Do deer eat geraniums? How to Spot Deer Damage Fast!

Yes, deer eat geranium, and they have often been seen eating the common geranium varieties.

However, some varieties of geraniums have a strong scent, like rose-scented geranium, lemon-scented geranium, peppermint-scented geranium, citronella geranium, and apple-scented geranium, and deer avoid eating such varieties.

There are many ways to protect your geranium from deer, such as using repellents, installing fences, growing other deer-resistant plants, or scaring away deer.

This information is enough to answer your question. “Do deer eat geraniums”? But some information that you, as a gardener, should know is as follows.

Do Deer Eat Geraniums in Pots?

As you have been told before, deer can eat geraniums, so it doesn’t matter to them whether they are planted in the ground or pots. Just because your geraniums are in a pot doesn’t mean deer won’t find them attractive, but they will still eat them if necessary.

However, if you have geraniums in a pot and you want to protect them from deer, place the pot in a place where deer cannot easily reach it, such as a balcony, patio, or near your house. Apart from that, you can also place these pots in a fenced area.

When do deer eat geraniums?

When deer don’t get their favorite food or when they are hungry, they will head to your garden and damage your geranium by eating them. They don’t necessarily only damage the Geranium, as it is not their first choice, but they will eat them if faced with a food shortage.

Some types of geranium are not very pungent, so deer will eat those types first because they are easier to chew. But some varieties have a strong scent, such as those with lemon or rose scents, which deer avoid eating because deer do not like strong smells or bitter tastes.

In short, deer only eat geraniums when they have no other food options. If they have any other options besides geraniums, they will prefer them more.

Which Geraniums Types Are Deer-Resistant?

Deer will never eat varieties of geranium that have a strong odor or rough leaves, for example:

1. Some geranium varieties are very fragrant, such as lemon or rose scents. Deer rarely prefers these varieties because deer do not like their smell.
2. Another type, called Cranesbill geranium, is a tough plant that grows back every year. This type of geranium is also deer-resistant.

On the other hand, geraniums commonly planted in gardens (Pelargonium spp.) are tender, and deer may eat them if they are hungry. So, the best solution is to choose scented or hardy geraniums.

Do deer eat zonal geraniums?

Zonal geranium is a very beautiful variety of pelargonium and is quite popular for its vibrant flowers and bold colors, and is used by many gardeners to decorate their gardens. The best way to distinguish zonal geraniums is that their leaves are round or kidney-shaped and have wavy edges.

Another reason why zonal geraniums are different from other types of geraniums (hardy geraniums) is that many people plant zonal geraniums for only one season, and for this reason, zonal geraniums are also called annual geraniums.

Now you know what zonal geraniums are, but the main question is, do deer eat zonal geraniums? And should we plant them in our garden or not?
Many gardeners say that deer do not eat zonal geraniums.

Along with deer, other animals such as rabbits also do not prefer zonal geraniums. But if a deer is very hungry or does not find any of its favorite food, it may eat zonal geraniums.

Therefore, it is advisable to take precautions to protect the valuable flowers in your garden from deer because deer do not have a clue and can eat anything at any time.

Do Deer Eat Geraniums Maculatum?

Geranium maculatum, also known by various names such as wild geranium or spotted geranium, is not very attractive to deer, although when deer are hungry, no plant can escape them.

Due to the bitter taste and tough leaves of Geranium maculatum, deer often prefer to avoid them. But if food is scarce or deer cannot find their favorite food, they can survive by eating geranium maculatum.

Do deer eat geraniums year-round?

Deer struggle to find food in winter or dry weather, making them more likely to eat your geraniums. However, deer have plenty of things to eat in the spring and summer, so they may avoid geraniums during these seasons.

But if deer cannot satisfy their hunger with the current food, they may eat your geraniums at any time of the year, so it is best to protect your geraniums every month of the year and every season.

Signs Deer Are Eating Your Geraniums

Deer often damage garden geraniums and then leave. It can be hard to tell if the damage was caused by deer or another animal.

