Get matched with top landscapers in Marion, WI

Unless it only rains once in a blue moon where you live, you’re going to want water-loving plants in your garden bed or pot. A few ideas for plants that aren’t super fast-growing (meaning they’re good in pots or near foundations) and can handle a lot of standing water include: 

• Acorus (Sweet flag)

• Colocasia esculenta (Taro or elephant ear): In many climates, these are annuals, making them less desirable because you need to adjust the chain again after each replant.

• Equisetum scirpoides (Dwarf horsetail rush): non-dwarf varieties of horsetail are fast growers and can take over quickly.

• Juncus effusus (Curly rush)

• Osmunda regalis (Royal fern): Royal fern can grow quickly but can also handle being crowded, making them good container plants.

The truth is, there really is no such thing as a 100% deer-proof plant. Deer will decimate even the prickliest flora if they’re hungry enough. However, there are plenty of beautiful plants that deer don’t necessarily enjoy. These include thistles, wisteria vines, sword ferns, and beautyberries.

Deer are herbivores, and they love vegetable gardens as much as Peter Rabbit. If you don’t want to fence in your entire property, consider creating an attractive raised-bed veggie garden with mesh fencing around it to keep out deer and other critters.

By definition, gardeners are experts at designing and maintaining outdoor gardens. Their job duties extend far beyond choosing the right plants for the area, which in itself is a job—they also help maintain the health and well-being of the plants. Gardeners work independently or for landscapers, nurseries, or horticulture design companies.

In most cases, buying plants from a local greenhouse or nursery is well worth the investment, even though they tend to be a bit more expensive than those at a home improvement store. Employees at nurseries are usually well-versed in gardening and understand how the climate in your area affects different plants. They can help you make selections based on your skill level and time commitment to your landscaping, and they can provide detailed care instructions and advice to help keep your plants alive and diagnose and treat issues like pest infestation and illness.