cervid have a strong affinity for young sunflower plants and tend to be quite fond of munching on them . This can be quite frustrative for nurseryman and landscape gardener who are trying to grow a beautiful sunflower patch . It is important to infer at what level cervid are most probable to exhaust sunflowers in rescript to project and protect your plants consequently .
Typically , deer are most attracted to sunflower plant when they are in their early stage of development . This is when the flora are small and affectionate , make them a perfect snack for these hungry animals . As the helianthus plant life emerge from the soil and start to rise their first solidifying of leaves , they become especially enticing to deer . These young plant are not yet strong enough to withstand the browsing pressure of deer and are therefore more vulnerable to being use up .
In my personal experience , I have witness cervid esurient helianthus plant just as they were embark on to grow their first leaves . It was disheartening to see the beautiful green shoots disappear overnight , leaving behind only half - eat stem turn . This early stage seems to be a prime time for cervid to feast on sunflowers , especially if other food beginning in the area are scarce .
As the sunflower plants continue to grow and mature , they become less appealing to cervid . Once the plants have reached a certain tallness and have developed a inviolable stem and sturdy leaves , they are less likely to be targeted by cervid . At this stage , the sunflowers are no longer as tender and appetizing to these animals . They may still graze on the leaves now and again , but the harm is ordinarily minimal compare to the early phase .
It is worth noting that deer have different predilection and eat pattern depending on the region and the availability of other food beginning . In some areas , cervid may continue to nibble on helianthus plants even as they mature , especially if there is a shortage of other browsing options . However , in universal , once helianthus have get to maturity date and started raise their iconic blooms , they are no longer a major attraction for deer .
To protect sunflower plants from cervid during their vulnerable stage , there are several strategies you may employ . One alternative is to instal a forcible roadblock around the works , such as a fencing or netting . This can facilitate deter cervid and prevent them from accessing the sunflowers . Another method is to apply deer repellents , which can be sprayed directly on the plant to make them less toothsome to deer .
Deer are most likely to eat helianthus when they are in their former stages of growth , particularly when they are small and lovesome . As the plant life get on and develop a potent social system , they become less sympathetic to deer . take proactive beat to protect sunflower plants during their vulnerable stage can aid assure a successful and beautiful sunflower patch .
Caroline Bates