If you’re like most gardeners, you probably have at least a few geraniums in your yard. geraniums are beautiful flowers that add a touch of elegance to any garden. But do deer eat geraniums?
Deer do not eat geraniums. Geraniums are deer-resistant because of their strong scent, bitter taste, and high toxicity level. Deer will eat nearly anything if they’re hungry enough, which includes geraniums.
Considering that a single deer can eat up to ten pounds of plants each day, you can see how deer eating geraniums can really do some serious damage to your garden!
In this article, we’ll discuss how to stop deer from eating your geraniums, and keep them healthy and beautiful all season long.
Why Do Deer Eat Geraniums?
As we covered, deer usually stay away from geraniums thanks to their strong scent, toxicity level, and bitter taste.
Deer are most likely to eat geraniums during spring because they’re hungry after a long winter, or if it’s late in fall and other food sources have been depleted.
Your geraniums are less susceptible to deer damage later in summer when many other food sources they prefer are available.
Deer can do some serious damage to a large amount of geraniums in a single sitting if they’re hungry enough!
This was confirmed in a 1999 study on deer plant eating habits by Cornell University.
And don’t think that your newer geraniums are safer either: deer actually prefer new growth because they’re more tender.
Are Geraniums Deer Resistant?
Geraniums are regarded as deer resistant thanks to their taste and texture, neither of which deer like.
They were rated as “seldom severely damaged” in a study on deer resistant plants by Rutgers University.
The fuzzy leaves are a turn-off for deer, as is the bitter taste of the flowers and leaves.
As we mentioned earlier, just because geraniums are deer resistant doesn’t mean they are completely safe from being eaten by deer.
You should always take additional steps to deter deer from your geraniums and other plants and flowers.
Read on to learn more.
How Do I Keep Deer From Eating My Geraniums?
There are a few things to keep in mind when you’re protecting geraniums from hungry deer: their habits, your scent, repellent options, and when you plant them.
Deer will eat nearly anything if they’re hungry enough, so your main goal is making your garden as least inviting to deer as possible.
Check out our guide on how to keep deer from eating plants where we cover 25 quick and easy tips for keeping hungry deer out of your garden.
Will My Geraniums Grow Back After Deer Eat Them?
Fortunately, geraniums can bounce back from winter browsing by deer if given some care, attention, and time.
True hardy geraniums are perennial flowers, meaning they grow back each year.
Do Deer Eat Geraniums? Wrapping Things Up
So, do deer eat geranium plants?
Not usually, but they will if they’re hungry enough.
Deer will usually stay away from geraniums, but may eat them during spring when they’re hungry after a long winter or in late fall when other food sources have been depleted.
Have any observations to add to the discussion? Be sure to let us know in the comments below.
Check our our other helpful gardening and wildlife guides while you’re here:
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