Deer can cause havoc to garden plants by leaving behind hoof prints, droppings and torn leaves. To prevent this from happening, plant flowers, fruit trees and vegetables which repel deer.
Home remedies that work include bars of soap that frighten deer away or using urine spray to repel them, while human and dog hair bundles can provide further assistance by slowly fertilizing the soil.
Fencing
Nothing can compare to the disappointment of returning home after an afternoon spent planting only to discover that everything has been nibbled down to the soil line by deer overnight. Deer tend to damage their territories quickly, so it is crucial that if signs of deer activity appear you take immediate steps to protect your garden. While chemical deer repellents might provide temporary solutions, physical barriers remain the superior way of protection.
One of the best ways to keep deer out of your vegetable garden is erecting a fence around it. While this option can be costly if applied across a larger area, fencing often proves effective. When selecting your fencing material it’s wiser to choose one made from strong and durable metal wire fencing or perhaps coated in plastic to provide added protection from weather elements.
If you opt for fencing material coated in plastic, be sure to consult your local government on rules and regulations related to it. You may also consider making your fence more natural by covering it with climbing plants such as roses, jasmine, and trumpet vine; this will add color to your yard while helping prevent deer from accessing your garden.
Reusing metal wire fences previously used for dog or cat fencing may also prove useful in deerproofing their yard. Such fences often feature mesh coating that makes deer difficult to chew through; bells should also be attached to this fence in order to deter deer and other animals by producing loud noise when touched by any of them.
Another way to thwart deer from reaching your vegetables is to plant deer-repellant herbs such as dill and mint, which have strong scents that deer find unpleasant. You can plant these near a fence line as a deterrent against deer entering your garden, as well as hanging a metal pie pan from said fence for sound purposes, in order to scare them off!
Netting
Deer are known to cause major havoc to gardens with their voracious appetites for vegetables, flowers and shrubs. While one deer might not seem like much of an issue at first, their collective herd can devour entire plantings within hours! Luckily, there are ways you can use to deter deer from your garden and preserve your homegrown produce.
Physical barriers are the best way to keep deer away from your garden, such as fencing and covers. Plastic netting or chicken wire work well for enclosing row crops of vegetables; temporary cover crop tarps or floating garden fabric that you secure around plants may also work effectively.
Some motion-activated devices can help dissuade deer from visiting your garden, but keep in mind that deer are highly adaptable creatures who quickly learn whether a noise, movement, or flashing light represents a real threat or not – and will probably continue munching away at your plants regardless.
There are various commercial sprays designed to act as deer repellents. To maximize effectiveness, it is wise to combine these products with other techniques, such as covering or fencing your garden, such as garlic or hot pepper aromas that displease deer; these repellents may even contain chemicals known to be carcinogens like methyl bromide.
Tall netting or see-through fences may not be as effective at keeping deer out, but they still can help to keep them away. Deer are exceptional jumpers but less likely to attempt leaping over something they cannot see through such as a high fence. You can further scare away deer by running fishing line between metal T-posts with bells on either end, which will startle deer when they hit one of the bells – further discouraging any attempts to jump over.
Heavy fragranced foliage may disorient a deer’s sense of taste and discourage eating, including several flowering herbs such as sage, thyme, oregano and lavender. Other good choices for such foliage include bee balm (Monarda), catmint (Nepeta), hyssop (Agastache) and boxwood (Buxus).
Motion Activated Devices
Deer are notoriously destructive creatures with an appetite for plants, devouring everything they come into contact with – from vegetable gardens to ecosystems – and can quickly do damage in search of sustenance. Their roamings may pose an ongoing problem for landscapers and gardeners; luckily there are non-toxic solutions available to keep these grazers at bay from your crops.
Physical barriers are one of the best ways to discourage deer, and are particularly effective when combined with other deterrents. Fences made from wood, metal or plastic netting should stand at least six feet in height and be securely fastened into place so deer cannot climb over or under them. Furthermore, any gaps must be small enough for them not to be crawled through by deer.
Netting can provide protection for vegetables, fruit trees and flowers against deer. These lightweight barriers are easy to install and maintain; making it ideal in areas where fencing would be impractical. Plus, different sizes are available so as not to disrupt any plants being planted nearby.
Other effective deterrents for deer include motion activated devices that send out startling noises or movements, or bright lights to scare them off. These may be ideal if chemical repellents or physical barriers prove ineffective.
Many gardeners have reported success using homemade deer repellant recipes made with simple household items that smell offensive to deer. From spreading hair clippings around to collecting urine from local animals or purchasing kits that allow you to collect and spray liquid deer urine directly, gardeners have seen positive results using such spray recipes.
Hang a fake owl or other predator from your tree canopy as deer are highly disturbed by loud squawks from these predators, especially visible from your house. Make sure it remains effective by maintaining regular upkeep of this method if this strategy works for you.
Liquid predator urine can be applied directly to plants or hung from a dispenser for easy application, though regular refills and treatment of large gardens may prove costly. Over time, plants may grow accustomed to its scent; to prevent this from occurring it should be combined with other ingredients or used alongside other deterrents.
Ultrasonic Devices
Keep deer away from your veggie patch can be one of the greatest gardening challenges, yet keeping a pantry stocked isn’t enough – here are a few garden hacks that may help! These measures won’t compromise crops or require too much work in your yard!
Deer repellents that work effectively include scents with unpleasant aromas to deceive Bambi’s sense of smell, such as Irish Spring soap bars or homemade sprays containing apple cider vinegar, water and garlic. Hanging multiple wind chimes around your garden will also scare off deer by unpredictable noise, scaring them off before they graze again in that area.
Sprinkling or spraying some human urine around your garden is an effective deer repellent hack. Prey animals are extremely aware of predators and often smell their waste; when combined with human scent, deer are likely to stay away from your garden and seek shelter elsewhere.
Hair clippings are an innocuous yet highly effective deer repellent. Simply ask your hairdresser or barber for some of their excess clumps of hair and scatter it around garden beds as a deer repellent while providing an additional source of organic fertilization as they decompose over time.
Another option for vegetable rows or trellises that need protecting from deer browsing and weather elements alike is covering them with heavy gardening fabric, such as summer-weight fabric covering movable hoop frames. This will protect the vegetables while providing deer with shelter while also shielding them from excessive sun and rainfall. For plants that grow vertically such as viney vegetables that need support from trellises.
Although these methods will work, they may not be the most environmentally-friendly or sustainable solutions. You should strive to find more natural methods of deer control while supporting local conservation initiatives if possible; any methods listed here should only be used as last resort and should never serve as your main method for deer management.