Reply to Deer-Resistant Perennials?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote]Mountain-laurels are acid-loving plants in the blueberry family (Ericaceae) and thrive in well-drained soils with morning sunlight. The selection is very important with mountain-laurels in terms of both light levels and soil moisture. If mountain-laurels are placed in total shade, their growth becomes leggy and flower production is reduced. With excessive sunlight, these natives often show marginal leaf burn from drought injury and sunburn on the foliage, and the plants generally struggle to survive. Afternoon sunlight is too intense for mountain-laurels, so landscape placement should be with morning sun, or with dappled sunlight beneath tall pines.

It is imperative to improve the drainage of heavy clay soils before planting. If an entire planting bed cannot be tilled, then dig individual planting holes 2 to 3 times wider than the plant container and add a soil conditioner made of composted, ground pine bark. The resulting soil mix should be approximately 20 percent pine bark by volume. Mountain-laurels prefer acid soils with a pH of 5.0 to 5.5. While many of the Upstate soils in South Carolina are within this range, it is important that these acid-loving shrubs are not planted in areas that have been recently limed. In addition, with the typically low nutrient levels in South Carolina soils, to enhance root growth and establishment of the plants, a complete organic fertilizer (such as Espoma Holly-tone or Bradfield Organics Acid Adoring Fertilizer) should be added at planting at ½ cup for a 3-gallon-containerized plant and thoroughly mixed with the backfill soil.[/quote]
http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/hot_topics/2010/05mt_laurel.html[/quote]

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