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Thursday - September 12, 2013
From: Wakefield, RI
Region: Northeast
Topic: Deer Resistant, Privacy Screening, Herbs/Forbs, Shrubs
Title: Deer resistant, Shaded Privacy Hedge for Wakefield RI
Answered by: Larry Larson
QUESTION:
We recently removed the dead undergrowth of white pines that were used for privacy. We need advice as to what type of evergreen would be suitable for growth beneath the branches above. It is VERY shady most of the time. I am looking for something that will grow at least 6ft tall and spreading wide. I'll probably need at least 14 plants. This is primarily for privacy from the road (about 150 foot line). Here is the big problem..DEER!! Thank you for your help.ANSWER:
One interesting “but” is that Deer Resistance is not one of those selection factors, so you actually need to read the plants description to see how it handles deer. This will normally be a “Deer Resistance” comment under Benefits. The kicker - - None of the plants I found listed for Rhode Island had one of these comments, although I list one below that had a comment that it was valuable wildlife food! So, with that bit of frustration here’s a good set of plants that meet your requirements in general.
For Shrubs, I found 4 plants, and allowing the herbs to also be 3-6 feet tall, I found 5 more. Here are the top candidates with some important comments about each:
Ilex glabra (Inkberry) - 6-12 Ft
Juniperus communis var. depressa (Common juniper) – 6-12 ft, valuable wildlife habitat and food! and needs sun
Taxus canadensis (Canada yew) – 6-12 ft
Rhododendron maximum (Great laurel) – 12-36 ft Contains toxic substances
Dennstaedtia punctilobula (Eastern hay-scented fern), Osmorhiza claytonii (Clayton's sweetroot) Ferns, 3-6 Ft at most
Solidago sempervirens (Seaside goldenrod) Evergreen Herb, but needs sun
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