There is nothing more annoying for a gardener who has spent time and effort cultivating plants and looking forward to the first blooms than to find that an intruder has destroyed all your hard work. Top of the list of unwelcome guests have to be deer which are capable of causing extensive damage in the garden. There are ways to protect your plants as Ann Weid explains in this article which I found on Love the Country website.

If you?ve ever planted a favorite flower or shrub only to have it damaged by deer, you?re not alone. With their native habitat shrinking, these sizable creatures are seeking new places to call home?which means that more gardeners are finding that deer think of trees and plants as an all-you-can-eat buffet. And if that wasn?t enough, the bucks can cause even more damage by rubbing their antlers along tree trunks and branches.
But by practicing defensive gardening, it?s possible to outsmart Bambi.
Curb their appetites. Note which of your growing things the deer avoid?it will vary according to where you live?and then plant more of them. Wisconsin deer, for instance, prefer tulips to daffodils; your local extension office will have recommendations for your area. Of course, very hungry deer will find almost any plant palatable, especially in severe weather.
Fence them out. For a small garden, a 4- to 5-foot barrier fence may be sufficient. But gardens big enough for a deer to jump into easily will need higher fencing, which might not work with your landscape. Try camouflaging a fence by using it as a trellis for vines. In winter, prevent rubbing damage from bucks by wrapping a plastic snow fence or tree trunk guard around your plants.