Height: 3 to 6 inches. You agree that BobVila.com may process your data in the manner described by our Privacy Policy. Clear-cutting is the major … And because deer have a sensitive sense of smell, they tend to dislike any plants with a strong odor. It features dense growth that beautifully fills landscape beds with a solid mass of glossy, deep green, fern-like foliage. Ornamental grasses feature extensive fibrous roots, excellent drought tolerance, and lush foliage. … Bluebeard or the blue mist shrub (Caryopteris) blooms in late summer at a time when relatively few bushes are flowering. You get a 3-for-1 deal with arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum). Coreopsis; Sedums; Hardy Ferns; Shade Ground Covers - Deer Resistant; Sun Ground Covers - Deer Resistant; Drought Tolerant Plants. Japanese spurge (Pachysandra terminalis) forms a glossy, broadleaf, evergreen carpet that controls soil erosion in shady areas. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Plant Life columnist Valerie Easton talks with an expert on slope erosion. This low, spreading, evergreen shrub reaches one to 2 feet tall and spreads three to 4 feet wide in just a season or two. In contrast with creeping juniper, creeping myrtle (Vinca minor) is … This shrub is a favorite of many pollinators, and it's drought-tolerant. Moss phlox. Blue star juniper (Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star') is a small, slow-growing, rounded bush that is a good choice where a bluish accent is needed. Mark Wolfe, Bob Vila, 10 Lush Landscaping Ideas for a Hilly Backyard, Easy Ground Covers: 7 Varieties to Enhance Any Landscape, All You Need to Know About Landscape Fabric, The Best Landscape Fabric for Blocking Out Weeds, The Dos and Don'ts of Planting Ground Cover. Plant spaced 4 feet apart in USDA zones 6 through 9. It’s suited to USDA zones 3 through 8. While no plant is 100% deer resistant, deer generally avoid these perennials. Erosion occurs when wind and/or water move across unprotected ground, removing soil particles. As a bonus, boxwoods contain alkaloids that are distasteful to deer. Plant Muhly grass at a 3-foot spacing in USDA zones 6 through 10. Verbena. It’s suited to USDA zones 3 through 9. Plants for Moderate Level Deer Problems The fruit trees have no fruit or leaves below 4'. biflorum 7. pinxter azalea, Rhododendron periclymenoides … For a different look, try the Pfitzer Chinese juniper (Juniperus chinensis 'Pfitzeriana Glauca'), which is commonly shaped into pom-poms. Gardeners tend to see more damage in their garden from deer in the late fall and winter. But while bees and butterflies like its flowers, the plant's heavy scent repels deer. The plant also is tolerant of drought, erosion, and salt. Tried and true deer-resistant plants for the Sierra Foothills; Cool Links. And who better to recommend these plants … Roots spread quickly to cover bare, shady slopes with elegant 3-foot-tall, vase-shaped plants. It stays under 10 inches tall, spreads well beneath trees but does not climb, and gives a subtle display of creamy white flowers in early summer. They're fairly low maintenance, except for an annual pruning to maintain their shape and remove unhealthy portions. Remove dead, diseased, and overgrown wood to promote better airflow, which helps to prevent pests and diseases. Disclosure: BobVila.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. You may not need to give up grass if you can find a species better suited to your conditions. It is the fragrance of bayberry that deters deer from eating it. This deer-resistant shrub bears reddish fall foliage and bluish berries in addition to white flowers in the spring. By Mark Wolfe and Bob Vila. Its fragrance is one of the true delights of the spring garden, but the aroma and poisonous berries are distasteful to deer. This plant is somewhat difficult to grow, as it requires a delicate balance of soil moisture and sharp drainage. Roses have every leaf removed each summer-fall. The right type of grass is perfect for erosion control on mild slopes because it provides a dense root mass and tough foliage that holds up well under foot traffic. Copyright © 2020 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. Creeping Myrtle. Landscape shrubs are not the preferred food for white-tailed deer, but deer will still eat them in a pinch. A carpet of pink, purple, red, or white flowers each spring makes creeping phlox (Phlox subulata) one of the showiest plants for erosion control. Some new cultivars, such as 'Blue Chip', have few seeds or are seedless, making them less able to spread. Zone: 3 – 9. The tenacious root system of the forsythia shrub makes it an excellent choice for erosion control. Space plants 3 feet apart in USDA zones 3 through 8. Spread: 1 to 2 feet. Oct 2, 2012 - Drought tolerant, deer resistant hillside. Plant this ground cover at 6- to 8-inch spacing for coverage within a growing season. Also, prune dead and diseased parts as needed. Ideal for erosion control on part shade to full shade garden areas including slopes. This shrub also will spread, so remove its suckers if you want to keep it contained in one area. Kathleen Miller is a Master Gardener and Horticulturist with over 30 years experience in gardening and sustainable farming. Juniper generally is low maintenance, simply requiring some pruning to control its growth. It's generally low maintenance, though you might have to remove suckers to prevent new plants from spreading where you don't want them. Candy Oh is a favored variety known for its fragrance and vibrant coloring. When their … They also require little care. Examples include: 1. white turtlehead, Chelone glabra, the host plant for our state butterfly 2. turk's cap lily, Lillium superbum 3. Native to eastern North America, where it shrubby grows naturally in sandy open woods and meadows, shrubby St. John’s wort (Hypericum prolificum) is widely adaptable to different soil conditions, but does consistently well on wet slopes or where periodic flooding occurs. Can you suggest some plants that will flourish while helping to control erosion? BEST plants for 30 tough garden sites: dry shade, slopes, lakeshores, all locations that call for tough, durable plants. Plants that leaf out early and hold their leaves until late fall, however, rise to the top of the heap. Forsythia may have a short bloom season, but … Cut back in early spring to make room for fresh new foliage. Wild Columbine. One of our favorite deer-resistant perennials are bleeding hearts (Lamprocapnos spectabilis, aka Dicentra spectabilis). Juniper varieties are members of the cypress family and give off a heavy fragrance. Sometimes the damage is merely cosmetic, and the plant can recover. This shrub is fairly low maintenance, simply requiring pruning to keep its shape, though it should be protected from cold winter winds. Here is a list of seven great plants I use to tackle challenging slopes. It is drought-tolerant and deer-resistant. It stays low (under 6 inches) and spreads at a moderate pace. And erosion problems are increasing; not just because of climate-change extremes. You mentioned Coast Live Oak, Valley, and Toyon which all seem like good choices. Up well but are nibbled on once or twice/year some plants that flourish. 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