Deer have increased protein requirements in spring and summer. Since food supplies are limited in spring, that's when deer cause the most damage to home landscapes and gardens. (Submitted photo/Ohio Department of Natural Resources)

Q: How do I prevent deer from eating tulips and other plants?

A: Tulips are a deer favorite. As our educator Tom deHaas just said, “Deer love to get their two lips on tulips.”

Spring is the time we get the most questions about deer damage in the home landscape and garden. This is most likely because deer have increased protein requirements in spring and summer. And food may be limited in early spring based on the location and deer populations in the area.

Deer will literally browse on anything. Sometimes, they even take a bite and spit it out, leaving minimal damage. So no plant is really “deer proof” — but there are many plants that they will skip over if tastier items are on the menu.

As our friend Hugh Earnhart used to say, “We are at war with the deer.”

I would agree that many homeowners have the same sentiment. So, drastic measures need take to preserve your most treasured plants, shrubs and flowers during the growing season. Well, not drastic — but at least focused on solutions that work for you and your plants.

Although they can eat anything, deer are picky when they have enough to go around. The favorite plants of deer include tulips, hostas, fruit trees, tomatoes, green beans, arborvitae, taxus (yew), azaleas, and rhododendrons. The list of least favorite plants is longer and includes hellebores, ostrich fern, paper birch, poppy, yucca, many herbs, holly, Agastache, bleeding heart, bottlebrush buckeye and many more.

Besides plant selection, here are some tips to save your investment and plant some of the plants you love without losing your mind over the deer:

* Repellent: Deer will adapt to a smell and what worked last month is not working now. Change which ones you use from time to time. There are many to select from at the supplier. Deer will adapt, and you must keep them guessing. Mix-up, rotate the spray — confuse them.

Follow the label!

* Fence: When all else fails to work, erect a deer fence. A deer net is inexpensive and works for a season or two. The plastic deer fence is better and will last longer and is more of a deterrent. A metal chain-link fence is the best, but is too expensive for most situations.

There are many other options depending on your location in an urban setting or a rural setting.

* Site: Yes, fences are not easy to build, and they can be expensive. Consider a fence for a small area next to the house to protect the plants deer love. Think about some more natural fences of plants or small trees with thorns to try to deter them. Some aromatic plants in these areas can be a deer deterrent. So think of it as a more natural fence.

To learn more about controlling the damage (and other wildlife damage) in your garden, go to: http://go.osu.edu/manage wildlife. Our wildlife specialist created a fantastic, simple slideshow to help you make your plan for this growing season.

For a list of plants based on deer resistance, go to http://go.osu.edu/deerrating.

For ideas for aromatic plants, go to http://go.osu.edu/aromatic.

• Eric Barrett is OSU Extension educator for agriculture and natural resources in Mahoning County. The Plant and Pest Clinic is open 9 a.m. to noon Mondays and Wednesdays for help with plant issues, soil testing and insect identification, Mondays and Wednesdays. Questions be submitted at any time. For details, visit go.osu.edu/mahoningclinic.