What won't deer or squirrels eat?

Galena99

Everything seems to be free food for the local wildlife.  I have a friend building us a garden box around a tree in my back yard that I need to fill with (shade) plants and need some suggestions.  TIA

ChristyDM82

Try these links:

 

http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/deer-resistant-plants.html

 

http://www.extension.colostate.edu/chaffee/Critter resistant plants .pdf

 

~NB~

What is a "garden box"? Are you literally building walls around a tree to box it in?

Galena99

yes, it is about half a foot high all around the tree (maybe 20ft x 10 ft).  It was originally boxed off with rotten railroad ties and filled with rocks, but now it is built up and filled with dirt. 

~NB~

That sounds very bad for the tree, and bad for whatever gets planted under it, too.

Galena99

in nature there's dirt around the base of a tree and other plants around it; so I can't imagine it being bad.  It's not covering any of the trunk of the tree, just the area around it. 

kathi512

I've read that sprinkling cayenne pepper onto or around your plants will keep away deer. I don't know how well it works though because I've never had to try it. Good luck!

~NB~

Galena99:

in nature there's dirt around the base of a tree and other plants around it; so I can't imagine it being bad.  It's not covering any of the trunk of the tree, just the area around it. 

Yes, trees grow in dirt. And some other plants grow in the root zone, either opportunistically or symbiotically. However, nature doesn't build walls around trees and build up the soil inside them, and "garden boxes" don't exist in nature.

This is how trees grow in nature.

http://www.vietculturetour.com/vietsmile/images/Forest.jpg

This probably looks nothing like what you're talking about.

If you're set on walling off the tree and planting things under it, google "deer resistant plants" for some ideas. Good luck.