Do Deer Eat Yarrow? Deer Resistant Perennials

Deer are majestic creatures that have been known to wander into yards and gardens in search of food. While they may look cute, deer can do a lot of damage to your plants.

However, there are some plants they avoid as they are either poisonous or have a strong scent that deters them. This is great news for gardeners who want to keep their plants safe from deer.

But is yarrow one of these plants? Keep reading to find out!

Do Deer Eat Yarrow?

No, do not eat yarrow. In fact, yarrow is a great deer-resistant plant for your garden. Deer tend to avoid plants that have a strong scent, and yarrow certainly fits that bill. In fact, yarrow is one of the worst tasting plants for deer, so they are likely to avoid it altogether.

So, if you’re looking for a plant to deter deer from your garden, yarrow is a great option! Not only will it keep your plants safe from hungry deer, but it will also add a beautiful pop of color to your garden. Win-win!

However, deer can still damage your yarrow plants with their hooves and antlers. So, if you live in an area with a high deer population, it’s best to take precautions (like fencing in your garden) to protect your plants.

How to Protect Yarrow from Deer?

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

1. Remove sources of food

The first step is to remove sources of food that might attract deer to your garden. This includes things like fallen fruit, bird seed, and pet food. If you have a compost bin, make sure it is enclosed so that deer cannot access it.

Limiting the smell of food in your garden will make it less attractive to deer, so they are less likely to come in and damage your plants in the process. So if you have fruit trees, make sure to clean up any fallen fruit as soon as possible.

2. Fencing

To further deter deer from your garden, you can install a fence. This is especially effective if you live in an area with a high deer population. A fence will not only keep deer out, but it will also protect your plants from other animals like rabbits and foxes.

There are a variety of fencing options available, so be sure to choose one that is best suited for your garden. Wire fencing is a good option if you want to keep deer out, but it can be expensive. You can also use electric fencing, which is effective but requires more maintenance.

Perhaps the best solution is deer netting. This is a type of fencing that is made specifically to keep deer out. Deer netting is relatively inexpensive and easy to install, making it a great option for protecting your garden. I like this netting from Amazon.

3. Deer Repellents

There are a variety of deer repellents available on the market. These repellents work by either making the area unattractive to deer or by deterring them with a bad smell. Repellents can be applied to both the ground and plants, so they are a great way to protect your entire garden from deer damage.

Some of the most popular deer repellents include Bobbex, Hinder, and Liquid Fence. You can find these products online or at your local garden center. I’ve used the Bobbex repellent to good effect in the past.

You can use natural repellents as well, such as eggs, mint, and garlic. These repellents work by deterring deer with their strong smell. Simply mix a few cloves of garlic with water and spray it on your plants.

bobbex repellent
Bobbex repellent

4. Sprinklers

Another great way to deter deer from your garden is to install a sprinkler system. Deer are shy animals and they will avoid areas where they feel exposed. So, if you have a motion-activated sprinkler in your garden, it will startle the deer and keep them away.

Plus, a sprinkler system will keep your plants well-watered, so you won’t have to worry about watering them yourself. This is a great option for people who are busy or live in an area with frequent droughts.

Can Yarrow Be Used as Deer-Resistant Fencing?

Yes, yarrow can be used as deer-resistant fencing. As I mentioned before, yarrow is a plant that deer are not particularly fond of. So, if you plant yarrow along the perimeter of your garden, it will deter deer from entering.

To maximize the chance of deterring deer, you should plant yarrow in a dense row. This will create a physical barrier that deer are less likely to cross. You can also add other plants that deer don’t like, such as lavender and rosemary.

Plus, yarrow is a beautiful plant, so it will add some visual interest to your garden as well. Just be sure to plant it in an area that gets plenty of sunlight, as yarrow does not do well in shady areas.

Conclusion

Yarrow is a great plant to use if you are looking for a deer-resistant solution. It is easy to grow, it is beautiful, and it deters deer. So, if you are looking for a way to keep deer out of your garden, yarrow is a great option.

As you can see, there are a variety of ways to keep deer out of your garden. By taking some simple precautions, you can protect your plants from damage and keep your garden looking its best.

I hope you found this blog post helpful. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment below. Thank you for reading!

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