an effective way to create a temporary fence. Simply plant the butterfly bush plants along the perimeter of your garden, and they will soon form a dense barrier that deer cannot penetrate.

If you’re looking for a natural way to keep deer out of your garden, butterfly bush is a good option. Just be sure to plant the bushes close together so they can form a dense barrier.

Conclusion

In conclusion, butterfly bush is deer resistant. Deer are deterred from approaching the garden because of the strong, aggressive odor emitted by the plants. The plants are also tall, forming a firm barrier that deer find difficult to climb or jump over.

Now that you know how to keep deer out of your garden, you can enjoy your butterfly bush plants without worry! Just remember to take some precautions and be vigilant in order to deter these pesky creatures.

I hope you enjoyed this article. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. I’ll be happy to answer them as best I can. Thanks for reading!

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