Yes, Deer Eat Mums—Here's How to Protect This Fall Bloom, According to Experts

Deer love eating mums. The flowers are full of sugar and rich in nutrients and minerals. According to experts, deer consider mums a form of fine dining, especially in an otherwise bare landscape. So, given their love of mums, what’s the best way to stop these animals from eating your beautiful fall flowers?

We chatted with plant and garden experts to find the best methods for keeping deer away from your mums. Since none of these approaches are lethal, your garden can still offer wildlife safe refuge—just not a free dinner too.

Add Plant Cages

Setting up freestanding protective cages is one way to keep deer (and other animals like squirrels) away from your mums. It's especially helpful at stopping them from sneaking in at night, when you can't keep a watchful eye on your garden.

Plus, unlike chicken wire—typically used as a protective barrier in many gardens—these cages can stand up on their own, and don't require winding sheets around the plant. According to Tammy Sons, master gardener and founder of TN Nursery, each cage is easy to install. “Most are foldable," she says. "You don’t even need to put them together.”

Install Motion-Activated Sprinklers

Deer are prey animals, so they startle easily. “Motion-activated sprinklers would easily deter deer, and give them quite a surprise in the process,” says Ward Dilmore, founder and head landscape designer at Petrus Landscaping. Since the water spray is such a shock, it's unlikely that deer will return afterward. And while it will certainly scare them off, motion-sensing sprinklers are nonlethal and perfectly safe.

Use Deer Spray

Another simple, nonlethal method is deer spray—though it's perhaps unpleasant for both deer and gardener alike. According to Dilmore, deer sprays incorporate ingredients like raw egg, garlic, pepper, and other milder fragrances. They may be off-putting, but they're effective: "Deer will often steer clear of any plant with these sprays applied," he says.

However, deer spray doesn't last forever. “It’s important to keep in mind that these need to be applied regularly, as the fragrance may wash off in the rain,” Dilmore adds. There are many different deer sprays on the market, so it's important to find one that's right for your garden.

Own a Dog

Remember when we said deer are prey animals? Well, that means they aren’t very eager to be around any property with a dog, even if it's on the smaller side and only barks at them from inside the house.

Deer will interpret dogs as coyotes, wolves, or other large predators, so they won’t want to be anywhere near them. “If you don’t have dogs, loud noises can do the trick too," says Evan Torchio, an arborist, gardener, and founder of Tree Menders. "An air horn can startle deer away."

Plant Herbs

You can also plant strong-smelling herbs or flowers around your mums. “Lavender, marigolds, and chives are great choices that might help keep the deer away,” says Torchio. In fact, lavender is considered a good companion plant for mums, as the strong-smelling flower welcomes in pollinators like bees and butterflies. So some plants can be beneficial to your mums in more ways than one.

Build a Fence

If you really want to keep those pesky, mum-eating deer out of your garden, then a fence is your best bet. “Even a simple setup with stakes and strong fishing lines can do the trick,” says Torchio. “The only truly deer-resistant plants are those that are out of their reach." Dilmore agrees: "A six-foot fence can deter even the most ambitious jumping deer."

Sons recommends movable deer fences, as they don't need to be added to a garden permanently. “We use sea rope,” she says. “The deer lick it to get the needed iodine.” This distracts the deer from the mums, while also providing them with beneficial nutrients.