How can I get the deer to quit munching up my garden?

Sherig47
by Sherig47

I’ve tried hanging old socks, human hair, sprinkling tumatous earth. Ahhh nothing seems to work. They jump the fence.

  8 answers
  • Ken Erickson Ken Erickson on Dec 16, 2018

    Taller fence? Dogs?

  • Gk Gk on Dec 16, 2018

    Once the deer know where the good food is they are relentless. A taller fence and a dog isn't a bad idea. You can also plant things that deer don't like to eat. Here is one list that may help you out: https://njaes.rutgers.edu/deer-resistant-plants/

  • Billy Billy on Dec 16, 2018

    Try old bars of soap hang them on a stake around the outside of the fence

  • Rose Broadway Rose Broadway on Dec 16, 2018

    I agree, dogs are the best!!

  • Dogs are great, or you can run an electric wire along the top of the fence. It's a bit inconvenient since you may need to turn it off when you go in the garden, but it's effective.

  • Oliva Oliva on Dec 17, 2018

    You don't indicate your location, but applying Liquid Fence Concentrate to all leaf surfaces and branches is very effective. It requires thorough shaking before and after mixing with water, following container directions.

    Wear gloves, and note wind direction to avoid drift onto you.

    Apply weekly for the first month, then 2x/month the second month, then 1x/month, thereafter. Do not apply within 5 hours of rain.

    Apply toward evening hours, due to smell, which will dissipate (to human nose) overnight. It contains garlic and putrescent eggs.

    It never goes bad, and is worth the cost in saved landscape plants.

    Heavily saturate plants the first few months, to dissuade the deer, because once they've tasted something they like, they return to try again.

  • Ellis Ellis on Dec 22, 2018

    They don't like Irish Spring soap, so many people swear by filling old nylons or mesh bags with shavings of Irish Spring bar soap, or cut-up bars, and hang from your shrubs. Also, some people swear by a product sold in garden stores, which is powdered urine from predators who attack deer.

  • Mary Mary on Mar 29, 2021

    I've used milorganite either sprinkled on the ground or hung in a small bottle with holes in it on the plant. It made the deer leave my favorite flowers alone.