Dandelion and Gooseberry/Black Currants Synergy

I have learned the immensely earth healing properties of planting Dandelion with Gooseberries and Black Currants. The soil I started with is along a forest edge and horribly compacted. Gooseberry and Black currant were pretty much the only things I could get to grow and that deer would not eat. Deer seem not also eat Dandelion and the Dandelion has loosened the soil a lot around the whole area, so much that I will plant it all along the area.

What would be another good step in the layering system? I am just throwing seeds down really to see what works, but maybe someone has some experience already.

Yarrow seems to work too, and I will be planting more of this type of plant. I want to eventually get to where deer won't bother too much and be able to interplant some pear trees surrounded by goosberry/currant.

Gonna try White Clover and sub-clovers, but read they might not be good for Goose/Currants. Goumi works good too also for this edge and deer resistance.

Jack Lu wrote:I have learned the immensely earth healing properties of planting Dandelion with Gooseberries and Black Currants. The soil I started with is along a forest edge and horribly compacted. Gooseberry and Black currant were pretty much the only things I could get to grow and that deer would not eat. Deer seem not also eat Dandelion and the Dandelion has loosened the soil a lot around the whole area, so much that I will plant it all along the area.

What would be another good step in the layering system? I am just throwing seeds down really to see what works, but maybe someone has some experience already.

Thank you for your observations!

Tansy is a semi shade tolerant deer resistant spreading herb with insect repellent properties.

Jack Lu wrote:Yarrow seems to work too, and I will be planting more of this type of plant. I want to eventually get to where deer won't bother too much and be able to interplant some pear trees surrounded by goosberry/currant.

Gonna try White Clover and sub-clovers, but read they might not be good for Goose/Currants. Goumi works good too also for this edge and deer resistance.

Do you think it is the thorns on the goose berries?

Randy Jones wrote:

Jack Lu wrote:Yarrow seems to work too, and I will be planting more of this type of plant. I want to eventually get to where deer won't bother too much and be able to interplant some pear trees surrounded by goosberry/currant.

Gonna try White Clover and sub-clovers, but read they might not be good for Goose/Currants. Goumi works good too also for this edge and deer resistance.

Do you think it is the thorns on the goose berries?

I live in a very high deer pressure area, >50 deer per square mile, and i was recently pleasantly surprised to find currants growing amongst raspberries in two different locations in my area. I don't know if the currants are just hiding in the raspberries, or if the deer really don't eat them, but whenever a desirable plant survives the deer pressure I take notice and try to propagate it as much as possible.

Currants/gooseberries are considered deer resistant. I still keep some wire fencing around mine because I don't trust the ducks to not nibble on the fruit before I get it! It's only 2 years old so I am not ready to share yet.