Hardware cloth ziptied to a snowplow stake have kept the deer away from these bare-root dogwoods.

A common saying among gardeners is “right plant, right place.” The same philosophy applies to protecting plants from deer: “right fence, right features.” The plant value, age, location, and attractiveness to deer should all factor into the amount of time, money, and energy put into protecting it.

Last spring, after I sheet mulched part of my lawn in my quest to convert it to a native garden, I planted several bareroot shrubs from the Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District, as well as a few larger specimen shrubs from a local nursery. I chose plants that are said to be deer-resistant as part of my defense strategy against our frequent deer visitors. However, the bare-root shrubs were little more than twigs, so I tried several methods to protect them from hungry wildlife, errant string trimmers, and rambunctious children. I can report on the success and failure of my fencing defenses in the last year.

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