When I worked for a greenhouse grower in Ohio, we had a running joke about “deer-proof.”  It’s not what the deer won’t eat; it’s what the deer will eat last.  The  adherence to a list of deer-proof plants is as absurd in many areas of the East Bay hills as it is in the rural suburbs of Cleveland.

Luckily, we have clients in Lafayette who are deer-friendly in their expectations of landscaping their mostly unfenced property.  They have a home neatly situated on a hillside that is crisscrossed with deer trails.  Our plan was not to deer-proof, but to deer-tolerate.  We pulled together a mostly California native plant palette including Rhamnus crocea (not an easy find), Ribes sanguineum glutinosum, Arctostaphyllos uva-ursi, and Mahonia repens.  Of these plants selected, the only ones we had to protect with Liquid Fence were the Ribes.  After a few months, the deer relented and no spray was necessary.

A truly deer-friendly garden can be achieved by establishing plants that the deer graze upon.  The trick is to select vigorous plants that recover quickly and protect them until they are established enough to withstand deer with the munchies.  Grasses such as Koeleria and Elymus are a must.  Reseeding annuals or self-propagating perennials  such as Trifolium, Chichorium, and Vicia are also great additions.

Keep in mind that in dry seasons the deer may nibble on anything because they are looking for water.  Having even a modest water feature can curb this behavior.  If certification as a wildlife habitat is part of the plan for the landscape, then a water source is a requirement.