Deer in garden

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Nancy Nesbitt · Answer

Without knowing your specific details, here are some general suggestions: plant deer-resistant plants (Google or library for info on plants), a 6 foot (+) fence, various deterrents such as: radio on all night, bags of human hair or smelly bars of soap hung around area, purchase coyote/other animal urines at garden center & follow directions, or install motion-detector lights. Any of these might work for a week or so then you must rotate to a different one. Deer-resistant plants are not always deer-proof (in a starving situation, deer will eat about anything), but with enough deterrents, the deer may go elsewhere. Until the next generation, that is.

Rene · Answer

I planted smelly plants they don't like, Society garlic, geraniums, etc. around plants they like to nibble on.

Lrfreeze · Answer

I know this may not be the likliest or most politically correct way, but my mother- in - law swears by having my son pee on her plants. :) They don't like the human scent...

Dannette Dallas · Answer

buy ladies anklet nylons, add a handful of mothballs and tie the package...use zip ties to attatch to fences and trees, as well as bushes...deer can't stand the odor, and neither can most bugs, cats, squirrels, mice or dogs ;)

Judy · Answer

Athletic child's smelly sox - hang on fence or just lay them amongst the roses or veggies.

Dana Corby · Answer

I live on Anderson Island, in Puget Sound. We have deer. Boy, do we have deer!

The truth is that no plant is absolutely deer-proof. There's always that inquisitive one who'll bite the heads off your favorite flowers and spit them out. Some plants, like tulips, roses, and most culinary herbs or veggies, are just plain deer-bait. I've found that ferns, lavender, culinary sage, foxgloves, rhododendrons, bleeding hearts and daffodils generally hold little interest for the deer and I can safely plant them anywhere they'll grow.

But the only real way to keep the deer out is to fence your garden. The fence needn't be expensive: use 6-ft lengths of metal conduit (or those metal fence posts made to support wire fencing) pounded into the ground about 18 inches, strung with wire or clothesline top & bottom and then strung with deer netting attached with twist-ties. This fence is nearly invisible, especially if you paint the posts and wire black before attaching the netting, which is already black. I've fenced my veggie garden this way for 6 years, and other than having to replace the netting twice, it's been easy & effective.

Robyn · Answer

We use a motion detector sprinkler called Scarecrow (there are other brands) that we bought for about $70. It uses a 9volt battery. It has worked great at protecting our vegetables and flowers.

TERRY F · Answer

We use a product called Plantskydd. It basically is a dried blood that makes the deer think that there is a predator where it is sprayed and they won't come near. It is completely safe and can be used on all plants. We have used it for a number of years and had great success. I've even been able to use all my apples...lol

Tamara Goetten · Answer

Barb We just planted an orchard and the deer are eating the apple leaves off the new trees. We have planted 14 different trees and bushes and don't want to loss them. My neighbor told me about dryer sheets. get a sheet rip it into strips and tie them several places on the trees and they won't bother them, and THEY DON'T. Maybe it you tie them on sticks or post and place where the deer are eating they will stop. Just a idea.

Debbie/Dragonfly Treasure · Answer

Deer turn their noses up at fragrant plants with strong scents. Sages, ornamental salvias, and lavender, daffodils, garlic, annual vinca, marigolds, coneflowers

Use a vegetable peeler on the bar of Irish Spring soap and scatter shavings around plants and bushes. There's a product called Bobbex that works really well if you have something you want to protect though!

I read this from Gma Kirk: A farmer gave me a gross recipe for repellent...but it works. cup or two of urine, tablespoons of crushed garlic, and cayenne pepper, two eggs in a gallon jug, shake well, fill rest of the way with water. Cap and let age a week. Then you drizzle small stream around the perimeter of whatever you want to keep them from eating

Deer in garden

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Deer in garden

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