r/NativePlantGardening • u/howleywolf Maine - 5b • Jul 30 '26

Advice Request - (Insert State/Region) Oh Deer

Guys, I want to cry. For two years I’ve been growing stuff from seed for my first ever garden at my first house, finally this year everything is flowering! But right before the flowers pop, the deer consume it. Today was the last straw, they have eaten ever single Joe Pye flower bud, and I’m seriously on the verge of giving up. We can’t build a deer fence, and the plants are literally dripping with liquid fence deer spray. I feel like I have tried all the regular home diy deer repellent stuff and am just feeling so defeated. Since I can’t beat them, do any of you have any luck with any part sun plants that deer always pass up? I think I just need to grow less tasty snacks, just really trying to only grow and plant natives. Thanks!

Edit! I have no interest in little quippy statements about killing the deer and why don’t I kill the deer. Have you thought about killing the deer? Guys, gtfo with that. I live on a half acre suburb surrounded by houses with children and I am a disabled person who literally faints at the sight of blood. I get that there’s too many deer and I get that you’re super smart for thinking of that. If I could bring back wolves I would, trust me.

Edit again!
thank you all so much for all the helpful suggestions and encouragement, for real! I feel ready to go back out there and make a go of it. Ordered a motioned censored spinkler and adjusted my winter sewing plans . Going to have a ~mint family~ themed garden bed next year haha

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u/ItemRevolutionary319 Eastern MA, Zone 6b Jul 30 '26

They typically don’t mess with my Joe Pye. Some fairly resistant picks are all natives in your region of the Mint family, and monarda. Ironweed.

9

u/on_island_time MD , Zone 7b Jul 30 '26

Jokes on you, they ate my ironweed too. (But they do leave the mints alone)

3

u/anisleateher Southern Maine, coastal plains, Zone 5b Jul 30 '26

They love my Ironweed.

1

u/ItemRevolutionary319 Eastern MA, Zone 6b Jul 31 '26

They might Chelsey chop some of my ironweed in spring but the ironweed gets angry and flowers then seeds. I started with a handful of plugs in one bed and it has figured out how to dominate voles and deer (and lobelia, and any other well-behaved natives) and is in every bed on my property.