Lesson #1: Think

The first thing I recommend if you live in a deer, elk (or other animal) infested area and want to perform gardening or landscaping is to THINK.

This means more than just going for native plants.  It also means don't just draw and come up with a plan or design.  And, it doesn't mean considering only what is to become of your plants now or in the near future.

The key is to think about what you are planting in terms of Can I protect it for the life of the plant?  This is why at Think LIke A Beast we focus on trees.  Trees will grow and eventually become self-sustaining and out of reach for deer and elk.  When trees become taller their leaders (i.e., trunks or stems) can be protected in an aesthetically-acceptable way.  So the real question here becomes not only Can I protect it?, but Can I protect it in a way that I can live with?  Large fences can be unwanted, unsightly, expensive, and likely only partially effective.  If you can live with, say vegetables, that require ugly posts and fencing that is fine; for vegetables there are other considerations such as food and nutrition.  But is it worth growing flowers, shrubs, or bushes if you can barely see them because of the protection they require?  While there may be extenuating circumstances (e.g., a temporary occasion such as a party), the answer is generally "no."

One alternative to consider is potted plants.  They can be stored in a place that is safe and, if needed, moved temporarily to where they can be enjoyed.

We have all been there, walking through a nursery and seeing something that really catches our eye.  We would love to have it our garden...  Don't.  Don't buy it unless you know you can protect it.  Buying it and watching it die is worse than not having it at all.