Who’s Nibbling in Your Garden?
It’s hard to imagine, but white-tailed deer were once nearly extinct in dozens of states. Their abundance now puts them at odds with most gardeners and homeowners, who become frustrated by the ineffectiveness of conventional and labor-intensive methods such as use of repellent sprays and so-called “deer-resistant” species that end up getting browsed. Add to the mix all the resident rabbits, squirrels, moles and groundhogs, and many gardeners are ready to throw in the trowel. But by understanding plant resistance and tolerance strategies as well as animal behaviors and natural histories, we can create resilient gardens that will support a diversity of vertebrate and invertebrate life in our home habitats. In this talk, discover how a combination of methods—including mixtures of preferred and unpalatable species, strategic plantings along well-used pathways, and gentle exclusion techniques—can help you trade resistance for peaceful coexistence.