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Encanto Farms Nursery > Topics > Are fig trees deer resistant?
 
 


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Stimie

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 
I'm building new house out in the country.  I've noticed lots of deer on the place.  Are fig trees deer resistant?
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David Stoimenoff
Rewton

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
If deer are hungry then no.  However, from my experience, and that of others I have read about, I think figs are low on the list of what deer like to eat.  So if they have a lot of their preferred food around then they probably won't bother figs.
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Steve MD zone 7a
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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
Location plays a big role too. Along the woods where they feel more secure, they'll chomp just out of curiosity. Closer to the house and around "unnatural" objects, they're less likely to risk it. A foldup chair spooked them enough to stay away from a Japanese maple they found quite tasty a couple months back lol
jdsfrance

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
Hi,
When the breeding season starts, deer will rub their antler on anything ... even on the fig trees. Nothing can resist those rubbing sessions.
So build cages around the trees, and protect them with chicken wire.
I have tried growing some trees a bit away at a location, and deer chewed and destroyed the trees (not fig trees ). So if you know that they are there ... Act before they do, or you'll be deceived ... and pissed off .
I couldn't frame my trees, because the land owner is a bit old, and that would remind her of bad memories of WWII ... So it was a NO !!! NO !!!.
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Climate from -25°C to + 35°C
Only cold hardy figtrees can make it here
jrdewhirst

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
I have lots of deer.  They are aggressive, feeding (for example) on rhododendrons planted against the house's foundation.  There are few things here that they don't eat; ALL of my berries and fruits are fenced, except the figs.  In my 3-years' experience, there's been only one occasion where I've noticed damage to figs -- this spring, a deer evidently tasted a budding branch but then spit it out; the leaves were on the ground.

I agree that they may eat anything if hungry enough.  But figs would be extremely low on the list.  And I agree that during October / November the bucks may rub them if the figs are planted near travel corridors. 
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Joe D
eboone

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
Mine have set out in buckets where the deer travel thru for the past 2 seasons, no sign they have tried to browse them (unlike the constant browsing on the nearby apples, peaches and plums)
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Ed
Zone 6A - Southwest PA     
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Short wish list: CDDG, LSU Red, Dark Greek (Navid),  Col Littman's Black Cross.   And any cold hardy early fig.
JohnnyD

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
I would be more concerned about raccoons if I were you!
barnhardt9999

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
I thought raccoons were rare in the country. Don't they need a steady supply of trash to maintain the huge populations we have to deal with in cities?
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Dave

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Posted Reply with quote  #9 

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Connecticut - Zone 6B  Wish List - Bordissot negra rimada
FinleyFigs

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Posted Reply with quote  #10 
Quote:
Originally Posted by barnhardt9999
I thought raccoons were rare in the country. Don't they need a steady supply of trash to maintain the huge populations we have to deal with in cities?


I wish they were rare!  One year they ate every single watermelon we raised..  And we had hundreds..

If I sleep out in the orchard with the dog I can keep them away :)
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Eric
Zone 7b - SE Oklahoma
jrdewhirst

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Posted Reply with quote  #11 
Wow, I wouldn't have thunk it!  Were they eating leaves or fruit or everything?

Also, those are big trees.  Is that caption right -- you're in Connecticut Z6B?  Or is the video from elsewhere?  I grew up in CT and the accents seems out of place. :)  If it is CT, what's the fig variety? 
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Joe D
Dave

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Posted Reply with quote  #12 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jrdewhirst
Wow, I wouldn't have thunk it!  Were they eating leaves or fruit or everything?

Also, those are big trees.  Is that caption right -- you're in Connecticut Z6B?  Or is the video from elsewhere?  I grew up in CT and the accents seems out of place. :)  If it is CT, what's the fig variety? 



I am not sure where that is Joe found it on youtube I am in zone 6B 
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Connecticut - Zone 6B  Wish List - Bordissot negra rimada
jrdewhirst

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Posted Reply with quote  #13 
Dave -- Well that's a relief.  Hopefully that fig-eating whitetail subspecies stays down south.
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Joe D
Sas

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Posted Reply with quote  #14 
In addition to drought, I lost a few young fig trees to deer rub.
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Sas from North Austin TX Zone 8B
Wish list: Becane
johnjay7491

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Posted Reply with quote  #15 
At my location deer seem to eat everything else but the figs. I believe the latex in figs is distasteful to many animals.
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John NH Z5
musillid

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Posted Reply with quote  #16 
Yes, I too think it's the latex.

I have seen bucks rub on anything when their racks start to itch. I would imagine more damage from that than browsing  on the foliage.
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Dale
non compost mentis in Zone 6a
kennyrayandersen

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Posted Reply with quote  #17 
My idiot neighbor actually put out a deer feeder! Idiot! They are like vermin! They keep eating my fruit trees despite the dense I have around them! Feeders should be illegal in neighborhoods!
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Zone 8b

Just trying not to kill them!
COGardener

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Posted Reply with quote  #18 
Roasted deer in fig sauce!
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