🦌🐇🐿️ Protect Your Landscaping in Colorado Springs & Beyond: Smart Ways to Keep Deer, Rabbits, Squirrels, and Prairie Dogs at Bay

Living along the Front Range — whether you're in Colorado Springs, Monument, Black Forest, Falcon, or surrounding areas — means enjoying stunning views and wild beauty. But it also means local wildlife often treats your landscaping like an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Here's your go-to guide for protecting your yard with smart, effective, and attractive solutions.

🌿 Part 1: Start with the Right Plants

Use Wildlife-Resistant Plants That Thrive in Our Region to Protect your Landscaping in Colorado Springs and Surrounding Areas.

Certain plants naturally repel critters while thriving in Colorado’s high-altitude climate and varying soil conditions.

✅ Best Choices for Colorado Springs & Nearby Areas:

• 🦌 Best Deer-Resistant Plants for Colorado Landscapes

  🌸 Perennials

  • Salvia (Salvia spp.) – Aromatic, long-blooming, drought-tolerant

  • Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) – Colorful, feathery foliage, spreads well

  • Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) – Tall, purple blooms, highly unappealing to deer

  • Catmint (Nepeta spp.) – Soft lavender flowers, extremely resilient

  • Coreopsis (Coreopsis spp.) – Daisy-like flowers, bright and cheerful

  • Blanket Flower (Gaillardia) – Vibrant reds and yellows, blooms all summer

  • Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) – Tough, upright flowers deer tend to avoid

  • Penstemon (Beardtongue) – Spiky flowers in reds, purples, and pinks

  • Bee Balm (Monarda spp.) – Mint-scented leaves and vibrant blooms

  • Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia) – Tough native flower with golden petals

  • Columbine (Aquilegia) – Especially the native Rocky Mountain Columbine

  • Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina) – Fuzzy leaves deer dislike

  🌿 Shrubs

  • Snowball Viburnum (Viburnum opulus) – Showy spring blooms, not preferred by deer

  • Smokebush (Cotinus coggygria) – Unique plume-like flowers and colorful foliage

  • Barberry (Berberis spp.) – Thorny and unappetizing

  • Spirea (Spiraea spp.) – Compact, floriferous, very low maintenance

  • Juniper (Juniperus spp.) – Evergreen, prickly, and resilient

  • Boxwood (Buxus spp.) – Deer-resistant evergreen for structure and hedging

  • Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) – Peeling bark, hardy, not attractive to deer

  • Potentilla (Dasiphora fruticosa) – Long-blooming, hardy in Colorado soils

  🌲 Trees

  • Spruce (Picea spp.) – Particularly Colorado Blue Spruce and Norway Spruce

  • Pine (Pinus spp.) – Austrian, Ponderosa, and Scotch Pines

  • Juniper Trees (Juniperus spp.) – Tough and often avoided by deer

  • Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) – Thorny and highly unappealing

  • Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) – Unique foliage, slow-growing, and ignored by deer

  🌼 Groundcovers and Grasses

  • Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) – Fragrant, blooms in summer

  • Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum) – Delicate shade groundcover with a clean scent

  • Soapwort (Saponaria spp.) – Low-growing, pink blooms

  • Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca) – Compact, ornamental grass with bluish tones

  • Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) – Deer-resistant native grass with seasonal color

  Pro Tip:While no plant is 100% deer-proof, those with strong scents, fuzzy or prickly textures, and bitter-tasting foliage are your best bet. Combine several varieties for seasonal interest and multi-layered protection.
  

• 🐇 Best Rabbit-Resistant Plants for Colorado Yards

  🌸 Perennials

  • Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) – Strong scent and bitter taste deters rabbits

  • Lavender (Lavandula spp.) – Fragrant and tough, a top performer

  • Salvia (Salvia spp.) – Aromatic leaves and flowers, rarely touched by rabbits

  • Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) – Tall, airy, and strongly scented

  • Catmint (Nepeta spp.) – Soft texture and minty aroma repel rabbits

  • Coreopsis (Coreopsis spp.) – Bright blooms, often passed over

  • Penstemon (Beardtongue) – Tubular blooms that resist nibbling

  • Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) – Tough stems and foliage

  • Blanket Flower (Gaillardia) – Bright and bold, not tasty to rabbits

  • Bee Balm (Monarda spp.) – Mint family; deer- and rabbit-resistant

  • Columbine (Aquilegia) – Unique foliage and flowers generally left alone

  • Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina) – Fuzzy leaves deter munching

