Monthly Archives: August 2015

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deer-damage-evidence

As more and more homes are built in communities that feature large tracts of grasslands and woodlands, it gives us an opportunity to live close to nature and enjoy the abundant wildlife that lives amongst us.  We can observe birds, rabbits, deer, and other wild animals in a natural setting, right outside of our patio, doors, and windows.  While enjoyable to watch, some of those animals can create havoc to our landscape, and pose challenges to even the most seasoned gardener.  Deer are one of those animals that love our landscape plants even more than we love to watch them, and can thwart almost any attempt to deter them.  Today, I will explore some of the physical or chemical barriers that are available, but will primarily focus on deer resistant plants for Tampa landscapes.

It's no surprise that deer have become a major pest to our landscapes and gardens.  They have less predators than ever before, which allows for increased populations.  As well, as we build closer and closer to their habitats, they become less intimated by human presence.   Often, we don't realize that we have a deer problem as they may only be present at late dusk and early dawn.  However, if you have damage to your plants, like the Hibiscus in the above photo, or see droppings similar to the photo on the right, you have a deer problem.  Some of their favorite plants are Roses, Indian Hawthorn, and Hibiscus, and once they know that you have them in your landscape, they will make regular feeding trips.  The easiest way to tell for certain is if the leaves are stripped off the top and sides of the plants, exposing only the stems.

So, if you have determined that you do have deer eating your landscape plants, you can try a few measures to deter them.  Small fencing barriers may be effective in some locations, while coyote urine or deer repellant may work in dry areas that receive little or no irrigation or rainfall.   Another option is to relocate your favorite plants close to the home's front entrance, but even that may not prevent the bolder ones from venturing closer to human foot traffic.

If you have tried barriers, scents and repellants, and relocating plants to "safe zones", and nothing has worked, you may just have to consider landscaping with deer resistant plants.  There are many wonderful deer resistant plants for Tampa landscapes, and with a little knowledge, you can create a beautiful landscape that will discourage the deer from making a nightly feeding trip to your home.  While deer will eat just about anything, they will mostly leave these plants alone, after an initial taste test:

  • Pinwheel Jasmine
  • Crinum Lily
  • Junipers, all varieties
  • Holly, all varieties
  • Pittosporum
  • Podocarpus
  • Society Garlic
  • Ligustrum
  • Viburnum, all varieties
  • Bird of Paradise
  • Agave
  • Bromeliads
  • Crossandra
  • Penta
  • Iris
  • Most grasses, such as Pampas, Fountain, Muhly, Adagio, Fakahatchee
  • Jatropha
  • Ixora
  • Gold Mound and Duranta
  • Bamboo
  • Palms
  • Allamanda
  • Azalea
  • Bottlebrush
  • Boxwood
  • Bush Daisy
  • Coontie, King Sago, and Cardboard palms
  • Downy Jasmine
  • Shiny Jasmine
  • Dwarf Firebush
  • Lantana
  • Nandina
  • Oleander
  • Plumbago
  • Philodendron, all varieties
  • Oyster plant
  • Mexican Petunia and Dwarf Mexican Petunia

This list is by no means complete, but you can always call our office if you have any questions about a particular plant, or you are welcome to add to this list based on your experience.  As a fail safe method, I will install a sample plant in a yard that I know has regular deer activity.  While it might be nibbled on, the deer may only be testing it.  If it is mostly left alone over a few weeks, than I feel comfortable using it in my design.  As always, have fun and experiment......that's half the joy of gardening!

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Landscape design incorporates many of the same concepts as any other type of artistic endeavor, whereupon one hopes to capture the heart and interest of those that view it.  Creating a beautiful landscape design is no different than creating a beautiful dance, painting,  musical score, or fine meal, where we, as the artist, try to provide the viewer with an experience that challenges and pleases all of the senses, through balance, flow, and sensual interest.

To achieve that in a landscape design, one must incorporate a few basic design concepts: specimen plants, focal points, background/screening plants, and filler plants (ground-covers, color, and such).  Today, though, we are going to focus on focal points.

Specimen plants are your large plants which are usually trees or palms.  Generally, they are tall and large, and the first thing that someone sees, when they approach your landscape.  I like to equate them to a large sectional sofa or entertainment center in a living room.  Background/screening plants are usually the hedges in the background, that allow the forward plants to pop; I call them the curtains and chairs in a living room.  The filler plants are the smaller grasses, ground-covers, etc. that fill up the majority of the rest of the landscape, that have color and interest, and I call them pictures and lamps.

Using living room decoration as an analogy then, in landscape design concepts, focal points are the mid-sized furniture:  cocktail tables and recliners.  If everything is tall or small, you have to have an in-between for balance, flow, and interest.  For me, most landscape designs are missing the focal point, which I call the 3'X3' or 4'X4' plant.....the cocktail table or recliner.  The human eye just does not easily scan a landscape canvas with bold height, and short low plants, without hiccuping.  You have to have the focal point, the mid-sized item, to bridge the divide from high to low.  Fortunately, a focal point is easy to add to your landscape design.

Focal points can be anything from plants, to statues, to boulders, to benches and bird baths.  They just have to be a mid-sized selection that interrupts your view from high to low in a pleasing way.  They should be substantial in impact, through size, color, or texture difference, but not so bold that they are the first thing that you see (in that case, they may become a specimen).

Some options to consider, both plant and non-plant:

  • Agave, Striped or Blue
  • Orange Bird of Paradise
  • Crinum Lily
  • Cardboard Palm
  • Coontie Palm (purchased mature, extremely slow growing)
  • King Sago palm
  • Windmill Palm, European Fan Palm, Needle Palm
  • Xanadu, Firecracker Plant (slow growing, possibly over time will work)
  • any smaller growing plants in group of three or so
  • Bird baths, statues, large pots with or without plants, boulders

Mostly, the idea is to designate an area that is about 4'X4' and create a secondary centerpiece that does not compete with your specimens, that creates flow and balance.   As with all artistic efforts, there are no rules, just thoughts and ideas, so you can't go wrong.  Try ideas out, draw them on paper, put a chair in that spot or a short trash can (the 3'X3' kind).  Test your ideas with similar household items, and see what you think of the placement with regards to space and concept.  And, then, go shopping and explore your options, and buy what you like. As is true with all landscape design, there are so many options to style and products, it is impossible to not get what you love.  So, get what you love, and don't settle for anything less.

With a few guiding principles of landscape design concepts, you can create a beautiful landscape for your home.

Post a question or comment, I'd be happy to answer what I can.