Deer enjoy snacking on vegetables, but there are various strategies you can employ to protect your garden from them. A fence that stands seven feet or taller may be the most effective way to keep them out, although this might not always be possible or suitable.
Use Larger Rocks Around Your Garden Bed
Deer are known to avoid rocks, so creating a wide rock garden around your vegetable plants could keep them at bay. To make sure it works effectively, vary the sizes of rocks so they’re difficult for deer to traverse.
An effective and simple way to keep deer away from your vegetable garden is by mass planting it with deer-resistant flowers and vegetables, such as lettuce. Doing this creates a thick, unbroken line of deer-resistant vegetation, making deer less likely to try pushing through it. This method is known as plant blocking; when combined with fencing it works even better as deer are more likely to jump over something they cannot see over.
Many DIY deer repellent ideas involve using substances that smell unpleasant to deer, such as garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper and bottom shelf perfumes – each offering different levels of success in deterring deer from eating your vegetables. One effective strategy to use scent to deter deer is by hanging some fishing line around your vegetables; deer can sense human presence more readily and will therefore likely steer clear from this area.
Make use of human hair clippings as an inexpensive, natural deer repellent by collecting some from local hairdressers or asking a trusted friend or relative to do the collecting for you. Not only will it ward off deer but will also slowly fertilize your garden as the hair breaks down over time. If collecting it yourself feels intimidating or overwhelming, simply ask one to supply you with some.
Cover Your Plants With Netting
Deer are an integral part of our ecosystem and it’s hard to hold them responsible for living where their habitat is ideal. But as any vegetable gardener knows, deer can quickly destroy your efforts when visiting. Luckily, there are ways you can keep them out.
Deer deterrence can be achieved using a large rock garden around your vegetable bed. This will make it more difficult for deer to access your plants, while the rocks won’t allow them to step comfortably over them making your garden less tempting for foraging purposes.
Individual plants can also be protected with netting, which comes in various sizes to cover rows of vegetables or even trees. While deer are still able to gain access to light and water for their needs, deer cannot stick their heads through these covers and attack. This approach is especially useful when protecting young plants that may still be growing as these are particularly vulnerable against deer attacks.
Deer fences provide a more permanent solution, as they will prevent deer from accessing your vegetable garden. While this solution can be costly, its effectiveness over time cannot be denied; additionally it must be installed high as deer are expert jumpers. Other temporary options may include motion activated sprinklers and flashing lights which create sudden noise or movement that scare away deer by creating unfamiliar noise or movements they aren’t used to.
Install Motion Sensor Sprinklers
Deer are beautiful creatures that add a picturesque landscape, yet their voracious appetites can wreak havoc in your vegetable garden. Luckily, there are ways to deter deer without resorting to expensive chemical repellents.
One of the easiest and most effective solutions is creating physical barriers. A fence of 8 feet or even higher may offer additional protection, just be sure to ensure it can withstand deer jumping over it.
Other deterrents for deer include prickly foliage, scents and textures that they find unpleasant or irritating – such as lavender, rosemary, sage and thyme which produce oils with irritating qualities that deer find offensive or offensive. You might also try planting herbs with strong fragrances like catmint, chives and mint that may confuse Bambi’s sense of smell and dissuade her from coming near your garden.
Hang strings of monofilament fishing line near your garden to create an invisible barrier that mimics the movement of leaves and branches in the wind, which will disorient deer. If fishing line is unavailable, old CDs or aluminum pie tins work just as effectively, although be sure to move and replace regularly to keep deer from becoming used to them. Another effective strategy for disorienting deer would be using motion-activated sprinklers or “blasters,” solar-powered devices which give deer an unexpected burst of water when approaching to disorient them away and disorient them back off in another direction.
Install Electric Fencing
Deer are a serious pest for gardeners and can do significant damage to vegetables, fruit trees, ornamentals, perennials, wildflowers and cover crops. Fencing has proven the most effective method for keeping deer out of gardens; but what type and height of fence should they choose? Deer have proven adept at jumping 8′ fences quickly so a high fence height should always be considered when protecting garden from deer damage.
Electric fencing may provide the solution. When deer come close to touching an electrified fence with their nose or mouth, a mild shock will be administered and may deter them from approaching further, eventually learning to avoid it altogether.
An electric fence works by using polytape wire as the conduit to conduct electricity that is then charged via an energizer powered by either batteries, solar cells or mains electricity and emitting short pulses of current down the polytape – these pulses typically only last 150 microseconds, yet enough to discourage most animals from coming near to touch it.
Add deer repellent or attractant products to your fence in order to increase its effectiveness, such as commercial deer repellent or attractant products, which contain chemicals which help make the fence “look” real while simultaneously giving off a stronger electrical charge and discouraging deer from coming near it. Also ensure you have a grounding rod in order to safeguard pets or children who might get shocked by it, and purchase a digital voltmeter so you can test its voltage regularly and make sure it works effectively.
Plant Companion Plants
Imagine pouring all your heart and soul into creating the garden of your dreams; tending seedlings into vibrant plants while dreaming of an abundant harvest. But suddenly one morning you discover your garden has been destroyed by hungry deer; leaves have been nibbled to their core, flowers have been decapitated and all your hard work has vanished into thin air.
Physical barriers–such as spiky hedges or raised garden beds with high walls–can help deer from browsing your vegetables. Or less obtrusively, companion planting–combining herbs, shrubs, or plants deer dislike with your vegetables or flowers — may also work effectively; for instance catmint’s minty fragrance masking other plants deer enjoy nibbling upon while marigolds boast pungent scents unappetizing to deer can work effectively too.
Chives (a member of the onion family), rosemary and sage perennial herbs as well as lamb’s ear and mullein are plants with strong smells that deer may find repellant; while fuzzy textures of lamb’s ear and mullein make these unappetizing to deer. Finally, some species such as daffodils, hellebores and foxgloves contain toxic compounds which could harm deer if consumed by them.
There are various approaches you can take to keep deer away from your garden, but consistency in your efforts and regular inspection of the area are the keys. Physical barriers should be properly installed and checked periodically for damage or wear-and-tear. Scent-based repellents like predator urine or rotten eggs can also work effectively as repellents; electronic devices that emit loud noise such as squirting water or radio can also serve as effective deterrents.
Make A Scent Barrier
Many gardeners employ multiple strategies to deter deer from damaging their vegetables, including scent barriers, good fencing and motion-activated devices that emit noise or sprays. Although some of these tactics may appear extreme, they’ve all proven their worth as effective ways of keeping deer out.
An effective scent barrier can be easily created using urine or products containing predator urine (such as coyote urine). The goal is for this scent to scare deer away from entering your garden. Another deterrent that uses scent-based deterrence measures include planting your garden with herbs such as lavender, scented geraniums and mint which have proven successful at repelling deer.
Deer have poor vision, making it essential to protect your plants with a solid fence and sight-proofing methods such as hanging CDs or ribbons or creating a fluttering fence with monofilament fishing line. Other solutions might include tying ribbons or strips of fabric onto the top of your fence, as well as purchasing inexpensive Halloween props with motion detectors that activate movement-activated alarms.
Remember that hungry deer are adaptable and resourceful creatures; no single method will suffice in keeping them away from your vegetable garden. But by employing multiple strategies at the same time, you stand a better chance of keeping deer at bay.