If you want to keep deer out of your vegetable garden, here are a few signs to look for: nibbled fruit and tramped plants can be telltale signs, as are hoof prints in soft soil and small piles of round droppings.
Some plants, like lavender and cleome, smell strongly and are difficult for deer to consume; other varieties such as asparagus fern and lamb’s ear have textures that deer find unappetizing. Many homeowners employ multiple strategies in their attempts to deter deer.
Fence
Deer are among the most destructive pests for vegetable gardens, flower beds and trees and shrubs. To keep them at bay effectively is by building a fence; deer repellent sprays such as those that mimic decaying animal odors or contain ingredients such as garlic and cayenne pepper may also work well; however they need to be regularly applied or they become ineffective as soon as the weather warms up.
Plastic mesh deer netting is an economical and straightforward option that is both permanent and temporary, available in various colors to match any decor. Fastened onto wooden 4x4s or metal T-bar garden posts, plastic deer netting allows for the addition of colorful streamers or strings of lights for an attractive decorative touch.
As another way of deterring deer, plant flowers and vegetables that have proven themselves deer-resistant – you can find this list at Rutgers University’s Plants Rated by Deer Resistance website. Bitter tasting or strong-scented plants have proven particularly effective; also planting woody ornamental grasses or fuzzy lamb’s ear are other effective strategies.
Have a pet, such as a dog, can also serve as an effective deer repellent. Their sound and scent is enough to drive them away, teaching them not to return in future. Motion activated devices, like sprinklers or flood lights that create sudden noise can also work effectively as deer repellents.
Deer are intelligent creatures, and no matter how attractive your garden may be, no repellent or barrier will guarantee they won’t eat some of your crops. If you detect signs that they have visited such as nibbled leaves, blossoms or buds vanishing overnight or hoof prints in the soil or piles of round black droppings then be sure to remove all tempting edibles as quickly as possible before they become an all-you-can-eat buffet!
Soap
Deer are an ever-present problem in many areas and can damage trees, flowers and vegetables. Although hardware stores and big box retailers may sell products intended to deter deer from your garden, there are also home remedies you can employ that can prove cheaper and more effective – hanging soap shavings or bags of soap in strategic places around your garden; using sprays that mimic predator urine scent; and spraying plants with an unappetizing fragrance are just a few options that have proven their worth over time.
One effective way to keep deer out of your vegetable garden is using Irish Spring soap with animal fat (tallow). The animal fat disorients their sense of smell and keeps them at bay from your plants. You can cut up pieces and spread them around near where your plants grow or purchase special deer repellent products with tallow in it.
Garden hobbyist Mary R has long used soap as an effective deer repellent. For best results, she suggests filling a gallon jug with 1 cup milk, 1 egg and 1 tablespoon of dish soap before filling the remainder with water and leaving this mixture out in the sun for several days before spraying your garden areas with it.
If deer are active in your area, you may wish to repeat this process at least every week or dilute this solution with water and sprinkle it onto vulnerable plants like hostas or daylilies for added protection. Be sure to reapply it after it rains to keep yourself protected!
Deer-resistant plants such as garlic, thorny asparagus and woody ornamental grasses can help your garden remain deer-free. Herbs like lavender, patchouli, lemongrass, yarrow and rosemary have strong aromas which deer find unpleasant, while many also possess textures which irritate them as well as physical features that could keep deer away.
Sound
Who could resist marveling at a herd of deer grazing across a Metro Park meadow? But these same animals can wreak havoc in vegetable gardens, flower beds and shrubbery — especially during spring when they search for tender new shoots to nibble away at.
Deer are known to avoid plants with fuzzy or prickly foliage and strongly fragrant or poisonous scents, while being less fond of highly fragrant ones that have heavy fragrance or are poisonous or have strong smells, thus making certain plants ideal for creating deer proof gardens. Herbs such as Salvia (Salvia) and lavender (Lavandula), catmint (Nepeta), Tanacetum and Tanacetum; flowering herbs including Tanacetum tansyii Tanacetum); flowering herbs such as Tanacetum), Chrysanthemum macrocarpums (Chrysanthemum macrocarpum), bee balm (Monarda) and Fennel (Fennelum vulgare). Asparatuses (Fagopyrum tenuifolium ), Asparagum tenuifolium) and Rhuarb (Rheum spp.).
Physical barriers like fences and covers are effective means of keeping deer away from vegetable gardens, but this may not always be practical in suburban and urban settings where deer have adjusted to living among us.
Motion-triggered devices that squirt water or emit high-frequency sounds may help, provided they’re placed close to your garden and moved often so as to shock deer without becoming used to their noise and continue munching away at your vegetables.
Homeowners and gardeners often find that using multiple deer-proofing tactics in combination works best in deer protection, so double or even triple your efforts while remembering no single tactic works every time. Look out for signs that deer have been present such as nibbled produce, hoof prints in the soil and scrapes on tree trunks and woody shrub branches – these will likely indicate their presence – nibbled produce, hoof prints in soil or scrapes on trunks as well as sign of deer’s passage; most active times being early morning dusk overnight as they may leave trail of droppings leading directly into gardens – this can indicate their presence!
Shiny Objects
Deer are beautiful to watch when galloping through the woods, but they can become an enormous nuisance in your vegetable garden. Their nibbling habits can quickly devour crops within minutes. Luckily, there are various methods available for keeping deer out of your crops: from homemade repellents and fences to electric fences as potential solutions.
Strongly-scented plants are another natural way to deter deer from entering your garden. Many herbs and flowers emit strong aromas that people do not find pleasant; when placed around a vegetable plot, this may be enough to deter deer. Some effective deer repelling flowers and herbs include lavender, marigolds, basil peppermint chives rosemary.
Some gardeners have found that scattering bar soap, moth balls or predator urine near or in their garden can also help deer stay away. These scents have an adverse effect on deer and can be purchased from farm and garden stores. Others report success hanging shiny objects from trees or features around their gardens to distract and scare deer away – such as old CDs, aluminum pie tins or metallic streamers which work effectively at distracting or frightening away deer.
Predatory animals like deer tend to be wary and sensitive creatures that quickly flee when disturbed by motion or noise, making motion-activated sprinklers, lights and noise machines effective solutions in keeping deer away from your vegetable garden.
Other deterrents you may try include creating your own scarecrow from old clothes with your scent imbued. Not only are these easy and fun projects, but they can work effectively against deer because they recognize your scent. Just keep in mind they may wear out from sun and rain over time; therefore you will need to refresh them periodically. Home remedies such as soap shavings with garlic, pepper or tomato scents as well as sprays can also help deter deer from entering your garden; simply spray or pour directly on the ground or hang from above your garden for fast results! This cheap and easy way can keep deer away!