Deer are fascinating animals to observe, yet they can be devastating for vegetable gardens. Here are some strategies for keeping deer at bay.
Deer are notoriously good jumpers; therefore a seven-foot fence may look unsightly in your garden and therefore not be effective at keeping deer away. Motion activated devices that produce noise, movement and flashes of light also work effectively in scaring away deer.
1. Soap Bars
Many rural and urban gardeners experience deer problems when trying to grow vegetables. These animals don’t discriminate when it comes to what they eat, quickly devouring an entire plot in minutes! There are various methods available to prevent deer from ruining your garden; some more effective than others.
Physical barriers are one effective method of protecting vegetable gardens from deer browsing, with black mesh deer netting secured to wooden 4x4s or metal t-bar garden posts being the go-to solution. While fencing may work best in keeping deer away, you could also consider other means such as using cover such as plastic row covers or chicken wire cloches that cover individual plants so deer cannot reach them; these alternatives tend to be cheaper alternatives and work better when dealing with shorter crops such as lettuce or squash.
An effective way to keep deer away from your vegetable garden is using scent repellents. These products contain ingredients that deer find unpleasant to smell; this odor interferes with their sense of smell and causes them to avoid the area altogether. Irish Spring soap, barley straw, garlic cloves and peppercorns are among the best deer repellents, but you could also apply these substances directly onto plants or apply watering solutions directly using a garden sprayer – either directly onto soil around plants or as sprayer watering solutions for vegetables and flowers!
Keep a keen eye out for signs of deer activity in your garden, such as hoof prints that resemble upside-down hearts, torn leaves and damaged plantings. Another telltale sign could be droppings that look like small piles of pebbles – an indicator that deer are at home in your space!
2. Motion Activated Devices
No matter if it’s a motion-activated sprinkler or scarecrow, any device that generates startling noise, movement or bright lights can help deer avoid entering the garden. Some are solar-powered and deliver a sharp burst of water when they sense an approaching deer; others emit an intimidating shriek to disorient and scare away any approaching deers. Many devices can be adjusted to protect specific vegetable gardens or individual shrub or flower beds.
Strong-smelling plants like dill can also help deer away, particularly when planted near fence edges. Deer have excellent senses of smell and will perceive other nearby plants as not being edible if dill is nearby; in this way, deer will look elsewhere for sustenance.
Double fence layers can be an effective way to stop deer from eating your vegetables. Deer have limited depth perception and don’t like jumping fences; so, for maximum effectiveness build an inner fence using chicken wire, box wire, or similar inexpensive material as an inner barrier. A picket fence alone may suffice; for greater protection consider building another inner layer using chicken wire, box wire or another inexpensive material as a second line of defense.
Some have taken to using barking dogs to deter deer from entering their gardens, though this approach only works if allowed free range within the yard (or on an extended leash) without excessive barking. Once deer become used to hearing that noise again and again, they’ll eventually learn to ignore it altogether.
3. Human Hair
Deer are highly suspicious of anything unfamiliar and easily startled by loud noises or sudden movements, which makes motion-triggered devices that squirt water, play music or emit high-frequency sounds effective as long as they’re repeated frequently – as deer are easily habituated to these sounds, it is best to switch them up every few weeks; adding scarecrows, gnomes or pink flamingo lawn ornaments into your garden could also serve to scare them away if moved around frequently enough.
Sprays and powders advertised to ward off deer often fail to do the trick, while many of these products contain harmful chemicals which could pose further threats to the environment.
As another alternative, planting deer-resistant crops or flowers may help. Alliums, daffodils, tulips, marigolds, hyssop, catmint, chrysanthemums, bee balm geraniums and tansy are some of the many naturally deer resistant vegetables and flowers which naturally deter deer eating habits.
Hairy or fuzzy foliage may confuse Bambi’s sense of smell and cause her to be less likely to come for a taste. Try running your finger across the leaves of deer-resistant flowers or vegetables and see if you detect small pebbles or bristly hairs; this is a sure sign that they can keep deer away from your vegetable garden.
If your budget doesn’t permit for full fencing projects, try creating a deer barrier with rocks instead. Deer do not like walking over large rocks and they cannot jump over them easily; so they will remain outside your garden. Plant deer-resistant plants nearby to provide natural protection without needing constant supervision from you.
4. Garden Fabric
Deer can quickly adapt to their scent or taste, so it is wise to employ multiple deterrent strategies and switch them frequently. Many commercial repellents work effectively; just remember to reapply as necessary and avoid spraying plants that have already been nibbled or nibbled upon.
Deterrents that make sudden noise, movement or bright lights can also be highly effective at deterring deer from entering a garden. An inexpensive and easy solution would be stringing aluminum pie pans together from Shepard’s hooks or fishing line for use as deer deterrents; when the wind blows they bang together in unison to produce sudden bangs that startle any deer that wander through it! This creates an effective noise that deer are unlikely to forget!
Heavily fragrant plants can help deer avoid your vegetable garden by disabling their sense of smell and discouraging feeding, such as fragrant herbs such as sage, thyme and lavender; perennial flowers like catmint (Nepeta), yarrow, larkspur and oregano; roses with thorny foliage such as bear’s breeches (Acanthus) or English ivy (Hedera helix); as well as boxwood (Buxus), blue mist shrub and bee balm (Monarda).
Long-term solutions for keeping deer away from your garden may include installing a strong perimeter fence around it. While this may be costly initially, its cost should pay for itself over time. If this option is not suitable, plastic or chicken wire covers can be placed over vegetables and plants to protect them from deer nibblings; they should be secured so as to remain undisplaceable by high winds and only used during daylight hours for maximum effectiveness. Covers may even provide more cost-effective protection if you only have limited gardening or crops to tending as they need protecting.
5. Human Scent
Gardeners sometimes attempt to keep deer away from their vegetable garden by hanging bars of soap from trees and shrubs. The theory behind this approach is that the scent disrupts deer’s sense of smell, deterring them from entering. While this method may work in certain locations, others deer may become used to and ignore its presence altogether.
One easy way to deter deer is to plant fragrant plants. Like people, deer often make eating decisions based on smell rather than sight – something which doesn’t smell attractive will usually go undigested by Bambi! Sage, lavender and rosemary have strong fragrances which confuse their sense of smell leading them away from your garden.
Other fragrant plants, including hyssop (Agastache), tulips, boxwood and chrysanthemums can also help deter deer. Other deer resistant foliage includes mountain mint, bee balm dill eucalyptus and fennel; these have all proven successful at discouraging deer from entering gardens.
There are also commercial deer repellents that can be applied directly to plants or used with spray bottles to spray around vegetables and their foliage. Though they can be effective, these repellents tend to be costly and should only be used on non-edible plants.
Deterring deer from entering your garden requires taking steps that are both long-term and cost-effective. Building physical barriers is an expensive solution if your vegetable garden is large; however, this method remains one of the best ways to safeguard crops and ensure their health. If fencing isn’t an option, motion activated sprinkler systems may help deter deer and other unwanted animals; these systems are widely available online or at hardware stores – just remember to only use them early mornings and late nights out of consideration of neighbors.