Marigolds are widely popular for their aesthetic values. These flowers are largely used for ornamental purposes and they have gained great popularity in doing so.
But marigolds’ performance is not limited in its ornamental values. These flowers have been known to deter unwanted animals from your garden as well.
Here, we will discuss whether marigolds keep deer away. These plants are known to deter rabbits and some other animals, but we are still not sure how effective they are in deterring rabbits. Let’s find that out in the following article.
Do marigolds keep deer away?
Marigolds keep deers away. All kinds of marigolds repel deers. But signet marigold has a noteworthy repelling power in this case. This flower has a very strong and pungent smell that deers despise. So they will not enter your grounds if you have planted marigolds in it.
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Deers dislike all kinds of marigolds. These flowers are strong in their scent and very bright in their colors. All kinds of marigolds repel deers.
But there are still some marigolds that deers dislike more than the others. For example, deers especially dislike the signet marigold. This kind of marigold has a very strong scent which keeps deers away from your garden.
Deers generally do not go near plants and herbs that have a strong scent. They find these flowers and plants to be very stinky.
So if you’re trying to keep deer away from your garden and yard, make sure to plant plenty of plants featuring strong scents. Besides marigolds, you may opt for foxgloves, daffodils, lavenders, or poppies.
From the garden:
Marigolds will keep deers away from your garden. Deers are generally repelled by plants and herbs that smell too strongly. So deers steer clear of marigold as it appears to be too smelly and bright for them.
Marigolds have a very strong smell. Their strong scent keeps deers from browsing around your garden.
So if you plant a bunch of marigolds in your garden, you can rest assured that deers will not ruin other plants, fruits, or flowers.
In addition, the marigold flowers come in very bright colors. These colors appear to be too bright for deers’ taste. This is another reason why marigolds will keep deer away from your garden.
From other plants:
Marigolds will keep deers away from other plants in your garden. Marigold plants have a very strong fragrance.
This deters the deers from browsing around your garden, so other plants will remain safe in that premise.
In addition, the bright colors in marigold plants will confuse the deers. This is another significant reason why deers will not mess with other plants in your garden.
So you can rest assured that your plants will be safe from deers once you have planted a handful of marigold plants in your garden.
Are marigolds deer-resistant?
Yes, marigolds are deer-resistant. Marigold plants do not entertain deers for several reasons. Among the most significant reasons are their smell and colors.
Marigold plants carry a very prominent fragrance, even when they are not carrying flowers. This is one of the major reasons why these plants deter deers.
Deers are never fond of strong scents. They find this plant to be very stinky instead, so deers will steer clear of your garden when they notice a marigold plant in it.
In addition, the marigold plant carries very bright flowers. The leaves have a very bright green hue as well. All of this together makes the plant very unfavorable for deers.
Deers do not like bright colors, so they will not go near a marigold plant. The colors in that plant seem overpowering to them, so this saves all the other plants in your garden as well.
2 reasons why marigolds can keep deer away
Marigolds are a great plant for your garden if you’re trying to keep deers away. In the following section, we will take a look at the reasons why marigolds keep deers away. So without further ado, let’s learn why deers dislike marigolds so strongly.
Strong fragrance:
The strong fragrance of marigolds deters deers from the plant as well as the entire garden.
Deers generally do not enjoy plants that have a strong fragrance. So the marigold plants, especially when they carry flowers, deter deers from your garden and yard.
These plants carry a fragrance even when they are not flowering. So it is a very safe bet to keep deers away from your garden.
If you can get a hold of signet marigold plants, then make sure to plant a few of these marigolds around your garden. This is the marigold that deers dislike the most.
Bright colors:
Deers do not like bright colors as well. Marigold plants carry very bright flowers. Their colors range between gold and yellow to mahogany, red, and orange.
So you can clearly understand the irritation that deers will feel when they see flowers on this plant. There are even some marigold plants that are bicolored and deers dislike them even more.
In addition, the flowers of marigold plants have cherry, daisy-shaped, pom-pom inflorescence in their colors. All of these factors further contribute to deers disliking marigold plants.
Will deer eat marigolds plants?
No, deers will not eat marigold plants. Deers do not like marigold plants, including their leaves and flowers. So they generally steer clear of this plant.
In fact, if you plant marigolds in your garden, these plants will keep deers away from eating other plants as well. Since deers do not like marigold plants, they like to stay away from them altogether.
The fragrance of marigold plants is what basically deters marigold plants. Its scent is overpowering and will take over any other scent moving around your garden.
Deers will not be able to tolerate the smell of marigolds in your garden, so they will leave your garden alone then.
In addition, the colors in marigold plants are quite overpowering as well. Deers do not enjoy the bright colors of marigold flowers. It confuses deers and keeps them away. So they will not get a chance to eat marigold plants in your garden.
How to use marigolds in the garden to repel deer?
You can repel deers from your garden by planting a handful of marigolds in your garden.
Here are some essential steps that you should follow in order to pull off the plan successfully. Read ahead to learn how to use marigolds in the garden to repel deer.
Choose ideal locations in your garden:
In order to repel deer, you should choose the location for marigolds very wisely. Make sure that you’re surrounding your garden with plants that have a strong fragrance.
If you’re only going for marigolds, then make sure you’re encircling your entire garden with some marigolds.
Cover the perimeter of your garden with marigolds. Produce holes for planting marigolds along the edge of your garden.
You can also intermix the clumps of marigold plants with some other aromatic plants such as lavender, poppies, and more. You can run this process, particularly around the plants that deers prefer the most.
Amend the planting site:
Now you should take care of the planting site. You can amend the site by turning the holes over with some hoes or tillers.
Make sure to put some organic matter into the holes, such as leaf molds, pine barks, and more. Do this for about 2 to 3 inches into the holes.
This step will prepare the planting site for marigolds. It will ensure that you’re growing healthy and fruitful plants that will serve you for a long time.
Plant the marigolds:
Now you can go ahead and plant the marigolds in the planting site. Make sure to keep a significant amount of space between the plants.
The ideal space between two marigold plants would be about 6 to 18 inches. This may change according to the variety of the marigold.
What flowers keep deer away?
There are several flowers that will keep deers away. Deers generally do not entertain plants that have a strong aroma.
Neither do they enjoy plants with bright flowers. So you can plant a range of flowering and aromatic plants in order to deter deers from your garden or yard.
Here’s a list of flowers that will keep deers away:
- Daffodils
- Foxgloves
- Lavender
- Poppies
- Ornamental salvias
- Bearded irises
- Peonies
- Sages
- Rosemary
- Crape myrtle
- Mint
- African lily
- Fountain grass
Final Thoughts
Marigolds will keep deers away. Deers generally avoid plants that have a strong aroma. They also dislike plants that carry bright flowers. So naturally, they are repelled by marigold plants. You can plant a range of marigold plants along the perimeter of your garden to keep deers away.