Do Deer Eat Geraniums? (Answered)

People love growing geraniums for a variety of reasons. One is that they’re very simple to grow—even if you’re not a natural gardener! Geraniums are hardy plants that can thrive in various environments, including full sun or partial shade, as well as in small pots on your balcony or windowsill. However, if you live in a rural area, you may be concerned that these plants will be eaten by animals, particularly deer (which we all know love plants!). Don’t worry! This article will put your mind at ease by answering the question, “Do deer eat geraniums?”

Do deer eat geraniums?

Deer typically have little interest in eating geraniums, but may do so when food is limited. Deer are herbivores and prefer to eat grasses, leaves, and shrubs… but deer are also very picky eaters. So the fact that they will not eat geraniums if other options are available is not surprising in the least bit.

Why deer would eat my geraniums

Geraniums have almost no appeal to deer as food. The problem is that deer will occasionally eat geraniums because they are surrounded by appetizing plants that are irresistible to them, and their food source is limited.

Deer are herbivores, meaning they only eat plants. These creatures cannot digest meat or other animal products in the same way humans do. So, if their primary food source becomes scarce for any reason, they will search for something else to eat.

The most common reason deer eat geraniums is that there aren’t enough other plants for them to eat. This could be due to drought conditions or simply seasonal changes that cause certain plants to die off at different times of the year (like winter).

What kind of geraniums do deer eat?

Geraniums are one of the most popular flowering perennials in the United States, but they aren’t always deer-proof, according to Rutgers University. True, most geranium varieties are classified as occasionally to seldom severely damaged by deer. But that doesn’t mean they’ll avoid them entirely!

It is hardy geraniums that are known to be frequently damaged by deer. So, if you intend to plant this type of geranium, make it deer-proof to avoid being eaten by them.

Ways to keep deer away from geraniums

Deer can be extremely damaging to your garden, especially if they are hungry and looking for food. There are several things you can do if you have a geranium garden and want to keep deer away from it.

• The first step is to plant your geranium inside a fence. This will completely keep the deer out of the area.
• You can also use a deer repellent spray on them as an alternative. The odor of this spray will keep deer away from your plants and prevent them from eating them.
• Planting other plants known to repel deer, such as lavender or catnip, near your geraniums will also help keep them at bay without affecting how well-protected your geraniums are!

Other animals that eat geraniums

You may not know this, but many animals will eat geraniums, especially when food is scarce. There are numerous creatures that will eat these plants, ranging from birds to rodents to even deer.

The following are the most common animals that eat geraniums:

• Rabbits
• Rats
• Birds
• Javelinas
• Raccoons
• Beetles
• Grasshoppers
• Deer

How do you keep animals and other pests away from your geraniums?

1. Keep them in spots with good airflow and light.

Pests tend to like the dark, so keeping your geraniums in well-lit areas is less likely to have pests around.

2. Prune back any dead leaves or stems to avoid manifestations.

If there are any dead leaves on your plant, pests can feed off of them and proliferate. To avoid this, prune back any dead leaves whenever you see them.

3. Spray with insecticidal soap or pesticides when you see pests on your plant.

If you notice small bugs or caterpillars on your geraniums, spray them with insecticidal soap or pesticides immediately—this will kill them before they become too big a problem for your plant!

4. Keep them in a fence to avoid large animals getting near them.

Large animals such as rabbits, rats, and raccoons can eat and destroy your geranium if it is left out in the open. You must be careful where you place the plants to avoid being eaten by them, and one of the best ways to do so is to build a fence to protect your geraniums.

5. Use soap to keep animals away from your plants.

It can be used in a variety of ways, but spraying the soap on your plants and the surrounding area is the most effective. This will deter any mammals which may be considering eating or chewing on your plants’ leaves.

What do deer usually eat?

Deer are a species of animal that you can find all over the world. They are herbivores, which means they only eat plants.

Here is a list of typical foods that deer consume:

1. A wide range of plants, including grasses, clover, and legumes.
2. Shrub and tree leaves, twigs, and bark
3. Small fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries.
4. Mushrooms
5. Groundnuts or acorns from oak trees in autumn when food becomes scarce during the winter months.

Deer-resistant plants that you can plant near geraniums

If you’re still having problems with deer eating your geraniums, it’s time to start planting deer-resistant plants near them. This will not only give you a lovely yard, but it will also protect your garden and landscaping from hungry deer.

Here are some of our favorite deer-resistant plants:

1. Joe Pye Weed
2. Daffodils
3. Columbine
4. Black-eyed Susan
5. Butterfly Weed
6. Foxgloves
7. Poppies
8. Peonies
9. Lavender

Final Thoughts

The answer to the question “Do deer eat geraniums?” is a no. Deer do not eat geraniums on a regular basis, only when they are hungry and their food source is very limited. However, this does not imply that you should simply plant a lot of geraniums in your garden and hope they grow without any issues.

Deer are very hungry animals, and they love eating plants. The key is to be cautious about what you plant, especially around your geraniums.