November 2009 Newsletter©
Wildlife…In or out of the Garden?
That is the question!
The sun is rising. There’s a touch of fog. You can barely see the family of deer in the backyard. There’s a couple of does, a fawn or two. What a wondrous site…until you find a little later your hosta plants have become what one customer calls “deer salad”. Your newly planted annuals are gone and your rose flowers have been nibbled off. Their “cuteness” factor soon diminishes.
Then there is the garden designed for bird watching. Landscaped with plants for their habitat and strategically placed bird feeders you can see from any window. You’ve carefully chosen a variety of foods and you’ve logged 39 different species through the winter. Only to find in the spring your annuals disappear, many perennials are stunted or gone, some shrubs pop new growth and then collapse…because the bird seed also fed the voles and there was a population explosion from the abundance of food.
And then there’s the cute baby bunny you see in the spring…that eats your vegetable garden!
The adorable squirrel that likes to taste…every, single, tomato!
The comical raccoon that hangs from the deck rail and eats the dog’s food…and then your favorite koi or goldfish, or from personal experience, rips holes in your roof to nest in the attic! Not cute anymore!
So, how do you keep this from happening?
1. Choose plants that aren’t tasty.
2. Eliminate the food sources you inadvertently (or deliberately) give them.
3. Use physical barriers.
4. Use repellents.
Generally, animals don’t like tough foliage or plants that have a strong aroma, but that’s a general statement and not always true. Hungry animals will eat on anything, even poisonous plants, so there isn’t an animal proof plant, just ones they are least attracted to. So here’s a list to start with.
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PERENNIALS/GRASSES/BULBS AND GROUNDCOVERS |
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Ageratum (Wild) |
Conoclinium |
Jack-In-The-Pulpit |
Arisaema |
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Anemone (Japanese) |
Anemone |
Jacob's Ladder |
Polemonium |
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Anemone (Rue) |
Anemonella |
Forest Grass |
Hakonechloa |
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Aster |
Aster |
Lady's Mantle |
Alchemilla |
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Aster (Stoke's) |
Stokesia |
Lamb's Ear |
Stachys |
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Astilbe |
Astilbe |
Lavender |
Lavendula |
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Bachelor Buttons |
Centaurea |
Leopard Plant |
Farfugium |
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Bamboo - Most |
Various |
Lenten Rose |
Helleborus |
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Barrenwort |
Epimedium |
Lespedeza |
Lespedeza |
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Bear's Breeches |
Acanthus |
Lily of the Nile |
Agapanthus |
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Bee Balm |
Monarda |
Lily of the Valley |
Convallaria |
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Bergenia |
Bergenia |
Loosestrife |
Lysimachia |
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Bishop's Weed |
Aegopodium |
Love Grass |
Eragrostis |
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Black Eyed Susan |
Rudbeckia |
Lungwort |
Pulmonaria |
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Blazing Star |
Liatris |
Mayapple |
Podophyllum |
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Bleeding Heart |
Dicentra |
Meadow Rue |
Thalictrum |
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Bluebells (Virginia) |
Mertensia |
Milkweed |
Asclepias |
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Blue Fescue |
Festuca |
Mint |
Mentha |
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Blue Oat Grass |
Helictotrichon |
Mondo Grass |
Ophiopogon |
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Blue Star |
Amsonia |
Monkey Grass |
Liriope |
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Bluestem |
Andropogon |
Monkshood |
Aconitum |
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Boltonia |
Boltonia |
Mullein |
Verbascum |
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Bugbane |
Cimicifuga |
Northern Sea Oats |
Chasmanthium |
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Bugleweed |
Ajuga |
Obedient Plant |
Physotegia |
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Bugloss |
Brunnera |
Onion - Flowering |
Allium |
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Butterfly Weed |
Asclepias |
Pampas Grass |
Cortadaria |
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Calla Lily |
Zantedeschia |
Peony |
Paeonia |
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Candytuft |
Iberis |
Periwinkle |
Vinca |
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Cardinal Flower |
Lobelia |
Phlox (Tall Garden) |
Phlox |
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Carnation |
Dianthus |
Pincushion Flower |
Scabiosa |
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Catmint |
Nepeta |
Plumbago |
Ceratostigma |
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Chives |
Allium |
Ravenna Grass |
Erianthus |
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Cinquefoil |
Potentilla |
Red Hot Poker |
Kniphofia |
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Columbine |
Aquilegia |
Rose Campion |
Lychnis |
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Coneflower |
Echinacea |
Rush |
Juncus |
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Coral Bells |
