Do Deer Eat Impatiens? [And How To Protect Your Impatiens From Them]

Gardening is a rewarding and enjoyable pastime, but it is certainly not without its challenges. Knowledge is the key to ensuring that you have a successful garden. If you're thinking of planting impatiens, one of the things you need to know is whether they are susceptible to deer and how to protect them. That's why it's so important to know: do deer eat impatiens? We looked into this to find the answer for you, as well as how to protect your beautiful blooms from becoming a deer buffet!

Yes, deer eat impatiens. They will readily eat these plants if you leave them unprotected. If you live in an area where deer are common, it is essential to take the necessary steps to protect your impatiens.

Knowing that deer eat impatiens is only the beginning. Keep reading to find out some of the best (and easiest) ways to protect your plants. We've researched so that you can get started on adding those gorgeous impatiens to your garden.

Protecting Your Impatiens From Deer

Deer are skittish, opportunistic creatures. They're virtually always searching for the safest and quickest meal. Your unguarded impatiens can make an inviting target.

One of the simplest steps you can take to protecting impatiens from becoming a deer's next meal is to plant them close to your house and, ideally, near a window. This will make it easier for you or your dog to keep an eye on them. If you see deer approach your plants, you can scare them away. If your dog sees them, her barking may do the trick, too.

Another effective method for keeping deer away from your impatiens is to surround them with plants that deer don't like. Flowers like marigold, which smell strongly, or poppies, which are poisonous, can act as effective deterrents to deer. And, they can add vibrant color and variety to your garden.

Repellents are another method you can use to protect your impatiens. Whether you choose to make your own or you decide to buy them, treating your impatiens with repellents can prevent them from being eaten. Just be sure to reapply the repellents regularly since they are not a one and done solution. They can be washed away by rain and will wear off on their own after about a month.

Finally, you may try putting wind chimes or motion-activated lights in or near your garden. Deer are easily frightened, and loud noises or bright lights can scare them away. However, over time they may become used to these objects and lose their fear of them. As with repellents, don't assume that these will be a permanent solution.

What Other Animals Eat Impatiens?[And How To Deter Them]

Unfortunately, deer aren't the only animals that eat impatiens. There are several other types of hungry critters that may decide to snack on your plants. Knowing what they are and how to protect your impatiens from them is critical.

Rabbits, opossums, and insects are all potential threats to your flowers. Each of them requires a different means of protection, too. Surprisingly, fences will not deter any of these creatures. Rabbits can fit through gaps in your fence, opossums are excellent climbers, and insects can easily dig under, climb up, or fly over fences.

Netting can help to protect your impatiens from rabbits and opossums, but it will not prevent insects from damaging them. Combine netting and insect repellent to give your flowers the best chance for success. One such repellent is Bonide - Eight Insect Control for Vegetable, Fruit, and Flower, Insecticide/Pesticide Concentrate (16 oz.).

Click here to buy this product on Amazon.

Planning and preparing a garden is hard work, so you want to be sure to do everything in your power to protect your plants and give them the best chance for success. Knowing what animals like to feed on impatiens and how to prevent them from doing so is the best thing you can do to keep them alive and safe.

Summary

Now that you know more about protecting your impatiens from deer and other animals enjoy preparing your garden! These simple strategies have hopefully given you a good idea of the types of actions you should employ to ensure success for your impatiens. If you're thinking about planting other kinds of flowers in your garden, consider checking out some of our other blog posts so that you can adequately protect those plants from deer as well:

Do Deer Eat Petunias?[And How To Stop Them From Doing That]

Do Deer Eat Roses?[And How To Keep Them Away From Your Garden]