Do Deer Eat Osteospermum?

Deer are herbivores and they love to eat plants. This can include flowers, shrubs, and trees. But what about osteospermum?

Osteospermum is a genus of flowering plants that includes about 120 species. The flowers are daisy-like and come in a variety of colors including white, yellow, pink, purple, and blue. They are native to Africa but have been introduced to other parts of the world including Europe, Australia, and North America.

Do Deer Eat Osteospermum?

No, deer do not eat osteospermum. The plants are not palatable to them and they will avoid eating them if possible. This is good news for gardeners who want to grow these flowers because they don’t have to worry about deer eating them.

While deer won’t eat osteospermum if they aren’t starving, they may still damage the plants. This is because deer like to rub their antlers on trees and shrubs. So, even though the plants themselves are safe from being eaten by deer, they may still suffer some damage.

Plus, there’s no guarantee that deer won’t eat osteospermum if they’re desperate enough. So, it’s always a good idea to take steps to protect your plants from deer if you live in an area with a large deer population.

Will Osteospermum Deter Deer?

While deer don’t eat osteospermum, they won’t necessarily avoid an area where these plants are growing. This means that osteospermum won’t deter deer from coming into your yard or garden.

If you’re looking for a plant that will deter deer, there are several options to choose from. Some good choices include:

  • Mint
  • Lavender
  • Marigolds
  • Sage

Plant these and other deer-resistant plants around your osteospermum to help keep deer away. You can also use commercial deer deterrents, such as sprays and granules, to help keep deer away from your plants.

How to Protect Osteospermum from Deer?

There are a few things you can do to protect your osteospermum plants from deer:

1. Fencing

The most effective way to keep deer out of your garden is to build a fence. Deer can jump high, so make sure the fence is at least eight feet tall.

This is the best option if you’re looking for a long-term solution. But it can be expensive and time-consuming to build a fence. Personally, I recommend using this netting from Amazon as an affordable way to stop deer from eating your plants.

2. Keep Osteospermum High Off the Ground

If you don’t want to build a fence, another option is to keep your osteospermum plants high off the ground. You can do this by planting them in hanging baskets or pots.

The deer won’t accidentally trample your plants and they’ll be out of reach if the deer does try to eat them.

3. Deer Repellents

There are a variety of deer repellents on the market that you can use to deter deer from eating your plants. Plus, many of them can be found in your kitchen.

Mint, lavender, and garlic are all great options for natural deer repellents. You can also make your own deer repellent by mixing water, vinegar, and essential oils together. Simply spray the mixture on your plants and the deer should stay away.

4. Sprinklers

The last thing you can do to protect your osteospermum plants from deer is to install a sprinkler system. When the deer walks by, the sprinklers will turn on and startle them.

This works well because deer dislike random movement and noise. But it can be expensive to install a sprinkler system and you’ll need to make sure it’s turned on whenever the deer are active.

Can Osteospermum Be Used as Deer-Resistant Fencing?

Even though deer don’t eat osteospermum, the plants are slightly too small to be used as deer-resistant fencing. However, they can be used in conjunction with other plants to create a deer-resistant barrier.

For example, planting osteospermum alongside taller plants like holly will make it more difficult for the deer to jump over the fence.

Conclusion

In conclusion, deer don’t eat osteospermum but they may damage the plants. There are a few things you can do to protect your plants, including fencing, keeping them high off the ground, and using deer repellents.

I hope this article was helpful. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment below. Happy gardening!

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