  • Bergenia (Bergenia cordifolia) – Waxy leaves and early blooms

  • Hellebore (Helleborus spp.) – Toxic to rabbits, making it a strong deterrent

  🌿 Shrubs

  • Barberry (Berberis spp.) – Thorny and unappealing

  • Spirea (Spiraea spp.) – Hardy and rarely eaten

  • Boxwood (Buxus spp.) – Dense evergreen foliage that rabbits dislike

  • Potentilla (Dasiphora fruticosa) – Tough leaves and blooms

  • Juniper (Juniperus spp.) – Needle-like foliage is usually avoided

  • Lilac (Syringa spp.) – Rabbits generally stay away from mature plants

  • Holly (Ilex spp.) – Sharp leaves and evergreen form offer natural protection

  🌲 Trees

  • Spruce (Picea spp.) – Not typically grazed by rabbits

  • Pine (Pinus spp.) – Needles and resinous bark make these unappetizing

  • Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia) – Established shrubs are usually left alone

  • Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) – Thorny, hardy, and rabbit-resistant

  🌼 Groundcovers and Grasses

  • Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) – Aromatic, rabbit-repelling

  • Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum) – Light fragrance and shade tolerance

  • Soapwort (Saponaria spp.) – Dense mat-forming, bitter-tasting

  • Sedum (Stonecrop) – Thick leaves that rabbits rarely eat

  • Ornamental Onions (Allium spp.) – Strong scent and taste keeps rabbits away

  • Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca) – Compact, blue-green foliage

  • Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) – Elegant native grass, not rabbit-preferred

  Pro Tip:Rabbits especially love tender seedlings, so even "resistant" plants may need protection when young. Use fencing, repellents, or plant in raised beds until plants are established.
  

• While squirrels are less known for eating plants than rabbits or deer, they can still dig up bulbs, chew bark, and raid gardens. These plants are less appealing due to taste, texture, or toxicity.
  

  🐿️ Best Squirrel-Resistant Plants for Colorado Yards

  🌸 Perennials

  • Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) – Strong scent and dry texture deter squirrels

  • Salvia (Salvia spp.) – Aromatic and unappealing to most pests

  • Lavender (Lavandula spp.) – Heavily scented and generally avoided

  • Catmint (Nepeta spp.) – Mint-family plants are typically squirrel-proof

  • Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) – Woody stems and intense aroma

  • Coreopsis (Coreopsis spp.) – Tough, low-maintenance, not preferred

  • Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) – Strong stems and bitter taste

  • Bee Balm (Monarda spp.) – Fragrant, with leaves squirrels avoid

  • Penstemon (Beardtongue) – Durable blooms not typically touched

  • Hellebore (Helleborus spp.) – Toxic if ingested—squirrels stay clear

  • Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina) – Fuzzy leaves are unattractive to squirrels

  • Foxglove (Digitalis spp.) – Toxic plant often avoided

  🌿 Shrubs

  • Barberry (Berberis spp.) – Thorny texture deters climbing and chewing

  • Juniper (Juniperus spp.) – Squirrels dislike resinous foliage

  • Boxwood (Buxus spp.) – Dense, structured, and not palatable

  • Smokebush (Cotinus coggygria) – Unusual foliage and scent

  • Spirea (Spiraea spp.) – Squirrels rarely target it

  • Potentilla (Dasiphora fruticosa) – Small foliage and woody stems

  🌼 Groundcovers and Bulb Alternatives

  • Allium (Ornamental Onion) – Strong scent and bitter flavor

  • Sedum (Stonecrop) – Fleshy, bitter-tasting leaves

  • Soapwort (Saponaria spp.) – Not palatable, forms dense mats

  • Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) – Aromatic, good for rock gardens

  • Geranium (Cranesbill) – Scented foliage and unattractive flowers to squirrels

  🛑 Plants to Avoid If Squirrels Are a Problem

  • Tulip bulbs – A favorite squirrel snack

  • Crocus, lily, hyacinth, and gladiolus bulbs – Frequently dug up

  • Sunflowers – Squirrels love the seeds and often chew the stalks

  • Fruit trees and berries – Attract nesting, chewing, and fruit raids
    

  Pro Tip: Even squirrel-resistant plants may be dug up by curious squirrels, especially in fall.
  

Bonus Tip: Plant less resistant varieties closer to the house where animals are less likely to roam if you'd like to try some other plants.

