Deers are known to devour almost everything they come across, including prickly or fuzzy plants that confuse their sense of touch and highly fragrant flowers or trees. However, they prefer flat plants over those that protect against being nibbled by deer. What do you think about apples.
Fences provide the ideal physical barrier to keep deer away, especially during their peak feeding seasons in late fall through early spring. But other strategies may work as well.
Fences
Deer are an unfortunate garden pest, damaging our delicate plants while leaving their hoof marks behind in the dirt. Luckily, various defensive strategies are available to keep deer away from our gardens and plants.
A practical first step to keep deer at bay in your garden is installing a tall fence, which will serve as a visual deterrent and a warning signal. White-tailed deer have been known to jump as high as 8 feet, so your wall should at least match that height. You have various fencing materials, including wooden privacy fencing and heavy-duty plastic netting; all are equally effective solutions.
Black deer netting can also help keep out deer while allowing you to enjoy the view from your plantings. Available as rolls or cut to fit, this material can easily be strung around plants using metal stakes.
Other options you may use as barriers against deer include creating a pond or water source to deter them, motion-activated devices that emit high-pitched noise or light, barking dogs that roam freely in your yard or are on long leashes that emit noise, liquid predator urine applications may help create the illusion that there’s an actual threat in your garden and provide some temporary relief – although these applications must be repeated frequently for more extensive gardens.
Covers
Gardeners face the ongoing challenge of keeping deer away from their gardens and landscape beds, especially as spring brings new shoots and buds that they find particularly tasty. Deer are notoriously prolific eaters; even new shoots may tempt them into your yard and garden! Helpful tips for keeping deer out.
Deer are notoriously destructive creatures that can do irreparable damage to vegetable and flower gardens, yet there are ways you can prevent deer from doing just that. Tips include planting deer-resistant plants and employing home remedies and deterrents like motion-triggered noise/light devices and scent-spraying systems as deterrents.
Covers such as mulches, hay, and straw can help block deer’s access to your garden without incurring additional maintenance costs. They offer an inexpensive yet effective deterrent.
Plastic netting or floating row covers can also serve as effective deer-deterring measures, permitting water, air, and 95% of sunlight through while keeping deer out of your bed. Such bodies can typically be found at gardening centers, hardware stores, or online.
* Translucent insect barrier fabric can also help keep deer and other pests out of your garden and is often used in cold frames, mini hoop tunnels, greenhouses, and other small-scale cultivation systems to ward off insects while still providing enough water and sunlight for crops to flourish. You can purchase this at gardening centers or online.
Soap Bars
Deer are notoriously inconsiderate of private property. They jump fences without fear or regard, devouring flowers, vegetables or shrubs without regard for scare tactics or borders. Luckily there are simple, affordable solutions that can protect plants from deer browsing that can help save them.
Dial or Lifebuoy soap bars containing tallow (an animal fat used to produce soap) can help keep deer away from your garden by hanging them near the plants you wish to protect. Their strong fragrance should discourage deer from coming near, though specific soap formulated with tallow designed to do this should also work.
Another effective solution for protecting plant beds from deer is to hang invisible fishing line strips around them. Deer will find the visible fishing lines startling, and their vision becomes blocked, preventing them from seeing plant foliage.
Spray-on applications using dried blood or urine from predators to deter deer are another great way to keep deer away. Although they’re efficient, you will have to reapply frequently as rain may wash them out, and deer are creatures of habit; it is wise to switch up their repellents regularly to keep them from becoming immune and continuing to eat your plants.
Scents
While deer are delightful creatures to observe in nature, their voracious appetite can cause havoc with gardens and backyard trees. A strong scent may act as a deterrent against deer wandering into your yard – using this tactic may keep them away.
Soap scent can mask deer’s sensitive sense of smell and dissuade them from approaching plants. Select soap with a strong fragrance and hang bars from strings in trees and shrubs; alternatively, drill holes through its center to place stakes around garden beds.
Garlic is another strong-smelling plant that will deter deer when planted in your yard or garden due to its aromatic, offensive scent that deer find overpowering. Garlic can be one of the most effective home remedies for keeping deer away from plants in your garden.
Hot peppers can act as natural deer repellents. Their capsaicin content produces an unpleasant burning sensation in their mouths and noses, prompting deer to avoid your area. Sprinkle the flakes or blend them with water into a spray for use as a deer repellent.
Lavender is another effective natural deer repellent, either when planted in your garden or purchased as an essential oil to put in a spray bottle as a deer repellent. Other strong-scented herbs which act as deer deterrents include rosemary, thyme, oregano, and catmint.
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