When planning your garden, keep in mind the reasons deer may avoid plants (texture, toxicity, taste and fragrance). Planting a higher ratio of deer resistant plants may keep deer from visiting your garden. Interspersing lots of fragrant plants that repel deer also helps keep deer at bay. Because deer like tender, young shoots and plants (even deer resistant ones), consider placing cages or barriers around them until the plants reach a more mature and less enticing stage.