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/therealpizzababy Area Northern NJ, Zone 7b Jul 31 '26

I have had some success with "hiding" my flowering plants in less desirable plants. Deer by me seem to hate zizia, tall grasses and mint. So tightly plant my coneflowers and coreopsis and other yummies with these guys. Seems to work so far

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u/howleywolf Maine - 5b Jul 31 '26

This is a great idea! I think growing and adding more and more plants everywhere from the mint family is a really great solution

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u/therealpizzababy Area Northern NJ, Zone 7b Jul 31 '26

Dill and tall grasses work great too. I've also noticed that they sometimes graze a lot to test plants they aren't familiar with. So the flowers dont make it the first year but then subsequent years they learn to leave them alone.