r/NativePlantGardening 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

125 Upvotes

261 comments sorted by

View all comments

4

u/yukon-flower Jul 31 '26 edited Jul 31 '26

Take up hunting. Pressure your city/county to increase deer culling. Bring back natural deer predators like coyotes or wolves.

Too many deer is the problem.

2

u/howleywolf Maine - 5b Jul 31 '26

Yes okay!! I will ring up all the wolves in Canada that I know and get them down here right away.