Yesterday I suggested easing up on the quest for a perfect lawn. Today I'll give you a suggestion to tackle 2 landscaping problems with 1 solution - Deer resistant groundcover alternatives for lawns. I'll probably never give up all of my lawn, but I have shady nooks and outer reaches where grass won't grow or the mower can't squeeze in. These areas are perfect candidates for ornamental groundcovers like sweet woodruff and the yellow lamium shown here, plants that spread freely and thickly. Why not choose plants that do double duty by hinting to passing deer that there's nothing tasty in the yard worth stopping for. David Beaulieu has some suggestions for attractive, perennial groundcovers the deer won't touch.
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I use nepeta ‘Walkers Low’, creeping thyme, cascading rosemary, oregano (ornamental and culinary), ajuga, perennial heliotrope and lambs ears for deer resistant ground covers. These withstand a very large herd (20+) that sleep a few feet away from my garden every night.
Cameron
Defining Your Home Garden
I planted some Meehan’s Mint (Meehania cordata) that’s shaded by a large maple tree. It’s a heart-leaf mint. This will be the first spring to see it in bloom. If it does well, I will plant more of it to cover all the shady parts.