Fruit Trees to Plant for a Deer

While deer are often considered pests in a home landscape or orchard, a lot of individuals still enjoy seeing them graze across the edges of the house. Deer will eat several plants, but a dependable fruit crop is always a welcomed treat throughout the year.

Deer Species

Throughout America, the two most common species of deer would be the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), together with subspecies. White-tailed deer are more slender-bodied, while mule deer have stockier bodies and bigger ears. Populations of both species are big throughout their respective territories, although some areas have bigger populations than the others. Both species are fond of orchards and landscape plants, including fruits and fruit trees.

Fruit Trees

Deer will graciously accept any fruit on your property as a delicious meal. Nearly all fruit trees are frequented by deer populations when available, including apples (Malus spp.) , pears (Pyrus spp.) , and especially bananas and plums (Prunus spp.) . Throughout the late summer and autumn, deer frequent orchards and landscapes to obtain the sweet, tender fruit. During other times of the year, they’ll consume tender leaves, stems, buds and blooms when given the chance.

Attracting Deer With Fruit Trees

Deer tend to forage across a wooded edge, due to the safety of the forest. This isn’t always the case, however, as a deer will roam into more open areas once it has found a dependable, tasty food resource. To feed the deer on your house, plant a few fruit trees and its advantages. While doing so will probably bring any deer in the vicinity to your house, this will also bring them to the rest of your landscape as well.

Other Deer-Friendly Plants

Deer will eat nearly anything and almost no plant is really “deer-resistant.” Some are more highly favored than others, though, and will help attract the regional deer population to your property. Favorite plants of deer consist of various arborvitae species (Thuja spp.) , azaleas (Rhododendron spp.) , hostas (Hosta spp.) , oaks (Quercus spp.) And various hydrangeas (Hydrangea spp.) .

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