Ang pagdating ng huling tagsibol at maagang tag-init ay nangangahulugan lamang ng isang bagay dito sa New England: hydrangea season. Ang East Coast ay kilala para sa iconic display ang mga hydrangeas ilagay sa taon pagkatapos ng taon. Heck, nagdaraos pa kami ng mga pagdiriwang sa karangalan ng sagradong hydrangea. Ang popularidad nito ay hindi eksklusibo sa lugar na ito ng bansa. Mula Georgia hanggang Oregon, hydrangeas karaniwang tuktok karamihan sa mga listahan ng mga paboritong shrubs ng hardinero. Ngunit maraming hardinero ang nagtataka, "Kinakain ba ng deer ang hydrangeas?"

Sa kasamaang-palad, deer ay madalas na pag-ibig ang mga billowy halaman tulad ng ginagawa natin. Kahit na hindi browsed bilang mabigat bilang hostas, hydrangeas gawin madalas makakuha ng "pruned" sa pamamagitan ng deer at karaniwang tulad ng mga ito ay tungkol sa bloom. Kung ang deer ay isang isyu sa iyong leeg ng kakahuyan, mahalagang malaman kung aling varieties ang mas madaling mapinsala pati na rin upang matuto ng mga istratehiya para maprotektahan ang iyong mga shrubs. At tandaan, bawat kawan ng deer at bawat bakuran ay naiiba. Ang mga patnubay na ito ay hindi ebanghelyo.

Aling hydrangeas ay deer-patunay?

Ang pinakasimpleng sagot sa tanong na ito ay "Wala." Gayunman, ang ilang mga species ay madalas na pinagpala ng deersa sa iba.

Deer-Resistant Hydrangea Varieties

rosas at puting panicle hydrangea — **Panicle hydrangea.** *Larawan: Michelle Gervais*

Panicle hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata at cvs., Zones 3–9)

Panicle hydrangeas ay karaniwang bloom ng kaunti mamaya sa panahon kapag deer ay may isang pulutong ng mas maraming mga pagpipilian ng pagkain. Sila pa rin ang nibble sa paglitaw ng mga bulaklak bulaklak, ngunit dahil ito hydrangea blooms sa bagong kahoy, ito ay madalas na itulak ang bagong paglago at kung minsan dagdag na buds bilang tugon sa hindi inaasahang "pruning." Panicle hydrangeas ay din masyadong kahoy na may magaspang bark, kaya sila ay bihirang kumain down sa lupa at samakatuwid ay hindi sa panganib ng pagiging annilated ganap.

rosas makinis hydrangea — **Smooth hydrangea.** *Photo: Steve Aitken*

Smooth hydrangeas (Hydrangea arborescens and cvs., Zones 3–8)

Despite blooming earlier in the season when not as many food sources are available, deer tend to look past smooth hydrangeas or to browse them less than other hydrangeas. Perhaps this is because, as native plants to the southeastern United States, smooth hydrangeas are familiar to deer and considered the boring oatmeal of the hydrangea world. Who knows? You may notice occasional browsing just as the flower buds are forming, but this is often a blessing, as it provides a Chelsea Chop for the shrub that leads to a more compact habit. Smooth hydrangeas bloom on new wood as well, so they frequently push new growth and flowers buds the same season, allowing for a staggered bloom period.

Rough-leaved hydrangea with dark foliage — **Rough-leaved hydrangea.** *Photo: Joshua McCollough*

Rough-leaved hydrangea (Hydrangea aspera and cvs., Zones 7–10)

Although less common in gardens, the rough-leaved hydrangea is another option for folks in deer country. The foliage is covered in coarse hairs that give the entire shrub a texture like sandpaper. As you can imagine, this makes it not exactly ideal for munching on. Much like other plants with fuzzy textures that are supposedly deer resistant (think lambs’ ears), this trait puts rough-leaved hydrangea firmly in the “might not browse” category.

Hydrangeas Deer Love to Eat

blue and yellow bigleaf hydrangea — **Bigleaf hydrangea.** *Photo: Kerry Ann Moore*

Bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla and cvs., Zones 6–9)

The crown jewels of the hydrangea world, bigleaf hydrangeas are unfortunately a deer favorite. Their large, succulent buds in early spring are like candy for deer. These are flower buds (appearing on old wood from the previous year), so one night of browsing can leave your plants flowerless for the entire season. Deer will also eat the new foliage.

blue and white mountain hydrangea — **Mountain hydrangea.** *Photo: Kerry Ann Moore*

Mountain hydrangea (Hydrangea serrata and cvs., Zones 5–9)

Most mountain hydrangeas bloom off of old wood (like bigleaf types); therefore, when the buds swell and are eaten by hungry deer in midspring, the shrubs will be without blossoms that year. Deer will also eat the leaves and new shoots.

green and pink oakleaf hydrangea — **Oakleaf hydrangea.** *Photo: Michelle Gervais*

Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia and cvs., Zones 5–9)

Unlike their fellow native cousins the smooth hydrangeas, oakleaf hydrangeas are readily browsed by deer in midspring. This may be because they are the first type of hydrangea in many areas to bloom, so when those large columnar flowers begin appearing, they’re irresistible to deer. The one saving grace is that the browsing tends to stop at the flower buds because this shrub has rough, woody stems covered in peeling bark that deer tend to stay away from. Oakleaf hydrangeas bloom off of old wood, so once the flowers are eaten, no additional buds will appear until next year.

How to Keep Deer Away from Hydrangeas

Although no method is foolproof, the following ideas may help protect your shrubs from deer browsing.

1. Set up a blockade

If possible, surround your hydrangeas with plants that can stop deer in their tracks. Plants with spikes, fuzzy leaves, or pungent foliage are all known to deter deer. A mountain hydrangea that is encircled by boxwood (Buxus cv., Zones 4–8) will be safer than one left in a bed by itself.

2. Use sprays

Kung ikaw lamang ay may ilang mga hydrangeas upang protektahan, spraying ang mga ito sa isang repellent ay maaaring maging isang epektibong paraan upang panatilihin ang deer layo. Ituon ang inyong mga pagsisikap sa maagang bahagi ng tagsibol (kapag ang bagong paglago ay lumilitaw at bulaklak buds magsimulang lumaki). At tandaan, karamihan sa mga spray ay kailangang i-reapplied sa tuwing uulan o mabigat na dews, kaya ang panukala na ito ay epekto kung mayroon kang maraming hydrangeas.

3. Ibaba ang ilang wire ng manok

May pananaliksik na nagmumungkahi na ang mga cloven-hooved hayop ay hindi nais na tumawid ng wire ng manok dahil maaari itong dumausdos sa pagitan ng kanilang mga daliri, na nagiging sanhi ng kahirapan. Paglalatag ng manok wire flat sa lupa sa lahat ng paligid ng iyong hydrangeas ay maaaring lumikha ng isang harang na hindi bilang visual obstructive bilang matwid na nakakatakot.

Para sa higit pa tungkol sa lahat ng mga bagay hydrangea, pumunta dito.

—Danielle Sherry ang executive editor.