Do Deer Eat Pansies?
Easy-to-grow pansies (Viola x wittrockiana) produce brightly colored flowers, but the blooms attract the attention of deer, which like eating these protein-rich plants. To prevent deer from decimating your pansies and other plants, you'll need to take steps to prevent them from getting into your garden.
Pansies Attract Deer
Pansies' high water content and soft texture make them a tasty snack for a hungry deer. Pansies are particularly vulnerable in spring, when tender new buds begin to form on the plants. Pansies grow as perennials in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 through 10 and you can treat them as annuals in most areas.
Keeping Deer Away
The best way to keep deer away from your pansies is to fence off your yard and garden. Erect 8- to 11-foot fences around your yard to prevent deer from jumping over them. Another option is to plant deer-resistant plants around your pansies. While no plant is completely safe from a deer, those with thorns, hairy leaves or a pungent odor, like herbs, are less desirable than pansies or fruit-bearing plants.
Related Articles
References
- This Old House: 20 Ways to Keep Deer Out of Your Yard
- Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Cooperative Extension: Landscape Plants Rated by Deer Resistance
- University of California Integrated Pest Management Online: Pests in Gardens and Landscapes -- Deer
- Missouri Botanical Garden: Viola x wittrockiana
Writer Bio
Based in Las Vegas, Susan Paretts has been writing since 1998. She writes about many subjects including pets, finances, crafts, food, home improvement, shopping and going green. Her articles, short stories and reviews have appeared on City National Bank's website and on The Noseprint. Paretts holds a Master of Professional Writing from the University of Southern California.