Heuchera |
Russian Sage |
Perovskia |
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Corydalis |
Corydalis |
Sage |
Salvia |
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Crocosmia |
Crocosmia |
Sedge |
Carex |
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Crocus |
Crocus |
Shamrock |
Oxalis |
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Crocus (Autumn) |
Colchicum |
Silvergrass (Japanese) |
Miscanthus |
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Crown Imperial |
Fritilaria |
Snakeroot |
Eupatorium |
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Daffodils |
Narcissus |
Snowdrops |
Galanthus |
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Dead Nettle |
Lamium |
Snowflake |
Leucojum |
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False Indigo |
Baptisia |
Speedwell |
Veronica |
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Feather Reed Grass |
Calamagrostis |
Spiderwort |
Tradescantia |
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Ferns - Most |
Various |
Spurge |
Euphorbia |
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Foam Flower |
Tiarella |
Spurge |
Pachysandra |
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Forget-Me-Not |
Myosotis |
Squill |
Scilla |
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Fountain Grass |
Pennisetum |
Star of Bethlehem |
Ornithogalum |
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Foxglove |
Digitalis |
Sweet Flag |
Acorus |
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Geranium (Cranesbill) |
Geranium |
Sweet Woodruff |
Galium |
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Giant Reed |
Arundo |
Switch Grass |
Panicum |
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Ginger (European) |
Asarum |
Thyme |
Thymus |
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Ginger (Wild Canadian) |
Asarum |
Tickseed |
Coreopsis |
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Glory of the Snow |
Chionodoxa |
Toad Lily |
Tricyrtis |
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Goldenrod |
Solidago |
Verbena |
Verbena |
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Grape Hyacinth |
Muscari |
Violets |
Viola |
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Hen and Chicks |
Sempervivum |
Wintergreen |
Gaultheria |
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Hyacinth |
Hyacinthus |
Wormwood |
Artemisia |
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Hyssop (Anise) |
Agastache |
Yarrow |
Achillea |
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Iris |
Iris |
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SHRUBS/VINES |
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ANNUALS/HERBS |
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Abelia |
Abelia |
Ageratum |
Ageratum |
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Chocolate Vine |
Akebia |
Alyssum |
Lobularia |
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Andromeda |
Pieris |
Basil |
Ocimum |
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Aucuba |
Aucuba |
Caladium |
Caladium |
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Barberry |
Berberis |
Canna |
Canna |
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Bayberry |
Myrica |
Chamomile |
Matricaria |
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Beautyberry |
Callicarpa |
Cockscomb |
Celosia |
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Beautybush |
Kolkwitzia |
Dill |
Anethumus |
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Bittersweet |
Celastrus |
Dusty Miller |
Centaurea |
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Bluebeard |
Caryopteris |
Elephant Ear |
Alocasia |
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Bottlebrush Buckeye |
Aesculus |
Elephant Ear |
Colocasia |
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Boxwood |
Buxus |
Fennel |
Foeniculum |
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Butterfly Bush |
Buddleja |
Germander |
Teucrium |
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Button Bush |
Cephalanthus |
Gladiolus |
Gladiolus |
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Cedar (Japanese) |
Cryptomeria |
Heliotrope |
Heliotropium |
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Cherry Laurel |
Prunus |
Lantana |
Lantana |
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Chokeberry |
Aronia |
Lemon Balm |
Melissa |
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Cotoneaster |
Cotoneaster |
Marigold |
Tagetes |
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Crape Myrtle |
Lagerstroemia |
Morning Glory |
Ipomoea |
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Cypress (False) |
Chamaecyparis |
Moonflower |
Ipomoea |
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Deutzia |
Deutzia |
Nasturtium |
Tropaeolum |
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Dogwood (Redtwig) |
Cornus |
Nicotine Flower |
Nicotiana |
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Dogwood (Red Osier) |
Cornus |
Parsley |
Petroselinum |
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Forsythia |
Forsythia |
Periwinkle |
Cataranthus |
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Fothergila |
Fothergila |
Poppy |
Papaver |
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Holly (Chinese) |
Ilex |
Primrose |
Primula |
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Holly (False) |
Osmanthus |
Rosemary |
Rosmarinus |
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Holly (Oregon Grape) |
Mahonia |
Rue |
Ruta |
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Holly (Winterberry) |
Ilex |
