If you’re an avid gardener, you may have dahlias in your outdoor plant collection. Dahlias are beautiful flowers that add a touch of elegance to any garden. But do deer eat dahlias?
Deer do not usually eat dahlias. Dahlias are deer-resistant because of their strong scent, bitter taste, and texture. But a hungry deer will eat almost anything, which may include dahlia plants.
Considering that a single deer can eat up to ten pounds of plants each day, you can see how deer eating dahlias can really do some serious damage to your garden!
In this article, we’ll discuss how to stop deer from eating your dahlias, and keep them healthy and beautiful all season long.
Why Do Deer Eat Dahlias?
As we covered, deer usually stay away from dahlias thanks to their strong scent, texture, and bitter taste.
Deer are most likely to eat dahlias 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 dahlias 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 dahlias 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 dahlias are safer either: deer actually prefer new growth because they’re more tender.
Are Dahlias Deer Resistant?
Dahlias are regarded as deer resistant thanks to their taste and scent, both of which deer do not like.
They were rated as “occasionally severely damaged” in a study on deer resistant plants by Rutgers University.
The bitter taste and varied texture of the flowers and leaves usually keep deer away.
Deer have a keen sense of smell, and the strong scent of dahlias also repels them.
As we mentioned earlier, just because dahlias 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 dahlias and other plants and flowers.
Read on to learn more.
How Do I Keep Deer From Eating My Dahlias?
There are a few things to keep in mind when you’re protecting dahlias 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 Dahlias Grow Back After Deer Eat Them?
Fortunately, dahlias can bounce back from browsing by deer if given some care, attention, and time.
Dahlias are considered perennials, so they will return each year.
These flowers grow from tubers underneath the ground, so unless a deer eats the entire plant including the tuber, you should see the dahlia regrow the following season.
Do Deer Eat Dahlias? Wrapping Things Up
So, do deer eat dahlias?
Not usually, but they will if they’re hungry enough.
Deer will usually stay away from dahlias, 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 wildlife guides while you’re here:
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