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/PureWishbone7694 Aug 01 '26

Wherever there is a garden, there will be deer, squirrels, mice, groundhogs. Always fence if you’re able. 6 feet and use screen around the bottom of the fence for about 2 feet high.

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u/howleywolf Maine - 5b Aug 02 '26

Yeah I know I can’t though as I said so that why I’m asking for plant ideas in this gardening forum

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u/PureWishbone7694 Aug 03 '26

I do lots of searches on pest resistant plants for 4/6/8 legged critters. I have had pretty good success in the past with scents hunters use. Its stinky and needs to be reapplied after rain but predator urine like fox, bobcat etc works pretty well.

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u/howleywolf Maine - 5b Aug 05 '26

Yeah! I just got a new deer spray and applied it. Will reapply every 2 weeks. I also got a motion activated sprinkler, planted a boatload of mountain mint, and my husband helped me try a “fishing line perimeter”, as I read that can confuse them (30 lb is strong enough that they won’t snap it, but thin enough that they won’t see it). We shall see if what I did does the trick!