🪨 Part 2: Create Strategic Barriers

Blend Function and Beauty with Smart Hardscaping

In areas like Black Forest and Falcon, larger properties benefit from clever physical deterrents.

Barrier Ideas That Work:

• Boulder walls deter rabbits and prairie dogs while adding structure

• Decorative fencing or raised planters keep plants out of reach

• Motion-activated sprinklers surprise deer in open yards
  

Hardscape Tip: Add gravel rings or decorative rock to discourage digging and trampling.

💧 Part 3: Use Repellents the Right Way

Safe, Effective, and Colorado-Smart Solutions

Repellents can be incredibly effective when used consistently and rotated. Here’s a breakdown of natural, commercial, and creative repellents for deer, rabbits, squirrels, and prairie dogs, all while keeping your landscaping safe and looking sharp.

🦌 Deer Repellents & Deterrents:

• Rotated Scent Sprays: Use alternating brands with egg solids, clove oil, and garlic to prevent adaptation

• Scent Stations: Hang mesh bags filled with Irish Spring soap, human hair, or dryer sheets near plantings

• Plant in Layers: Use strongly scented or fuzzy plants (like catmint or lamb’s ear) around tastier plants to act as a deterrent zone

• Motion-Activated Lights or Sprinklers: Startle them before they get comfortable

🐇 Rabbit Deterrents:

• Blood Meal or Bone Meal: Sprinkle in beds — the scent repels rabbits and acts as a mild fertilizer

• Commercial Rabbit Spray: Look for garlic, capsaicin, or putrescent egg-based formulas

• Crushed Red Pepper or Chili Flakes: Scatter around newly planted beds and mulch rings

• Chicken Wire Cloches: Use over young perennials or veggies — low-profile and temporary

🐿️ Squirrel Repellents:

• Peppermint Oil + Vinegar Spray: Deter chewing and digging near bulbs or planters

• Motion-Triggered Ultrasonic Devices: Keep them away from decks, attics, and gardens

• Spices: Paprika, Cayenne, or similar spices sprinkled in dirt over bulbs and other areas to discourage digging and chewing.

  
  

🦫 Prairie Dog-Specific Tactics (Eastern Areas like Falcon & Peyton):

• Castor Oil-Based Repellents: Apply with a hose-end sprayer to discourage tunneling

• Bury Hardware Cloth or Galvanized Mesh: Lay below turf or gravel paths to block burrows

• Decoy Predators: Coyote or fox silhouettes (moved frequently) to scare colonies

• CO2-Powered Burrow Flooders (Pro use only): Safe and humane option used by wildlife professionals

🔁 Pro Tips for Best Results:

• Reapply repellents after heavy rain or snowmelt

• Switch up your formulas when you can so that the population doesn't become immune.

• Apply early — before damage begins, to break behavior patterns

• Combine tactics: use repellents + barriers + plant choice for long-term success

🏡 Part 4: Modify the Habitat

Discourage Critters from Getting Comfortable

If your yard offers food, shelter, or water — wildlife will settle in. Eliminate temptations.

Easy Habitat Adjustments:

• Trim back overgrown shrubs or low branches

• Secure birdseed, pet food, and trash cans

• Use drip irrigation to avoid puddles and standing water

🌾 NEW Part 5: Keep Prairie Dogs Out — Especially in Eastern Colorado Yards

If you're in Falcon, Peyton, or eastern El Paso County, prairie dogs can turn lawns into cratered colonies quickly.

Smart Solutions:

• Install deep perimeter barriers (mesh 18–24" underground) around garden zones

• Use motion-activated repellents or ultrasonic devices

• Replace turf with low-dig options like artificial grass or hardscape

• Plant deterrent borders: Russian sage, ornamental grasses, and daffodils are generally avoided

Important: Prairie dogs are a protected species in some areas — work with a licensed professional before attempting removal.

🌟 Part 6: Design With Wildlife in Mind

Landscape for Long-Term Success

In all areas — from Colorado Springs Westside to rural Black Forest lots — smart design is your best long-term defense.

Expert Strategies:

• Cluster vulnerable plants near patios or entries

• Use mulch, rock, and boulder divisions to reduce access

• Install small water features far from gardens to redirect traffic

🏆 Final Thoughts

Protecting your landscape doesn’t mean fencing off paradise. With the right mix of native plants, thoughtful design, repellents, and hardscape, you can enjoy a yard that looks stunning and holds up to Colorado’s wildlife — whether you’re in the heart of Colorado Springs or on open land in Falcon or Black Forest.