Birds & Blooms

Keep Deer and Rabbits Away

Don't let backyard critters take over your garden.

We've had our fair share of "plant eaters" in our backyard. Deer and rabbits have been the worst. It hasn't stopped us from having a stunning yard, though. Over the years, we've developed a list of plant favorites that seem to deter deer and rabbits. Here are some of our favorites...

  1. Red salvia
  2. Russian sage
  3. Purple coneflower
  4. Black-eyed Susan
  5. Poppies
  6. Cosmos
  7. Butterfly bush
  8. Gladiolus
  9. Clematis
  10. Dianthus
  11. garden
    Columbine photo by Benita Crafton.

  12. Blue Angel salvia
  13. Lychis
  14. Columbine
  15. Balloon flower
  16. Delphinium
  17. Russell lupines


Perfect Solution

Even if plants are labeled as deer and rabbit resistant, critters may still nibble them. For those rare instances, we make and use a spray consisting of rotten eggs, spoiled milk and garlic oil. It really works!

Editor's Note: Be careful when using this mixture on food crops, since rotten eggs can contain salmonella.