Be Silly. Be honest. Be kind.
--Ralph Waldo Emerson
DEER IN THE GARDEN
A few deer in your garden are a gentle nuisance, but
during a hard winter, a large herd can pick your landscape
clean of vegetation. If deer become a problem, try one or
more of the following deterrents:
BARRIERS
If the deer are picking at a few choice plants, enclose
them in hardware cloth. Barriers should be 4 feet high and
a couple of feet from the plant.
FENCES
Electric fencing is the most effective way to keep the
deer out of the garden, but this may not be practical for
many home gardeners, especially if children play nearby.
Conventional fencing should be 8 feet high to offer
adequate protection. The fences least likely to be jumped
are those made of a solid material such as wood or stone.
A deer can't see what's on the other side of a solid
barrier, and is not likely to make the jump.
REPELLENTS
Several types of homemade repellents have been tried with
varying success. Here are a few that show promise:
Hang soap bars from the branches of trees or nail them to
stakes driven into the ground 15 feet apart. The soap bars
should be about 4 feet from the ground.
Put handfuls of human hair in bags made of net, mesh or
cheesecloth. Hang the bags three feet above the ground and
3 feet apart.
Spray trees and crops with a mixture made of 5 quarts of
water and 5 eggs. This much solution should treat about
1/4 acre. Spray the plants thoroughly and repeat after a
rain.
Make your own mixtures from two or more of the following
with water:
blood meal
bonemeal
exotic animal manure (consult your local zoo)
hot sauce
garlic oil
Dilute your mixture with water, experimenting to find the
most effective strength. Soak rags in the mixture and hang
them around areas that need protection. Alternatively, you
can soak string in the mixture, then fence off the area
with the saturated string. Change your mixture often so
that the deer don't learn that the nasty smell can lead to
a good meal.
COMMERCIAL REPELLENTS
There are several products on the market that effectively
repel deer. Make sure the one you choose is safe around
pets, children and food crops.
DEERBUSTER
You may need to change products from time to time as the
deer become familiar with the scent of your repellent.
