Planning Around Deer

Well, I am working on a fine cottage style garden right now. Apparently this couple got a less than perfect landscape job last year. Not only did the guy come in the spring to discuss their "flower garden" and then not show up until fall to install it...he installed only shrubs...nice. The up side of this is that I get to put in the flowers...yeay! The down side is I know for a fact that their neighborhood is infested with a massive deer heard! Not so good news.

So I am asking everyone what to do. So far I have heard all kinds of interesting information.

I have been told to install hard flat surfaces, like slate...that deer don't like to slip and fall and that slate makes them nervous. Hmmmm....

I have heard that using Malorganite (Human Waste-hurray!) keeps them away. Hmmmm....not so sure about that one either.....

I have heard that they don't like to be enclosed...in tight spaces...o.k.....

I KNOW that daffodils are not on their eat list. And here are a few more items that are resistant to deer but nothing is a total guarantee.

Hyssop
Butterfly bush
Lavender
Spurge
Siberian iris
Thyme
Hyssop
Butterfly bush
Lavender
Catmint
Meadow sage
Mounding Grass, such as Karl Foerster
Ferns (regardless of species)
Spotted dead nettle-Great in dry shade
Monkshood
Russian sage
Mounding Grass, such as Karl Foerster, Blue Fescue
Ferns (regardless of species)
Spotted dead nettle-Great in dry shade
Boxwood
Hydrangeas
Forsythia
Coneaster
Spirea
Daisies
Daylillies
Poppies
Black eyed Susans(although they do sample these)
Bradford Pear?
Joe Pye weed
Common Foxglove
Carnation, Pinks
Christmas Fern
Crown Imperial, Fritilia
Fennel and Dill
False Indigo
Jack in the pulpit
Ladys' Mantle
LANTANA
Common Yarrow
O.K. Well that is enough to keep you busy for a while. And just in case this isn't enough info go to the source: http://njaes.rutgers.edu/deerresistance/

--GartenGrl