Tip #2: Daffodils for Deer-Resistant Brightness
Daffodils (Narcissus) rank among the best fall planting bulbs for home gardeners seeking reliable, low-maintenance color year after year. These cheery yellow, white, and bi-colored blooms return each spring with impressive vigor and expand into massive, naturalized clusters over time. Unlike tulips, daffodils contain a naturally occurring toxic alkaloid called lycorine, making them completely unpalatable to deer, rabbits, squirrels, and voles. If hungry wildlife routinely wreaks havoc on your landscaping, planting daffodils provides a worry-free solution.
Set your daffodil bulbs six inches deep in a sunny or partially shaded site before the ground turns rock-hard. Space large bulbs six inches apart, ensuring the flat root base rests securely against the bottom of the planting hole. Daffodils thrive in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 9 and demand well-draining, organic-rich soil to prevent bulb decay. After planting, apply a two-inch layer of organic bark mulch to retain moisture and stabilize soil temperatures. Early-season varieties like ‘Tête-à-tête’ burst forth as early as March, while late-season cultivars like ‘Pheasant’s Eye’ keep your borders glowing straight into May.
