Do Deer Eat Chrysanthemums? —Factors that Causes Mum Damage by Deers

They will do so if there is very little other food available. This means there is always a chance that deer will eat your mums if you live in a deer-populated area. This is not their preferred meal, so they will choose something else. However, this does not mean deer will not eat your mums during early spring or fall.

Factors that Causes Mum Damage by Deers

Over-Attentive Gardeners

Deer will consume the blossoms of plants that may or may not be “deer resistant.” If you have a profusion of blooming flowers, thereby attracting the attention of deer, the likelihood that your mum will be ravaged increases significantly.

In other words, deer will eat whatever they can find if you maintain a flowerbed with vibrant colors but no food for them. It may be necessary to consume a non-flowering plant like your mother.

Timing

If you want to plant in a place where deer live, it’s best to do it when they have nothing to eat. If you plant in the summer or early fall, there will be many other things for them to eat before your Mums grow and bloom.

Remember that if they are hungry enough, deer will eat almost anything. Once they’ve tried something good, it’s often their favorite food source because it’s easy to get to and has a lot of nutrients.

Location

Deer will consume close-to-the-ground and easily accessible plants. If you plant your mums close to the edge of a forest, deer will be more likely to consume them.

Size

The larger the mum, the greater the likelihood that deer will damage it. The Bottom Line

Deer are herbivores and will eat many things, including chrysanthemums. However, they are not particularly fond of these blooms and will usually leave them alone unless they’re in desperate need of food.

Protection

There are measures you can take to prevent deer from consuming your mums.

Reasons Why Deer Love Chrysanthemums

Did you know that although mum plants are a common choice for gardeners, deer also like to eat them? Deer love to nibble on mum plants for the following five reasons:

• Simple to Locate– Mums are an easy target for deer because they can see them from a great distance.
• They Are Nourishing– Mums plants are rich in protein and carbohydrates, two nutrients that deer require to survive.
• They Are Tasty– Deer seem to enjoy the flavor of Mums plants and have keen senses of taste and smell.
• They Are Abounding– Mum’s plants are still vibrant and alive in the fall when most other vegetation types have died off.
• They Offer Protection– Under trees, where it is dark, and they can hide, deer frequently eat mum plants.

Ways to Prevent Deer from Eating Your Mums

Deer can cause damage to mums in a variety of ways. To keep deer out, here are some tried-and-true strategies:

Animal Fencing

A fence will keep deer out of your garden, but choosing the right material and design is important. An inexpensive electric fence may be sufficient for deer-proofing a small area around your mum plants. To expand the fencing system, consider using physical barriers such as low-lying trees or netting stretched between posts. Electric fencing with a vibration sensor that detects motion is one of the best options for this purpose.

Cayenne Pepper

When sprinkled on the soil around your plants, cayenne pepper can deter deer from nibbling on them.

Fox Urine

In addition to masking the smell of the vegetables that attract deer, sprinkling fox urine around your yard deters them from returning because they associate it with foxes.

Motion-Sensing Lights

If you struggle to keep deer out of your garden, installing motion-sensing lights may be a viable solution. These lights activate when they sense movement, which will deter deer from approaching your plants.

Human Hair

Using human hair as a deer repellent is one of the oldest techniques. According to the theory, deer don’t like the scent of human hair. You can grow your hair or purchase it from a retailer.

Hot Pepper

Planting hot peppers around your plants will deter deer because they don’t like the taste of hot peppers. Mums are an excellent source of nutrition for deer and can provide them with the nutrients they need to survive in our changing environment. Using preventative measures, such as fencing or growing hot peppers around your plants, you can keep deer from raiding your garden and robbing you of these delicious plants.

Garlic

This is a great way to keep the deer away from your plants because they dislike the smell of garlic. So there you have it. There are a few different approaches that you can take if you want to prevent deer from feeding on your mum plants. Choose the right deterrent for your garden and enjoy your autumn blooms without fear of pesky deer.

Liquid Fence

Liquid Fence is a ready-made product in most garden supply stores. It’s a liquid concentrate that you can spray on your plants after diluting with water. Plants are safe from deer and other animals because of the strong scent it emits.

Scarecrows

Scarecrows have long been used to keep birds and other animals away from gardens and crops. It is common for them to be made of cloth or cardboard and dressed up as people. It’s up to you whether you want to buy or make your own.

Suppressive Herbicides

Apply a herbicide that suppresses growth in nearby plant life. Rotenone, for instance, is typically used in this manner. Be sure to read the label carefully before applying; some herbicides.

Motion-Activated Sprinklers

Using motion-activated sprinklers can help keep deer away from plants that they normally eat, but it’s a temporary fix. The sprinklers go off as soon as the deer get too close to the plants, scaring them away. Ensure that the sprinklers are in working order by placing them near the plants you’re trying to protect.

Planting Deer Resistant Flowers

There are some flowers that deer won’t eat. Therefore, they can be planted near your mum’s plants without fear of being raided. Some examples of deer-resistant flowers are globe amaranth, snapdragons, daylilies, etc. By looking into other plants, you can conduct further research to find the best repellent for your area.

Mothballs

These emit an odor that animals find repulsive, so they keep pests at bay. However, you must exercise caution, as using too much could harm your plants, children, or pets who come into direct contact with them.

Scare Tactics

Scarecrows, inflatable balloons, noisy devices, and bright lights have successfully kept deer away from some people’s gardens.

Keeping a Dog

A dog in the backyard can serve as a deterrent to deer, as long as you don’t mind going out there at night or going out of town for a few days. Dogs bark when deer come around, and this can cause the deer to move on to an easier meal. Flowers like mums can brighten up any garden. It’s also possible to enjoy having deer in your yard with a little management.