Do Deer Eat Pansy Flowers? How to Protect Your Pansies From Hungry Deer

Pansies are a beloved cool weather flower known for their colorful, velvety blooms that add cheer to gardens and containers. But as pansy popularity has grown, so has their vulnerability to hungry deer looking for an easy meal. So do deer eat pansy flowers? Unfortunately yes, deer love to eat pansies. Read on to learn why deer are attracted to pansies, how to prevent deer damage, and keep these pretty flowers safe.

Why Deer Love to Eat Pansies

Deer are drawn to pansies for a few key reasons

• Nutrition: Pansies provide deer with nutrients they need like water, sugars, and proteins. The abundant flowers and foliage are especially appealing in early spring when deer are hungry after winter.

• Taste Deer find pansies palatable because of their mild, sweet flavor They will nibble on pansy leaves, stems, buds, and flowers

• New growth: In spring and summer, deer gravitate toward tender new plant growth, which includes young pansy plants.

• Opportunistic feeding: Deer will eat almost any vegetation they can access. Well-fed, fertilized pansies in gardens make for easy meals.

• Lack of defenses Unlike thorny plants or toxic flowers, pansies cannot defend themselves from deer Their thin stems and delicate petals are no match for hungry deer

When Are Pansies Most Vulnerable to Deer?

Pansies are most likely to be eaten by deer during:

• Spring – Hungry deer will devour new pansy plantings after winter when food is still scarce.

• Summer – Deer females especially crave the extra nutrition from pansies when nursing fawns.

• Fall – With natural food sources decreasing, deer look to garden plants like pansies for nutrients.

• Winter – In cold climates, deer will dig through snow to access any remaining pansy plants.

Signs Your Pansies Have Been Eaten by Deer

How can you tell if deer have been munching on your pansies? Look for these signs:

• Irregular holes in leaves, petals, or along stems. Deer do not cleanly snip plants.

• Entire plants stripped of all leaves and flowers leaving just stems.

• Young sprouts nibbled down to the soil line.

• Pansy buds missing or flowers ripped off.

• Trampled, flattened plants from deer movement.

• Deer tracks, scat, or bitten off plant parts left behind.

How to Prevent Deer From Eating Pansies

Keeping deer away from your prized pansies is possible with some planning and deterrents. Here are the most effective options:

Use Physical Barriers

Installing fencing around your garden or yard is the best protection. An 8 foot tall fence prevents deer from jumping over, and burying the fence 12 inches underground deters digging underneath. Individual pansy planters or beds can also be shielded using protective netting or wire cages.

Apply Repellents

Deer repellents create scent or taste barriers that make plants less appealing. Natural repellents like Messina’s Deer Stopper use ingredients like garlic, mint, and egg oils to deter deer yet are safe for people, pets, and plants when applied as directed. Reapply these repellents every 2-4 weeks for ongoing protection.

Add Motion-Activated Deterrents

Devices that detect motion and emit lights, sounds or sprays startle and scare away deer. Strategically placed around your yard, they provide thorough deterrence without harming deer.

Use Companion Planting

Certain plants naturally repel deer with their strong scents or flavors. Interplanting pansies with chives, lavender or other deer resistant herbs masks the pansies and makes the area unappealing.

Choose Deer-Resistant Pansy Varieties

Some pansy varieties are less palatable to deer than others. Johnny-jump-ups, violas, and swiss giant pansies tend to be avoided more than other types. Opt for these to reduce temptation.

Apply Deer Repellent Sprays

Topical chemical repellent sprays like Bobbex Deer Repellent use putrid smelling eggs, garlic, and soap to coat plant surfaces. The bad taste and smell repels deer. Reapply after rain or watering.

Scare Deer Away

Motion activated sprinklers, noisy ultrasonic devices, and predator decoys can startle deer and train them to avoid your yard over time. Use sensory deterrents in combination for best results.

How to Help Pansies Recover From Deer

When deer have nibbled your pansies, prompt care can help them recover and reflower:

• Gently prune any damaged stems, leaves or flowers with sterilized shears.

• Apply a balanced water soluble fertilizer to nourish regrowth.

• Consider using grow lights if deer cropped foliage compromised photosynthesis.

• Surround battered plants with protective cages until they revive.

• Identify and remedy any site issues like poor drainage that stressed plants.

• Fill gaps with new transplants if entire plants were destroyed.

With persistence and diligent protection methods, your pansy plants can thrive alongside nature’s deer. A deer-resistant landscape is achievable with smart preparation using fencing, plant selection, and repellents. Don’t allow Bambi to keep you from growing vibrant, bountiful pansy plants. With some simple precautions, you can have your flowers and keep the deer at bay too.