Deer-Resistant Design: Fence-free Gardens that Thrive Despite the Deer

by Karen Chapman

Overview

“Fear deer no more! The best source I’ve seen on the topic!” —Tracy DiSabato-Aust, award-winning garden designer and best-selling author

Deer are one of the most common problems a gardener can face. These cute but pesky animals can quickly devour hundreds of dollars’ worth of plants. And common solutions include the use of unattractive fencing and chemicals.

In Deer-Resistant Design, Karen Chapman offers another option—intentional design choices that result in beautiful gardens that coexist with wildlife. Deer-Resistant Design showcases real home gardens across North America—from a country garden in New Jersey to a hilltop hacienda in Texas—that have successfully managed the presence of deer. Each homeowner also shares their top ten deer-resistant plants, all welcome additions to a deer-challenged gardeners shopping list. A chapter on deer-resistant container gardens provides suggestions for making colorful, captivating, and imaginative containers. Lushly illustrated and filled with practical advice and inspiring design ideas, Deer-Resistant Design is packed with everything you need to confidently tackle this challenging problem.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781604699326
Publisher:	Timber Press, Incorporated
Publication date:	07/23/2019
Sold by:	Hachette Digital, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	974,003
File size:	75 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Karen Chapman is an award-winning landscape designer, the co-author of two books, Fine Foliage (St. Lynn’s Press, 2013) and Gardening with Foliage First (Timber Press, 2017), and a popular speaker at botanical gardens, nurseries, and flower and garden shows across the United States. Her articles and designs have been featured in many online and print publications, including Garden Design, Fine Gardening, and Better Homes and Gardens. Visit her at lejardinetdesigns.com.

Table of Contents

Preface 8

Introduction: Strategies and Realities 10

Designer's Dream Garden-despite wildlife, water, and weeds 18

Country Garden-where daunting challenges become exciting opportunities 38

Desert Oasis-where neither heat, nor drought, nor deer diminish the mirage 52

Blue Jeans Garden-where kids and dogs are always welcome 64

Storyteller's Garden-unveiling magic, one chapter at a time 78

Garden of Survivors-where serendipity and inspired design go hand in hand 96

Garden of Connections-between people, flora, and fauna 108

Confetti Garden-where pops of color punctuate the landscape 124

Lake House Garden-where every day is a vacation 138

Collector's Garden-where hostaholics and deer draw a tentative truce 152

Hilltop Hacienda-where native and adapted plants bring Mexico to Texas 164

Curated Garden-where everyday natives and choice ornamentals find common ground 176

Suburban Retreat-bringing Colorado to New Jersey 192

Deer-Resistant Container Gardens 206

Resources 228

Metric Conversions 230

Further Reading 230

Acknowledgments 231

Photo Credits 232

Index 233

Editorial Reviews

06/01/2019

Landscape designer Chapman (coauthor, Gardening with Foliage First) features 13 gardens across the United States that "stand the test of time and the taste testing of deer." Each garden is broken out by location, soil type, growing zone, problem creatures, other challenges (such as terrain, slopes, or shade), and the top ten plants used, plus color photos and detailed layouts of each property. Readers can also try creating the container garden discussed in the 14th section. The remainder of the text includes a list of the designers, landscapers, and the product used, such as Deer Out; a metric conversion table; a short list of five other resources on the topic, the oldest one being from 2005; acknowledgements and an index (not seen). Some website references would have been useful. VERDICT For experienced gardeners with the time and budget to design, purchase, plant, and maintain these landscapes, or with the money to hire a professional to do it.—Beth Bland, Milwaukee

Library Journal

I don't think there's a designer out there who wouldn't want a copy of this book.” —Garden Design Online

“If you have the common problem of deer eating up your plants, this book is the answer you've been looking for!” —Garden Design Magazine

“This book is a gift to all gardeners who share their landscape with wild life.” —The Renton Reporter

“Practical, inspiring, and beautiful. Chapman gives me new hope and tangible solutions for my own deer-challenged landscape.” —Joe Lamp’l, creator and host of PBS’s Growing a Greener World and founder of joegardener.com
 
“The resource that deer-plagued gardeners have been waiting for. Essential reading for anyone gardening in deer country.” —Niki Jabbour, award-winning author and staff writer at savvygardening.com

“[Karen Chapman] encourages gardeners to be more creative, more clever, more understanding and more resilient in the face of deer pressure. And, best yet, she shows you how to do it.” —My Northern Garden

“A book that recognizes that one size does not fit all, and inspires even the most beleaguered to try again.  A great read with many valuable plant recommendations.” —Small Town Gardener

“Karen is a wealth of information on how to work with a deer’s natural behavior pattern and outwit their appetite. “ — The Joe Gardener Show with Joe L’ampl

“Not an encyclopedia of plants that the deer don’t usually eat, although the end of each chapter lists each designer’s or homeowner’s top ten plants. The book is much more; it is a selection of well-designed gardens that have dealt with deer issues as well as other animal issues.” —Columbus Dispatch

“Deer-Resistant Design proves that beautiful gardens and deer can coexist.” —The Impatient Gardener

“Practical and inspiring.” —Country Gardens

“The beauty of this book is that the gardens that grace its pages are not just presented as finished products. The initial challenges homeowners faced and solved to develop their gardens are described in detail. If you feel discouraged by deer this is an inspirational book.”—ThePress Democrat

“With practical advice and inspiring design ideas, this book will help you confidently tackle this challenging problem.” —Michigan Gardener

“Deer-Resistant Design offers a peaceable-kingdom approach to gardening with wildlife.” —The Seattle Times

From the Publisher