Living near a forest might feel magical. However, it comes with some drawbacks, especially when maintaining a tidy and healthy garden. For instance, getting visits from small mammals or deer might sound cute.
But if you have experienced it already, you should know that it can be frustrating. For this reason, you might have to pay close attention to what you decide to plant.
While there aren’t plants that will repel animals (after all, when hungry enough, they will eat anything that crosses their paths), some species might be more attractive than others.
And if you deal with frequent visits from deer, you might be wondering: “Do deer eat hosta plants?”.
You can find everything you need to learn in this essential guide. Does that sound interesting? Read on!
What Should You Know About Hostas and Deer?
The truth is that some plants attract deer more than others. Unfortunately, hostas are among their favorites.
Indeed, deer won’t think twice about ruining these delicate-looking plants! These animals love to munch on the dense foliage and will leave the stems behind. So, if your hosta suddenly transforms into a bare shrub without leaves, most likely than not, the cause was a visit from deer.
Don’t worry: with the proper care, your plant will recover. However, you’ll have to take measures to prevent deer from coming back to your property. These animals will keep visiting your property if you don’t take action. Jump to the following sections to learn more about preventing deer in your garden.
How to Prevent Deer from Visiting your Garden?
Installing a tall fence should be the first step in preventing visits from deer. However, more often than not, such protection won’t be enough. Consider getting repellents. If you don’t mind investing in a device, you should purchase an electronic repellent. It won’t damage the animals (or your pets), but it will keep them away.
Alternatively, look for urine repellents: you can find them at your favorite gardening store (or online). If you have a dog, let it do its business outdoors. The smell will keep most deer away. Additionally, your dog will probably bark as soon as it notices deer, which will help scare them away.
If you don’t want to deal with attacks from deer, you might have to plant other plants instead of hostas. Jump to the following section to learn more about suitable alternatives that won’t be as attractive to them!
Alternatives to Hostas You Should Consider for Your Garden
Hostas are elegant-looking plants that thrive in full to partial shade. They aren’t particularly challenging to grow (under the proper conditions). However, they come with the drawback of attracting wildlife, which might not be ideal if you don’t want to deal with the hassle of preventing attacks (or limiting damages).
Luckily, you can consider planting an alternative. For instance, ferns produce similarly dense foliage and grow well in shady areas. Plus, deer don’t like them very much, making them an ideal alternative.
If you don’t like how ferns look, you can consider getting coral bells: these plants come in various colors and sizes, meaning you won’t have issues finding one that suits your needs and taste.
However, these plants require slightly more lighting than hostas (or ferns): keep that in mind before adding them to a shady corner of your garden.
If you want a wilder look, you can plant foamy bells: they are native to North America and relatively easy to care for.
Do deer eat hosta plants: Conclusion
Deer will nibble on hosta plants if they get the chance. To avoid having your yard ruined you’ll need to take steps to repel deer. Alternatively plant more deer resistant shrubs such as ferns.
Related Article: Are Magnolias Deer Resistant?