There are some signs that we can look for to be sure that the damage was caused by a deer.

1. Chewed Leaves: If deer have eaten your geranium, their leaves will be rough and their edges may also be uneven due to deer bites.
2. Missing Flowers: If you see stems without flowers, meaning there are no flowers on the stems, then this is also a sign that a deer has attacked them.
3. Tall Plants Nibbled: Not every animal can reach the upper parts of the plants. So, if the upper parts have been damaged, then even in this situation, the deer may have done it.
4. Hoof Prints: If there are deer footprints in the soil around your garden, this is also evidence that deer have damaged your geraniums.
5. Droppings: If you see small, round droppings near the geranium plants in your garden, it means that deer have been in your garden.

These are some signs. If you see any of these signs in your garden, you should understand that deer came to your garden, damaged your plants, and then left.

How can I protect my geraniums from deer?

You can use various methods to keep deer away from your garden. Below I have given you some methods. You can use any of them to protect your geraniums and other plants from deer.

1. Plant deer-resistant geraniums: Always choose a type of geranium that has a strong scent, such as lemon or rose-scented. Many gardeners say that if you have these types of geraniums in your garden, deer are less likely to damage them.
2. Use Repellents: Spraying natural repellents, such as garlic, is also an effective solution to keep deer away from your garden. Alternatively, you can also buy deer repellents from a garden store.
3. Build a Fence: In my opinion, the best solution to keep deer out of your garden is to build a fence around your garden that is at least eight feet high, and that fence should be curved outwards from the top so that deer cannot easily jump over it and enter your garden. This is a very effective solution that I have been using for the past several years, so I would advise you to use the same, but these options are not esthetically appealing
4. Grow Other Plants Deer Don’t Like: You will have to spend some money to install a fence, but if you don’t want to spend money, another alternative is to grow plants near your geraniums that deer don’t like, such as lavender, gold, and rosemary.
5. Scare Deer: Although wild animals should be treated well, if they damage your property or plants, you can scare them away using motion-activated sprinkles, noise makers, or shiny objects.

Many gardeners in my area have installed a simulated human structure in their gardens. The advantage of this is that when deer try to enter their garden and see the structure, they think there is a human in the garden and they immediately run away.

So, if you don’t like any of the methods mentioned above, you can also use this method. You don’t need to install only one human structure in your garden. If your garden is large, you can also install two to three structures.

Natural Deer Repellents for Geraniums

Various gardeners use many natural methods to keep deer away from their geraniums, some of which are as follows:

Strong Smells

Garlic, onions, or hot peppers have a very strong smell, and deer don’t like strong smells, so you can keep deer away from your geraniums by using a spray of these things.

Soap or Hair

This method can be used by anyone. You will need a bar of strong-smelling soap and some human hair. Hanging these two items near the geranium will keep the deer away.

Egg Spray

Mix egg and water to make a spray and spray it on the plants. The smell of the spray will keep deer away from the plants.

Plant smelly herbs

Using smelly herbs is an effective solution to keep deer away. So, grow plants like lavender, mint, or rosemary in your garden as much as possible because deer do not like their smell.

Using these methods, you can keep deer away from your geraniums while spending less money.

Benefits of Natural Repellent

1. Safety: Most homes have children, pets, and edible plants, so when you use a natural repellent, they will not be at risk.
2. Environmental Protection: Natural repellents are not dangerous to non-target animals and do not have any harmful effects on the environment.
3. Humane: Natural repellents keep deer away from your garden but do not harm them, so deer seek alternative habitats away from the garden due to restrictions on entry into the garden.

Best commercial deer repellents for geraniums?

Liquid Fence Deer & Rabbit Repellent

These sprays are harmful to deer but safe for your plants, so use these sprays without any fear or anxiety and keep deer away from your garden.

Bobbex Deer Repellent

This is a very strong spray that has a very unpleasant taste and smell to deer. The advantage of this is that it has a long-lasting effect and also works very well during rain.

