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Sheep-proof container plants?

pinklarapinklara Posts: 29
in Plants
We live in an area surrounded by sheep farms, and every so often a few jump the fence, or squeeze under something and cause absolute devastation to my attempts at gardening. I have lost countless plants to these unfortunate incidents but every time we mend a fence or block a gap they find somehow else to get in. I still want to have some pots outside the house to add some colour to our bleak Snowdonia stone farmhouse! I lost all my perennial tulips to some sheep the year before last, but have noticed that they will not touch daffodils, and haven't seemed to have eaten my lavender either. So, my spring planters are sorted as I have stuffed them full of narcissus, but I was wondering if anyone has any other suggestions of plants that sheep don't seem to like, that would look nice in a container? Ideally summer bloomers? I suspect plants that are 'deer-proof' might also be sheep-proof but not sure...any suggestions welcome :) thank you!
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  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 23,150
    Deer don't eat dahlias, peonies or salvias. They love tulips and roses. I know from experience! I expect sheep have similar tastes.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,501
    Ours don't often get out these days, there's been lot of effort put in to achieve that, but it can still happen. Some are olympic jumpers, others have studied how to open gates, one can stand up on his back legs to reach all the fresh leaves on the trees!
     When they do escape they generally head for the lush grass in the damp meadow, but they will sample all sorts of things along the way. Ours are trained to the sound of a feed bag with sheep nuts though, which is a great help to getting them back where they should be!
     Roses they love and flowers generally, and probably having a good mix of different things such as  summer annuals would help spread the damage without costing too much
    I don't think they have ever bothered with the euphorbias though or the ivy and I suspect you would be ok with poppies and alliums. You could get some nice pots for autumn and winter using dwarf conifers of various colours; I've not seen them take any interest in those.
    I know how dis-heartening it can be, hope this helps a bit :)

  • bédébédé Posts: 3,012
    edited 13 January
    RHS publish a list of deer-proof plants.  But sheep I would expect to have far different tastes.  They probably have different food needs when pregnant or lactating.

    Don't cut yourself off on the internet, talk to some locals, visit the pub or the local shop ...  There may be a local gardening club.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,488
    They always seem to leave thistles, gorse and broom alone and there are some nice ornamental relatives of all of those, so have a look at Cytisus, Eryngium etc. I’m also wondering about crocosmia since that seems to thrive on a sheep farm in Wales I’m familiar with.
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,012
    edited 13 January
    Let the word get around that you are about to plant yew.  That might make the farmers sit up and take notice.




     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 54,353
    bédé said:
    Let the word get around that you are about to plant yew.  That might make the farmers sit up and take notice.




     :o:#  
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,012
    Fairy, I hope you are not endorsing my comments.  I can't read the emojis. As usual my comment was a tad tongue-in-cheek.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 54,353
    Well in that case @bede - it's worth adding an emoji or similar to your posts, otherwise it comes across as genuine. That's how it appeared to me.
    You can download them from various places if you don't, for some reason, have the icons above the posting window that everyone else has.

    and no - my emojis certainly weren't endorsing your comments.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 23,150
    When I post on my phone I can't see any other emojis apart from the ones that the phone uses.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • MikeOxgreenMikeOxgreen Posts: 804
    bédé said:
    Let the word get around that you are about to plant yew.  That might make the farmers sit up and take notice.




    I doubt any farmer would know, but Laurel bushes do the same  :D

    Seriously, the correct answer is to bite the bullet and put a proper wall or fence up and stop the problem at source.

    Phones are primarily for ringing people up and speaking to them, anything else they do is second rate. You can use a spade to clear the ice from your windscreen, but why would you use it for something it wasn't designed for.
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