Deer are an issue for gardeners. Thankfully, there are numerous effective strategies available to them for keeping them away – sprays that smell like decaying animals as well as devices that make noise or flash lights to scare them away are all ways of keeping these garden menaces at bay.
Gardeners who wish to deter deer may turn to plants with fragrant foliage as an effective deterrent, hoping that Bambi won’t use his sense of smell to locate food sources nearby and feed from it instead of foraging in their gardens. These fragrant blooms can distract Bambi from feeding on your flowers by confusing her olfactory system and disincentivising feeding opportunities.
Plants Deer Don’t Like
Deer have an appetite for almost everything they can get their mouths on, including vegetables, herbs and flowers that have an overpowering fragrance or have an unappetizing texture; deer also avoid root vegetables and those with sharp leaves or stems such as squashes and cucumbers that they might find repellant.
Installing a fence may be the ideal way to keep deer away from your garden, but this can be costly. Other physical strategies for deer protection may include using motion detectors, ultrasonic sound repellent devices or spraying chemical repellent around its borders – though none of these methods is guaranteed as deer quickly learn when noise or movement pose real threats and when spraying chemical repellent simply represents another form of water.
Aromatic plants like lavender, sage and rosemary make great companions to tomato plants as their strong aroma repels deer from coming near them. Other flowering plants that produce an unpleasant odor include bearded irises, foxgloves and peonies.
Deer don’t like snapdragons, tulips and marigolds either – these can serve as effective borders or mixed with vegetables to keep deer away.
Basil, cilantro and mint are herbs that deer are unlikely to consume; their sharp leaves and strong flavors are unappetizing to them and distasteful to their tastes. Furthermore, there are certain vegetables they tend not to like such as bok choy and Brussels sprouts – though deer may nibble them here and there when other food sources become scarcer.
Studies suggest that placing baits of predator urine, such as coyote urine, near tomato crops may help deer from grazing on them. Unfortunately, this solution will quickly fade as pure urine quickly oxidizes and loses its scent; for an alternative option try hanging bars of soap or mothballs nearby your tomato crops instead; other remedies include sprinkling soil with crushed eggshells or massaging their stems and roots with soap bars.
Plants Deer Dislike
An effective deer barrier is a fenced garden. A fence tells deer they’re not welcome here and that any caught ones will be punished accordingly. A 12ft or higher fence works best; this height prevents deer from jumping over it. A wooden or chain link fence, an electric wire fence or plastic netting work all well solutions that still allow you to see what’s growing underneath.
Deer tend to avoid plants that produce strong aromas that will confuse and annoy them; these plants could include garlic, chives, lavender, lemon grass and oregano which have strong smells that will drive away deer from their target foods. Deer are particularly sensitive to textures; therefore these extra defensive measures could be grown alongside your vegetable garden as a safeguard.
Underground vegetables such as carrots, beets and radishes tend not to be vulnerable to deer browsing. You could also try planting something toxic for deer such as something in the nightshade family (tomatoes, peppers or eggplant) and/or rhubarb that won’t attract them as easily.
Globe artichokes have spikey leaves and spine-covered flowers that deer find repellant, providing a physical barrier between their vegetables and deer. Additional deterrents that work alongside fencing include spraying soapy solutions around your plants or using commercial repellents as additional deterrents.
Deer have highly developed senses, especially their sense of smell, so using scents as a form of protection may be more effective than physical barriers in keeping them away. They don’t like garlic’s pungent aroma so you might try growing some alongside your vegetables; alternatively you could plant currant bushes with pleasant fragrance to protect the garden as well.
If all else fails, a dog may help deer away. Consider investing in a shepherd’s dog; these breeds have long been used as deterrents against wild animals such as deer.
Plants Deer Like
Some plants are toxic to deer, and they will often avoid eating them. This includes underground-grown vegetables like beets, radishes and carrots as well as root crops such as beetroot. Rhubarb and all nightshade family plants such as tomatoes peppers eggplant etc are toxic as are cleome and marigold flowers.
Deer have an aversion to strong scents, and fragrant herbs like lavender and rosemary make great repellents against deer. Try interplanting them around your vegetable garden or as edible borders.
Garlic makes for an excellent barrier plant, repelling deer with its pungent taste and smell and helping protect carrots from carrot root fly infestations. Planting rows of garlic among your carrots not only repels deer but will also ward off potential destruction by this common and pesky pest called carrot root fly larvae.
Horticulturist Gene Lorainne recommends clear fishing line as a non-fencing alternative for deterring deer in gardens without fencing them entirely. She stakes the perimeter, then strings a row of wire parallel with it starting 2 to 3 inches above the ground, spaced approximately one foot apart. This wire will virtually go unnoticed in your garden landscape.
Plant culinary herbs that repel deer, such as onions, leeks, sage and dill. Their strong flavors deter deer while also adding beauty and sophistication to your garden.
Ultimately, a tall fence will send the message that your garden is off limits to any deer who visit; but be wary as even motivated or scared deer have been known to jump over fences of up to 12 feet in height! You could create wooden stockade-style fencing or an economical metal fence which both keep deer out while still allowing you to enjoy your beautiful garden space.
Plants Deer Hate
Deer are ruminants, meaning that their four-chambered stomachs can digest a wide range of plant materials. When food sources in the wild become scarce, deer will munch on anything they can find such as branches, shrubbery, vegetables and herbs; although bok choy and Brussels sprouts tend to escape deer nibbling. And certain plants such as garlic may even help deter deer away from plants they dislike by repelling deer away from those they don’t prefer – helping preserve those vegetables they don’t prefer by deterring deer from entering gardens altogether!
Deer aren’t fond of bitter or strong-scented plants, making many herbs effective deer repellants – cilantro, mint, chives and rosemary all are effective in keeping deer away. Also consider planting fragrant flowers like marigolds and nasturtiums; perennials like lilyturfa and alyssum with fragrant fragrances that deer find repulsive; globe artichokes also make a good barrier – interplant them between rows or plant them between rows; plus they help protect from carrot root fly infestation.
Physical barriers are the best way to keep deer away from your garden, such as fences, chicken wire, plastic netting or covers such as floating row covers or lightweight mulch. You could also try motion-triggered devices which squirt water or emit high-frequency noise – however deer adapt quickly and may eventually disregard these scare tactics, so be diligent about reapplying the device regularly.
Other deer-repelling strategies include planting plants with unappetizing textures such as furry leaves or prickly stems, such as squash, cacti, lambs ear, barberry and yucca – as examples – squash cacti cacti lambs ear barberry and yucca are good options; don’t forget that certain plants naturally repel deer like rhubarb and sage; their natural deterrent properties cause digestive upset for both deer and humans while their deer deterrent properties cause deer to avoid these plants altogether! You can add homemade repellents such as eggs soapy water dish or laundry soap blood meal garlic human hair vinegar hot pepper sauce concoctions which won’t harm humans either way; all these strategies help you enjoy fresh vegetables herbs and flowers without deer damage!