Deer Out Repellent

This repellent is made by combining natural ingredients like mint and garlic. It is safe for plants, but its smell is very unpleasant for deer.

Plantskydd Deer Repellent

This repellent will be available in the market in the form of powder or spray. Its advantage is that it maintains its effect for months, even in bad weather.

All repellents have instructions on their bottles, so read the instructions carefully before spraying. If you want better results, spray these repellents on your geraniums or other plants after a heavy rain and after a few weeks.

Will fencing keep deer out of my garden?

You can prevent deer from entering your garden by putting up a fence, but that fence should be about eight feet high.

Also, as I told you above if the fence is curved outwards from the top, then this is a plus point because it is difficult for deer to jump over such a fence.

Apart from this, the fence should be strong and there should be no gaps. These are some of the things that should be kept in mind while putting up a fence.

Along with fencing, if you use other methods to keep deer away, such as repellents and deer-resistant plants, this is an extra layer of protection to protect your garden.

Should I use scent-based or visual deterrents?

In my opinion, both of these work great, but it depends on what kind of deer you have in your area.

1. Scent-Based Deterrents: If you buy repellents from the store or use garlic and soap, all of these things have a strong smell, and deer hate their smell.
2. Visual Deterrents: Motion-activated sprinkles, shiny objects, scarecrows, and simulated human structures are all things you can use because they can be very effective in scaring and surprising deer.

Apart from this, if you are using any other method that is not mentioned in this article yet, then you can tell us about that method in the comment section below so that we can include it in our article as well.

What other plants do deer prefer over geraniums?

If you have plants like hostas, daylilies, roses, and tulips in your garden or vegetables like lettuce, beans, and peas, then there is a high chance that deer will prefer to eat these plants and vegetables instead of geraniums.

However, if the deer is very hungry and has been facing food shortage for several days, then it may eat all three of these things as well.

Therefore, ensure the safety of your garden. The plants that deer dislike have been told to you above. Plant them in your garden and make your garden safe.

Do deer only eat geraniums when other food is scarce?

The list of deer’s favorite foods is very long. When deer fail to get any of their favorite foods during winter or drought, they may attack the geraniums in your garden.

But if they get their favorite food or a better food than geraniums, they will avoid eating geraniums. So if you have grown all the plants, fruits (like oranges, apples), and vegetables (like pumpkins) that deer like in your garden, deer will prefer eating them instead of geraniums.

Are geraniums toxic to deer?

Geraniums are not toxic to deer and won’t make them sick. However, some varieties of geraniums have a strong odor and a bitter flavor. Deer avoids these varieties.

Deer may eat geraniums if they are having difficulty finding food or if food is scarce, but overall, deer prefer geraniums very little. As geraniums are not poisonous to deer, you should take steps to protect them.

Especially during the cold season (from October to February) and droughts. Keep a close eye on your geraniums because during this time deer often eat plants they don’t usually prefer.

The eating behavior of deer can also be inferred from the fact that when a human does not get his favorite food, he is forced to eat food that he does not like. This is exactly the case with deer as well.

Helping Geraniums Recover After Deer Damage

If deer have eaten your geraniums, don’t worry. It will take a little effort and your geraniums will grow back. Just follow the steps below.

Trim Damaged Parts

Cut off any stems and leaves of geraniums that have broken or been chewed by deer so that the geranium plant does not face any problems in regrowing.

Water and Feed

Give your geranium full attention after a deer attack, water it abundantly daily, and add some plant food so that it can recover to its former condition as quickly as possible.

Protect Them

Take steps to protect your geraniums as well as to promote their growth. Choose whichever of the above steps you feel is appropriate so that deer cannot damage your geraniums next time.

Be Patient

Be patient and don’t worry. Geranium is a tough plant and it takes some time to grow back, but the condition is that you give it regular time and monitor it closely.

Should I prune damaged geraniums, or will they grow back on their own?

