Landscape Design | Planting | Stonescapes | Waterscapes | Fencing
HYDRANGEAS
Deer
They love narrow-leaf evergreens, especially arborvitae and fir, and show a preference for hostas, daylilies, and English ivy, according to researchers in the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, who have studied whitetailed deer damage to nurseries in the Northeast and report heaviest browsing from October through February. Although hungry deer will generally eat whatever is within reach, they don't savor garlic, cotoneaster, or hawthorn. And several growers who participated in the study noted that deer seem to prefer plants that have been fertilized.
Although the first rule in deer proofing is that there really are no deer-proof plants, here are some that deer don't seem to enjoy.
-- courtesy of Outwitting Deer, by Bill Adler Jr.
| Botanical name | Common name |
| Achillea | Yarrow |
| Allium | Onion |
| Artemisia | Sage |
| Cedrus | Cedar |
| Hedera | Ivy (except English ivy) |
| Helleborus | Hellebore |
| Hydrangea | Hydrangea |
| Juniperus | Juniper |
| Narcissus | Daffodil |
| Osmunda | Fern |
| Papaver | Poppy |
| Pinus | Pine |
| Potentilla | Cinquefoil |
| Quercus | Oak |
| Salix | Willow |
| Senecio | Dusty miller |
| Syringa | Lilac |
| Tsuga | Hemlock |
| Yucca | Yucca |
| Zinnia | Zinnia |
Smelly old shoes can be used as a deterrent to deer. Just stick the shoes on top of tomato sticks, and watch the deer walk a wide circle around them. Most shoes usually last from mid-May until about mid-August.
FOUNDATION PLANTING
BEST PLANTS FOR WINDOW BOXES
Choosing plants that match your exposure is the key to success. The leaves of shade lovers will get scorched in the high light levels of a south- or west-facing wall; and plants that thrive in full sun will grow tall and leggy in a northern exposure.
Often overlooked for window boxes are foolproof flowering bulbs. Whether you do a fall planting in the garden of miniature daffodils, snowdrops, or hyacinths for springtime bloom, or you do a late-spring planting of lilies, alliums, or dwarf gladiolus for summertime bloom, be sure to tuck a few bulbs and corms into your window boxes for added impact.
Connoisseurs may choose to add topiary forms as a focal point. Ivy or fig-vine standards ("lollipop trees") or other identifiable shapes can capture the imagination. Climbers can be trained around the window frame for an ensemble effect.
| SHADE LOVERS |
| (for a shady, cool, north-facing window) |
| Upright |
| astilbe |
| cardinal flower |
| coleus |
| English daisy |
| fern (maidenhair, tassel, Boston, asparagus) |
| garden heliotrope |
| hosta |
| impatiens |
| Johnny-jump-up |
| lamb's ears |
| lemon balm |
| lenten rose |
| mophead hydrangea |
| pansy |
| parsley |
| snapdragon |
| tropical houseplant |
| wax begonia |
| Trailing |
| creeping myrtle |
| fuchsia |
| peppermint |
| sweet autumn clematis |
| variegated English or Algerian ivy |
| wandering jew |
| Climbing |
| sweet autumn clematis |
| trumpet vine |
| SUN LOVERS |
| (for a sunny, hot, south- or west-facing window) |
| Upright |
| artemesia |
| dusty miller |
| lavender |
| marigold |
| miniature rose |
| opal and bush basil |
| ornamental pepper |
| periwinkle |
| rosemary |
| rose-scented geranium |
| salvia |
| Trailing |
| airplane plant |
| 'Blackie' sweet potato vine |
| dwarf soapwort |
| 'Homestead Purple' verbena |
| nasturtium |
| peppermint-scented geranium |
| petunia |
| pink |
| prostrate rosemary |
| setcreasea |
| strawberry |
| sweet marjoram |
| thyme |
| Climbing |
| Carolina jessamine |
| golden hop |
| honeysuckle |
| jasmine |
| miniature climbing rose |
| moon vine |
