Lydia Doe

You've spent all summer and most of fall living in peaceful coexistence with your local deer population. Sure, they'd stroll through occasionally, maybe nibble a thing or two, but for the most part? They kept to themselves. You even started to think, "Hey, maybe I've got the ONE yard in the neighborhood they don't like." Then November hits. You walk outside one crisp morning, coffee in hand, ready to admire your still-gorgeous landscape—and BAM. Your arborvitae looks like it got a buzz cut...

Lydia here — and before we dive into the wild world of deer dining, let’s have a little fun. If you’ve ever stood in your yard holding a half-eaten hosta, wondering why me , I built a quick tool for you. Just pick your region and your plant from the dropdowns below, hit “Check,” and you’ll get an instant verdict: will your local deer eat it or turn up their noses? The Will Deer Eat It? Checker Once you’ve played with the tool (go on, I’ll wait), you’ll notice something: the answers change...

You know that satisfying moment when you stand back and admire your fall handiwork—the neatly raked leaves, the tidy garden beds, the...