Sage |
Salvia |
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Honeysuckle |
Lonicera |
Snapdragon |
Antirrhinum |
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Inkberry |
Ilex |
Spider Flower |
Cleome |
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Jasmine (Winter) |
Jasminum |
Stocks |
Matthiola |
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Juniper (Chinese) |
Juniperus |
Sweet William |
Dianthus |
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Kerria |
Kerria |
Tarragon |
Artemisia |
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Leucothoe |
Leucothoe |
Verbena |
Verbena |
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Lilac |
Syringa |
Zinnia |
Zinnia |
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Magnolia (Oriental) |
Magnolia |
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Mahonia |
Mahonia |
TREES |
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Mock Orange |
Philadelphus |
Ash |
Fraxinus |
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Privet |
Ligustrum |
Birch |
Betula |
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Quince |
Chaenomeles |
Catalpa |
Catalpa |
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Rose of Sharon |
Hibiscus |
Cherry - Flowering |
Prunus |
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Russian Olive |
Elaeagnus |
Dawn Redwood |
Metasequoia |
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Silver Lace Vine |
Polygonum |
Dogwood (Kousa) |
Cornus |
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Smoketree |
Cotinus |
Ginkgo |
Ginkgo |
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Spicebush |
Lindera |
Holly (American) |
Ilex |
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Spirea |
Spiraea |
Locust (Black) |
Robinia |
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Spruce |
Picea |
Locust (Honey) |
Gledista |
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St. John's Wort |
Hypericum |
Maple (Japanese) |
Acer |
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Sweet Box |
Sarcoccoca |
Maple (Red) |
Acer |
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Sweetshrub |
Calycanthus |
Maple (Sugar) |
Acer |
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Sweetspire |
Itea |
Mimosa |
Albizia |
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Sumac |
Rhus |
Pawpaw |
Asimina |
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Summersweet |
Clethra |
Pine - Most |
Pinus |
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Trumpet Creeper |
Campsis |
Red Cedar |
Juniperus |
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Viburnum |
Viburnum |
Sassafras |
Sassafras |
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Wax Myrtle |
Myrica |
Serviceberry |
Amelanchier |
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Weigela |
Weigela |
Shadbush |
Amelanchier |
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Witchhazel |
Hamamelis |
Sourwood |
Oxydendrum |
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Yew (Plum) |
Cephalotaxus |
Sweetgum |
Liquidamber |
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Yucca |
Yucca |
Sycamore |
Platanus |
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Tulip Tree (Poplar) |
Liriodendron |
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Willow (Corkscrew) |
Salix |
The lists above are comprised of plants that animals rarely eat or generally aren’t significantly damaged. You may lose a bud or two, but normally these are dependable. In harsh weather or if there is an unusually high animal population, damage may be more severe. Bucks may rub any tree, so the only defense is a physical barrier.
You should eliminate temptation. Remove the welcome mat by planting the property perimeter with less tasty options and large thick plants that are difficult to go through or over. Nylon deer fencing can help in areas where planting is not possible or wanted. It is an inexpensive temporary barrier that will get you through a season.
Repellents work but you’ll need to re-apply per label instructions. Apply the repellents on or around the plants you want to protect, but also spray wide bands around the property line when dealing with rabbits and deer. You want varmints to come in contact with the repellent well before they get to their entrée. We recommend for deer that you apply Milorganite fertilizer liberally over your yard. It’s a good fertilizer and deer apparently don’t like its fragrance. One final option is a motion sensitive impulse sprinkler that shoots a blast of water when motion is detected. It works better on deer than the neighbor that walks their dog in the middle of the night because deer don’t tend to smash them.
Use seed trays to catch birdseed and clean under feeders regularly. Don’t feed animals unless you are willing to accept the damage.
Now…equal time for those who want to bring wildlife to the garden. A water feature of some type is one of the best attractants. If you want to bring deer, then consider planting a dedicated plot for their food away from your flower beds.
Conifers, broadleaf evergreens, large hardwood trees and ornamental grasses make good nesting sites for birds. Many groundcovers provide protection for ground feeding birds and an environment suitable for insects. Thickets of blackberries or blueberries provide food and cover. Choose a variety of plants so you have some fruit/seed production during every season. Food plants either produce food directly (seeds, berries, flowers, etc.) or attract insects on which birds feed and some do both.
Now here’s a list of plants to attract birds to the garden.
