If you’re like most gardeners, you probably have at least a few spicebush in your yard. Spicebush is a fragrant bush that adds a touch of elegance to any garden. But do deer eat spicebush?
The answer is yes – deer will eat the buds, blooms, fruits, leaves, twigs, barks, and stems of spicebush. Deer are attracted to spicebush because of it’s aromatic scent and plentiful foliage.
Considering that a single deer can eat up to ten pounds of plants each day, you can see how deer eating spicebush can really do some serious damage to your garden!
In this article, we’ll discuss how to stop deer from eating your spicebush, and keep them healthy and beautiful all season long.
Why Do Deer Eat Spicebush?
As we covered, deer will eat every part of a spice bush (stem, leaves, bark, and all) when they’ve got the chance.
But why do they do this?
Deer like lush plants that are well-watered and fertilized, and spice bushes check every box.
Also they are most likely to mow down your plants during spring because they’re really hungry after a long winter.
Your spicebush are less susceptible to deer damage later in summer when the plants have thicker stems and are matured.
Deer can do some serious damage to a large amount of spicebushes in a single sitting if they’re hungry enough!
This was confirmed in a 1999 study on deer plant eating habits by Cornell University.
Plants like spicebush contain water, sugar, protein, and nutrients, which makes them an ideal food source for deer.
And don’t think that your newer spicebush plants are safe either: deer actually prefer new growth because they’re more tender.
Additionally, deer will consume a wide variety of foods like spicebush based on opportunity.
Spicebush attract deer because they are planted in the ground or in pots, so they’re easy to access.
If you’re not convinced, leave some spicebush out or plant some, and wait to see what happens!
How Do I Keep Deer From Eating My Spicebush?
There are a few things to keep in mind when you’re protecting spicebush 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 Spicebush Grow Back After Deer Eat Them?
Fortunately, spicebush can bounce back from browsing by deer if given some care, attention, and time.
If deer happen to munch down your spicebush bushes, prune back any damaged limbs.
You should see them regrow by next season, and you may even notice them come back better than before!
If they’re not regrowing by early summer then you may need to replace them.
Is Spicebush Good For Deer?
There are no nutritional studies or facts available on spicebush in terms of vitamins and nutrients that they contain.
Do Deer Eat Spicebush? Wrapping Things Up
So, do deer eat spicebush plants?
The answer is yes!
Deer will eat all the spicebush they can, especially during spring when they’re hungry after a long winter and the buds, stems, and leaves are the most tender.
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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- Do deer eat squash?
- Do deer eat jalapeno plants?
- Do deer eat blackberries?
- Do deer eat sweet potatoes?
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- Do deer eat strawberries?
- Do deer eat elderberry?
- Do deer eat mulberry trees?