Geranium is a tough plant and it takes some time to recover. But if you take regular care of it, water it, trim its affected parts, and clean its dead and unhealthy parts, then this period can be reduced and in a very short time, your geranium can recover its previous form.

How can I design a deer-resistant garden?

If you want deer to not come to your garden, you need to plant some plants in your garden that deer do not like, such as lavender, marigolds, rosemary, and strong-smelling geraniums.

You can also keep deer away from your garden by installing a fence. There are some natural repellents and some store-bought repellents that you can also spray on your plants.

In addition, you can create a layer of plants on the outer edge of your garden that deer do not like, and grow geraniums and various fragrant and beautiful plants and flowers in between this layer.

You can also prevent deer from coming to your garden by using motion-activated sprinklers, noise makers, and shiny objects. Also, avoid planting plants that deer like to eat, such as tulips, hostas, roses, etc.

Best deer-resistant plants to grow with geraniums?

I will tell you the names of some plants. If you plant these plants near geraniums, you can protect them from deer.

1. Lavender
2. Marigolds
3. Rosemary
4. Daffodils
5. Salvia
6. Foxgloves
7. Peonies
8. Sages
9. Irises

Should I Avoid Planting Geraniums in Deer-Prone Areas?

You should not do this at all. If deer are present around your garden, it does not mean that you should stop planting geraniums in your garden because of this. Instead, you can use different methods to keep deer away from the garden.

All those methods have been told to you in detail in this article above. You can use these methods and by using them, you can also fulfill your gardening passion and grow geraniums in a good way. Of course, by using these methods, you can keep deer away from your garden and geraniums.

Long-term strategies to keep deer out of my garden

Many gardeners want to be told about a strategy that they can use to protect their garden from deer attacks for the rest of their lives.

While there are many methods we can use to temporarily keep deer away from our garden, there are some methods that we can use to keep deer away from our garden for a long time. All those methods are as follows:

1. Build a Tall Fence (At least 8 feet tall)
2. Plant Deer-Resistant Plants (Such as lavender, marigolds, or strong-smelling herbs)
3. Use Repellents Regularly
4. Install Motion-Activated Devices
5. Create Barriers (Use hedges or thorny plants around your garden)

Common mistakes made to protect geraniums from deer

1. Often gardeners rely on just one solution to keep deer away from their garden, for example, they only use repellent and do not pay attention to any other solutions, and deer get addicted to repellents very quickly.
2. Many gardeners are unaware of the deer-resistant geraniums. Instead of the strongly scented geraniums, they plant common geraniums in their gardens, which deer easily eat.
3. Gardeners often put up a fence around their garden that is very low and very weak. Due to the low height, deer can easily jump over it and easily push through the weak fence.
4. Repellents lose their effectiveness over time, especially after rain. Many gardeners make the mistake of not reapplying the repellent, which causes the geraniums to become weak again.
5. Not planting deer-resistant plants near geraniums is also a big mistake. When a deer enters your garden and sees that you haven’t planted any plants around your geraniums that it doesn’t like, it will be very happy and will easily eat your geraniums.
6. Delaying inspection of geranium damage after a deer attack is also a big mistake. Doing so makes it harder to save the geranium.

Conclusion

In summary, the question “Do deer eat geraniums?” is a common problem for gardeners, and the answer is yes—deer may eat geraniums, especially common varieties. However, they tend to avoid strongly scented geraniums like lemon or rose-scented types due to their scent and bitter taste.

To protect your geraniums from deer, consider planting deer-resistant varieties, using natural or commercial repellents, installing tall fences, and including companion plants like lavender or marigolds.

Additionally, understanding deer behavior, such as their preference for geraniums during food shortages, can help you take proactive measures. By avoiding common mistakes, like depending on just one method or forgetting to reapply repellents, you can create a deer-resistant garden that keeps your geraniums safe.

Whether your geraniums are in pots or planted in the ground, these methods will help you enjoy a thriving, deer-free garden.

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