Question:
What should I plant in my yard to attract or deter wildlife?
Answer:
Dublin is home to abundant wildlife, and while they are beautiful creatures, sometimes they can be a nuisance. Deer, rabbits, woodchucks and other species are notorious for destroying landscaping.
So what should you plant to deter these animals? Some of the best deterrent plants are those with strange textures like prickly or fuzzy leaves. Yarrow and Lamb’s Ear are good examples. Plants with a strong scent like Oatmint will also keep animals away.
Some plants actually contain toxins that are poisonous if eaten by animals, which they naturally avoid. These include Foxglove and Beard Tongue.
When it comes to flowering plants, those that are lower to the ground like Creeping Phlox will keep deer away since they’re not at the deer’s shoulder level. Read more about deterring deer here.
Snowcap Onion, which has small snowball-like flowers, is a deterrent due to its strong taste. And Iris is another good flowering plant that animals avoid.
Some people want to attract wildlife to their yard. Many species love Tulips, Arborvitae, Hostas, Pansies and Violets. Since some wildlife will eat these, a good technique is to plant these near the house, and surround them with the deterrent species.
To attract pollinator species like birds, bees and butterflies, learn about making your yard a Certified Wildlife Habitat.
Species that deter:
- Yarrow
- Lamb’s Ear
- Oatmint
- Foxglove
- Beard Tongue
- Creeping Phlox
- Snowcap Onion
- Iris
Species that attract:
- Tulips
- Arborvitae
- Hostas
- Pansies
- Violets
