Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Friday - February 13, 2015

From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Deer Resistant
Title: Privacy Fence to Exclude Deer
Answered by: Mike Tomme

QUESTION:

This is not a plant question but I hope you will answer it. I have a huge backyard and a low picket fence. Over the years the deer have fallen in love with this area and have eaten much of my native plantings. Time to restart my hobby of native gardening for pollinators. I want to get a six foot privacy fence. My friends say they don't have deer in their backyard because of this kind of fence. What is your opinion?

ANSWER:

Mr. Smarty Plants agrees with your friends. I'm pretty sure a full grown deer can jump a six foot fence, but I'm also pretty sure it won't.

To see why, let's go inside the deer's head. Since the deer can not see what is on the other side of the privacy fence, it can not know whether a jump will land it in the middle of a tasty buffet of newly set out transplants or if it will land in a brair patch, swimming pool or next to a territorial rottweiler.

Deer survive by being cautious, so they won't take the chance.

 

More Deer Resistant Questions

Deer resistant evergreen shrubs for Saratoga Springs, NY
April 20, 2009 - Deer resistant, evergreen shrubs for Saratoga Springs, NY.
view the full question and answer

Deer-resistant plants for steep hillside erosion control
June 03, 2008 - Hello, I am looking for advice on native plants to control erosion on a steep hillside in the western cross timbers. This is a shady area under post oaks and cedar elms, in shallow sandy soil mixed w...
view the full question and answer

Does deer repellant really work from Hope NJ
November 10, 2009 - Does Deer Stopper by Messina Wildlife really work as an organic pest repellent?
view the full question and answer

Deer-resistant Texas native flowers and bushes from Austin
March 24, 2010 - What are some Texas native flowers and bushes that are deer resistant?
view the full question and answer

Deer and rabbit resistant plants for Virginia
April 22, 2009 - I am trying to find deer and rabbit resistant plants/ornamental grasses and flowers to create a year round garden (garden with interest all year) in two large and one small flowerbed in the front of o...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.