Are Petunias Deer Resistant? 4 Ways to Keep Them Away From Your Flowers

If you live near an even somewhat forested area, odds are you’ve had a run-in with deer. If you like to keep a lovely garden, these deer may have even taken a nibble out of your hard work. Petunias are beautiful annual flowers that are popular in many landscapes and yards. Do deer eat these flowers or are they deer resistant? Here’s everything you need to know.

Are Petunias Deer Resistant?

Unfortunately, petunias are not deer resistant. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, deer stay away from poisonous plants, such as daffodils, foxgloves, and poppies. They also dislike eating overly fragrant plants, such as herbs and flowers like peonies and bearded irises.

Petunias, on the other hand, are not known to be toxic to humans or animals. While they do release a light, sweet-smelling aroma, a petunia’s scent isn’t strong or “stinky” enough to deter deer. Now that you know that deer will eat petunias if given the chance, just how do you keep them away from these flowers?

1. Use Store Bought Deer Repellent Products

The most obvious method to make flowers such as petunias deer resistant is to use store-bought deer-repellent products. Savvy Gardening points out that the success of your deer repellent really depends on how consistently you use it.

The outlet recommends deterrent sprays with some type of spreader-sticker additive to protect trees and shrubs. However, this might not be best for flowers as it can leave a white residue.

Deer repellents often employ scents that deer hate. Studies such as this one show that egg-based products (like Liquid Fence) work the best.

Of course, there is a concern that these products will actually harm your flowers. Read ingredients carefully and start with products such as Deer Out, which claims to keep deer away without harming them or staining or discoloring your plants.

2. Make DIY Deer Repellent

If buying deer repellent isn’t your favorite idea, never fear. You can always make your own. DIY deer repellent products utilize strong scents that deer hate to keep these creatures away from your flowers.

Some options are as simple as placing fragrant, scented bar soap around the plants you want to protect. Millcreek Gardens recommends hanging bars on strings from trees or attaching them to stakes and placing them at the edges of your garden.

Another option is to scatter human hair like mulch across your garden or stuff it into pantyhose and hang the display out of sight in the garden. In theory, this works by startling deer away with the scent of humans nearby.

You can also make your own deer deterrent spray with simple ingredients such as eggs, hot sauce, or essential oils. This recipe from Better Homes & Gardens involves combining beaten eggs with cooking oil, dish soap, and milk. Just be sure not to spray the substance on anything you plan on eating.

3. Install Fencing

Fencing can be one of the most effective ways to keep deer away from your plants, but depending on the route you choose, you may sacrifice some of the aesthetics of your garden.

The most expensive option is to install fencing around your entire property. If you go this route, be sure that your fencing is high enough to keep out deer. These creatures can easily jump 8 feet or higher. Stockade fences are usually the best choice to deter deer, as they won’t be able to see what is on the other side.

A different method involves creating a six- to eight-foot-wide border around your garden with large, irregularly shaped rocks. Ungulate animals such as deer tend to avoid walking over unstable, rocky areas. Other options include utilizing electric fences, plastic netting, or floating row covers to protect your plants.

You could also try the “double fencing” method. To do this, Savvy Gardening recommends installing a four to five-foot picket fence around the exterior of your yard. Next, erect a second fence the same height about five feet inside the first one.

4. Startle Deer Away with Motion-Sensor Sprinklers

A slightly different method to keep deer away from your flowers is the scare them off. This method works best if you have a specific, smaller area you want to protect.

If you live in a suburban area near the woods, you’ve probably encountered some pretty brave deer. However, Savvy Gardening recommends one method that is sure to scare them away: motion-activated sprinklers.

According to the outlet, these sprinklers deliver a sharp burst of water when they sense motion and can typically be adjusted to protect specific areas of your garden. You should choose a sprinkler system with an infrared sensor so that it will also work at night.

Summary of 4 Ways to Keep Deer Away From Your Flowers