Deer and rabbits in the garden - some planting advice please!

[chelseamorning]

Our new house has deer and rabbits in the garden. The previous owner wasn't much of a gardener so we're planning on digging the garden up and starting again.

Can anyone please recommend some deer and rabbit tolerant plants? I've checked on the web and herbs seem to be good ones but, although I'm planning on growing lots of herbs, I don't want the whole garden just to be shades of green. I'd like to grow some flowers etc too! It's a woodland garden so we'd like to keep the planting fairly free form.

Thanks!

[Lovemyshoes]

I have no idea to be honest as I despise gardening, just wanted to say your garden sounds lovely>

[chelseamorning]

Thanks for replying, lovemyshoes!

It is - we're very lucky! We also have foxes and badgers in the garden. We can hear a woodpecker and a couple of owls too but can't seem them unfortunately.

[chelseamorning]

bump!

[spicemonster]

I'd think that deer are less likely to be troublesome than the rabbits which pretty much eat any young plant. There's a list of recommended plants you could try here www.complete-gardens.co.uk/online/online-gardening-plant-solutions-category.php?cat=15. I'd cross check that list against the RHS list of what plant where - if your garden is largely woodland, you'll need stuff that will be happy in shade. I'd also plant things that are likely to naturalise and won't look out of place in that setting. So snowdrops, narcissi (small daffs), bluebells (but native variety please, not spanish), aconites, foxgloves, euphorbia. At a shrub level, rhododendrons, azaleas (you will need to check what type of soil you have too), hebes could all work. And clematis scrambling through trees would also look very pretty. Have a look at Beth Chatto's website/nursery/books too - she's very good on woodland planting.

Larger shrubs and trees will need guards around them which are relatively cheap to buy.

[frostyfingers]

We have bunnies all over the place in our garden, despite 2 dogs, 1 cat and 3 noisy children. I planted a new flower bed last year, and have fenced it with low (about 18") green wire. It's not pretty, and not intended as a long term solution but to give the plants protection for the first few years.

I planted mainly perennial stuff with a few shrubs - all from lists I found on the web. I can't remember the website, but there are quite few of them - which are supposed to less yummy to the buggers. EG: hardy geraniums, agapanthus, allium, clematis, eryngium, pinks, fennel, japanese anenome, lupins (although slugs love them), dogwood. So far the bunnies haven't got in and it's looking good - will probably try and take the fence down next year, but am beginning to get used to it!

We have also done a veg patch this year which bears a passing resemblance to Fort Knox! Fenced round, with rabbit wire folded under tarpaulin, then covered with heavy slate chippings. Once the stuff has started growing, I have got a low powered electric fence to put round the bottom if the buggers look as though they might get in! Sorry - may sound cruel, but if you've seen the damage they can do, you'd be the same.

[chelseamorning]

Thanks so much the info, Spicemonster and Frostyfingers. Very useful! I can see I'll have to create a spreadsheet so that I can cross-reference plants before I buy them.

Over the weekend, we found some deer damage to an Acer tree which was planted by the previous owner of the house. I don't mind them nibbling a bit so long as they don't kill it. Are they likely to, do you know?

I'm getting a great visual of your garden, Frostyfingers. Is it your turn to be on watch tonight?!

[frostyfingers]

Just finished laying the minefield.....actually, our problem at the moment is the sparrows nicking the grass seed that we've used to fill the bare patches left by the mole.....sometimes I wonder why I bother! Ah, life in the country is so idyllic!

[chelseamorning]

Mole? I'm so jealous! Lovely creatures - but then I don't have the mole hills. Surely one little mole can't make too much of a mess of your lawn? [provocative emoticon]

Yes, I know what you mean. Nature always wins in the end!

[OrmIrian]

IME nothing is deer or rabbit proof. Sorry. My parents are having terrible trouble with both now although the deer are a new problem. They have built a cage around their entire vegetable and fruit garden.

I guess anything with a strong smell or very tough leaves would be best.

[mistlethrush]

The Wootens at Wenhaston website is great - as is their mail order - they identify if things are rabbit and or deer proof....

[frostyfingers]

Been so busy controlling my garden pests that I hadn't checked this thread for a while. Chelseamorning you would not believe the damage one mole can do, our lawn is so bumpy it's not true - we filled an 8 foot by 4 foot raised veg bed with the soil from the mole hills. We have a ride on mower which cuts out if there isn't weight on the seat - if you go too fast over our lawn, you fly off the seat cos it's so bumpy.

Nothing is deer/rabbit proof, but there are things they prefer not to eat.....