Carla’s Deer-Resistant Garden in Pennsylvania

Hi GPODers!

As we plan ahead for this year’s garden and reflect on last year’s displays, it’s great to consider the challenges we face in the garden and whether we’re successfully overcoming them. Based on these photos sent in from Carla Garfield in Easton, Pennsylvania (Zone 6b), she is having good success battling one of her biggest garden challenges: deer. By utilizing physical deterrents and deer-resistant plant selections, she has created a wonderful woodland landscape that looks luscious and lively throughout the growing season.

I’ve been gardening since 1977, the year I graduated from college. I have moved 13 times since then and tended gardens everywhere I lived. Now I’m retired and likely to stay here in Easton, Pennsylvania (along with the 20-30 deer who also love my gardens!). I rely heavily on the Rutgers deer-resistance chart and various types of fencing.

Carla’s poolside garden in September: Despite Carla’s many deer visitors, she has cultivated a garden that is lush and flower-filled throughout the gardening season.

The garden in August: Fencing is essential for keeping deer away from some of the most irresistible plants, but is also a hardscaping element that can add to the beauty when the right material is used. Carla’s rustic split-rail fencing gives her garden protection and style.

While fencing is helpful for deterring deer, they can easily jump over barriers that are less than 8 to 10 feet tall when food is tempting enough. Sticking to plants that deer don’t enjoy—like a long row of fuzzy lambs’ ear (Stachys byzantina, Zones 4–8)—is a safe bet, even within a fenced garden.

Finally, a photo from the early days in Carla’s garden—with lots of young plants coming into their own. It’s clear that Carla had a vision for her landscape from the beginning and executed it marvelously.

Thank you for sharing your gorgeous space with us, Carla! Your experience gardening in your various homes absolutely shows in your landscape.

What challenges do you face in your garden? Let us know in the comments, or consider sharing your garden story with the blog. Follow the NEW directions below to submit your photos to Garden Photo of the Day!

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Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!

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You can also send 5–10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.

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