Planting lavender with hostas would never work - they like opposing growing conditions. What makes one happy will not be suitable for the other.

You could try interplanting with something deer avoid that shares similar growing conditions - like hellebores - but no guarantees that avoidance will be enough of a deterrent for a determined hungry deer. I would stick with a quality repellent like Plantskydd or fence the area off.

Since my deer have eaten hellebores, I certainly wouldn't expect them to act as a deterrent.

" Deer are opportunistic feeders, meaning they will eat a wide variety of plants depending on availability and hunger levels. However, Hellebores are generally not at the top of their menu. One of the primary reasons for this is the presence of toxic compounds called glycosides in Hellebores. These bitter-tasting chemicals can cause digestive discomfort for deer, making the plants less palatable. Additionally, Hellebores have thick, leathery leaves that are not as easy for deer to chew and digest compared to softer, more tender vegetation.

These natural defenses can make Hellebores a less attractive option for deer, especially when more palatable plants are available. Compared to other deer-resistant plants like lavender and foxglove, Hellebores offer a unique combination of chemical and physical deterrents that enhance their effectiveness in a deer-resistant garden. In regions where deer pressure is high, gardeners have found that Hellebores often perform better than other plants in resisting deer browsing, making them a reliable choice for those dealing with persistent deer issues."

Hellebores flower until May what about during summer? What do they dislike to try

It's not just the flowers....it is the plant itself. And hellebores are evergreen. so they are present all summer (and fall, etc.).

Ferns are another possibility. Many are considered highly deer resistant.

There is a long thread discussing wireless deer posts, small electrified posts that lure deer, give them a harmless shock and really work. I'm under considerable deer pressure and have had better results with them than anything else I've ever tried. They're very well designed, very reasonably priced, easy to maintain and easy to use. Doesn't hurt to use a repellent as well, especially until the deer find the posts.

wirelessdeerfence.com is the address. This isn't a link, just google it.

@laceyvail 6A, WV thanks for posting this. I am going to look into this product. We have some blue rug juniper that the deer munch on in the winter but they don’t touch it the rest of the year.

My sympathies on your chewed hostas. Gardening with deer pressure can be frustrating. Are hostas a deer favorite in your area? I start by planting plants/bushes that the deer are less likely to browse and use deer repellant.

In my area, hostas are a favorite so I stopped planting them. Deer are super heavy here and eat/browse almost anything so its an ongoing process to see which plants co-exist best. I use repellant to (try to) encourage the deer to establish another grazing trail away from my garden.

I also encourage neighbors to garden to give the deer other buffets to sample (/jk).

We have TONS of deer. I have several of these placed strategically throughout the yard. Been using them for years. It works for me 100%. I would not be able to grow ANYTHING without them. They do have to be brought in for the winter to protect from freezing, but since I’m only concerned about my perennials, that’s not an issue since I only need protection from early spring to late fall.

I’ve tried all the recommended smelly sprays, hot peppers, soap etc., but they are absolutely not reliable and it’s a tremendous nuisance to have to constantly reapply the solutions. It’s extremely disheartening and frustrating when you lose an entire season of blooms or leaves because “oops”, the spray didn’t happen to work this time and now you have to wait an entire year to enjoy your hard work. I’m just not willing to take that chance.

Orbit 62100 Yard Enforcer Motion-Activated Sprinkler with Day & Night Detection Modes,Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009F1R0GC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_Y049037P92QBYK3SFZ38?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

The Yard Enforcer video of surveillance camera and animals scattering is hilarious. Poor things startled out of their wits!