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FOOD PLANTS |
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Apple |
Malus |
Hyssop (Anise) |
Agastache |
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Ash |
Fraxinus |
Juniper |
Juniperus |
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Birch |
Betula |
Magnolia |
Magnolia |
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Bittersweet |
Celastrus |
Maple (Red) |
Acer |
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Blackberry |
Rubus |
Mulberry |
Morus |
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Black Cherry |
Prunus |
Oak |
Quercus |
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Black Eyed Susan |
Rudbeckia |
Pine |
Pinus |
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Blackgum |
Nyssa |
Plum |
Prunus |
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Blueberry |
Vaccinum |
Pyracantha |
Pyracantha |
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Butterfly Bush |
Buddleja |
Redbud |
Cercis |
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Coneflower |
Echinacea |
Rugosa Rose |
Rosa |
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Cherry Laurel |
Prunus |
Russian Olive |
Elaeagnus |
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Chokeberry |
Aronia |
Serviceberry |
Amelanchier |
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Chokecherry |
Prunus |
Solomon's Seal |
Polygonatum |
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Cosmos |
Cosmos |
Sourwood |
Oxydendrum |
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Cotoneaster |
Cotoneaster |
Sumac |
Rhus |
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Crabapple |
Malus |
Sunflower |
Helianthus |
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Dogwood (Flowering) |
Cornus |
Sweetgum |
Liquidamber |
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Elderberry |
Sambucus |
Tickseed |
Coreopsis |
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Grape |
Vitis |
Trumpet Creeper |
Campsis |
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Hackberry |
Celtis |
Viburnum |
Viburnum |
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Holly (American) |
Ilex |
Virginia Creeper |
Parthenocissus |
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Holly (Possumhaw) |
Ilex |
Zinnia |
Zinnia |
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Holly (Winterberry) |
Ilex |
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(I would not plant Junipers and apples/crabapples nearby because of cedar apple rust if you intend to harvest any fruit.)
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COVER/NESTING |
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PLANTS FOR HUMMINGBIRDS |
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Arborvitae |
Thuja |
Azalea |
Rhododendron |
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Birch |
Betula |
Beard Tongue |
Penstemon |
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Bugleweed |
Ajuga |
Bee Balm |
Monarda |
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Carolina Jessamine |
Gelsemium |
Buckeye (Red) |
Aesculus |
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Swamp Jessamine |
Gelsemium |
Butterfly Bush |
Buddleja |
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Cherry Laurel |
Prunus |
Canna |
Canna |
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Cypress (False) |
Chamaecyparis |
Cardinal Flower |
Lobelia |
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Cypress (False) |
Cupressocyparis |
Columbine |
Aquilegia |
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Ferns - Most |
Various |
Coral Bells |
Heuchera |
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Holly (American) |
Ilex |
Crossvine |
Bignonia |
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Holly (False) |
Osmanthus |
Cypressvine |
Ipomoea |
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Juniper |
Juniperus |
Four O’clock |
Mirabilis |
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Honeysuckle |
Lonicera |
Foxglove |
Digitalis |
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Magnolia |
Magnolia |
Honeysuckle |
Lonicera |
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Periwinkle |
Vinca |
Hosta |
Hosta |
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Pine |
Pinus |
Hyssop (Anise) |
Agastache |
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Spurge |
Pachysandra |
Impatiens |
Impatiens |
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Wax Myrtle |
Myrica (Morella) |
Indian Pink |
Spigelia |
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Lantana |
Lantana |
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Morning Glory |
Ipomoea |
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Petunia |
Petunia |
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Rose of Sharon |
Hibiscus |
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Sage |
Salvia |
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Weigela |
Weigela |
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Yucca |
Yucca |
Many other plants may serve as nesting sites and there are many seed producing plants (grasses, etc.) that are excellent additions to the birder’s garden. There are many tropical plants that readily attract hummingbirds, but will not winter here, so I did not include them. These lists are just a starting place for you.
Of course, the very best way to have wildlife in the garden is…THROW A PARTY!
November – plant tulips and other fall bulbs after Thanksgiving. Spray your broadleaf evergreens with a dormant oil spray.
November is a good time to recap some previous newsletters:
For tips on keeping your Christmas trees and greenery fresh, see our November 2006 newsletter.
For pruning tips, read the October 2006 newsletter.
For spray programs, read the December 2008 newsletter.
Our Christmas Open House is November 14 and 15. We invite you to come by for refreshments and register for the many door prizes that will be given away.
Last month the mystery plant was Salvia leucantha, Mexican bush sage. Lot’s of people got this one right.
Here’s this month’s challenge…
The contest ends on November 15th. Drop by either store to enter or you can email your entry to
questions@danwestonline.com. One winner, selected from all correct entries, will receive a
$25 Dan West Gift Certificate.
Thanks for shopping with us at Dan West.