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livingontheland - Re: [Livingontheland] Deterring browsers with thorny living fences (was Re: More on jujube)

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Subject: Healthy soil and sustainable growing

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  • From: Liz <liz@allslash.org>
  • To: Healthy soil and sustainable growing <livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Livingontheland] Deterring browsers with thorny living fences (was Re: More on jujube)
  • Date: Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:08:52 -0400

At 03:16 PM 9/29/2008, you wrote:
>
> I've been following this thread and was hoping that this site might help
> someone choose the right plantings to keep deer out. ~Mitch
>

According to Musser Forests catalog, hawthorns are proof against deer
(because of their thorns). Other thorny species one might use to deter
browsers: pyracantha, holly, rugosa rose, brambles, prickly ash, black
locust, honey locust. For those in closer to desert conditions:
organ-pipe cactus (and other cacti).

And most of those have usable fruit too. But I can tell you that deer couldn't care less about black locust, unless it's so densely planted that they couldn't get through anyway, thorns or no thorns. Same for brambles. I've seen the paths they've made pushing through dense thickets of blackberries.

I have heard that Osage orange makes a good living fence.

Liz in SW VA
http://life-as-a-spectator-sport.com




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