Deer are wonderful, but not in the garden. Nothing is more frustrating than tending to the plants only to come out and find them eaten up by the deer. This post will give you some ideas to help keep deer out of your garden this year. That way you get to enjoy the fruits of your labor instead of them.
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No Shame!
Last year was our first year out of the city. I knew we had deer and lots of them. Even so, I did not expect the audacity of the deer out here. I noticed that they were nibbling on my strawberry plants, so I moved them towards the middle of the garden out of reach. Coming home one evening I could see them eating my garden. I lay on the horn and they didn’t pay me any attention. I jumped out of the Jeep and started yelling and waving my arms, which got their attention even though it didn’t stop the munching. Eventually I had to move the strawberry pots up by the house and cover the raised bed with deer netting. Although as soon as any leaves poked their way through the net Bambi came up to bite them off. I declared war on the deer.
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Keep the Deer Out of Your Garden with Sprinkles & Sprays
The trick with sprays is to keep things interesting. Deer don’t like new things, so by rotating your method the deer will not get used to something making it less scary.
Human Hair
Ask your local salon to save the hair clippings for you. They may think you’re crazy, but that’s ok because the deer will too. Sprinkle it around the garden. This puts human smell out there and the deer don’t like that. The same idea would work with dog hair, if your groomer would save you their clippings.
Pepper
Deer don’t like the smell or taste of pepper. Sprinkle cayenne pepper on and around the plants. Some people say that garlic works as well. We stock up on cayenne pepper to deter the squirrels from potted plants as well.
Soap
Again with the strong odors to ward off the deer. You can grate a bar of Irish Spring and sprinkle it around the beds or dissolve it in hot water and use it as a spray. Either way works.
Ammonia
An odor this strong will keep just about anything away. Spray some ammonia around the garden. Do not spray directly on the plants though.
Mothballs
Mothballs are good for so many pests including deer. Toss some around and among the plants. The smell should keep the deer out of your garden.
Keep the Deer Out of Your Garden with Scare Tactics
Deer Scare
A deer scare is designed to make noise. The unusual noise will scare the deer off. Hence the name deer scare. You can find lots of tutorials on Youtube.
Lights
Motion activated lights will keep the deer away and maybe some other pests too. It is a deer in the headlights situation. If nothing else it will illuminate the problem. Ok enough bad jokes. Moving on.
Sprinklers
Sprinklers can also be placed on motion detectors. Nothing likes an unexpected, cold shower. This will work on a variety of mammals bothering the garden.
Windchimes
Since deer don’t like new and unfamiliar things, windchimes will keep them away. The noise alone should work, but something shiny is even better. The reflections of light will also cause them concern enough to leave.
Scarecrows
Scarecrows, plastic flamingos, and other yard ornaments can keep the deer out of your garden for a while. Rotating them will keep things fresh and terrifying.
Keep the Deer Out of Your Garden with Plants
Smelly Plants
Deer do not like pungent odors. Planting smelly plants around the delicious ones will confuse them and keep them away. Garlic, mint, chives, and lavender will all make a deer turn up his nose.
Prickly Plants
Since the deer want to eat the plants, anything prickly is an issue. Replace the thornless roses with some with large thorns. You can use them as a border around the yummy plants.
Hedges
Hedges can act like natural fences. Pick something that grows tall and full. It may take a few years for this trick to work. You’ll have to wait until the hedge is big enough to become a barrier.
Deer Buffett
Lure the deer away from your garden with their own little buffett. Plant the deer their own garden away from yours. If they can satisfy their hunger elsewhere they may not come looking for more.
Furry Plants
Plants like lamb’s ear are fuzzy. Deer do not like the fuzzy texture and will leave the plants alone. Plant them around the perimeter of the garden.
Keep the Deer Out of Your Garden with Barriers
Fishing Line
This trick is one of the best ways to keep deer out of your garden. Put up stakes around the garden to hold up the fishing line. Put two lines around the stakes. The first one about 6 inches off the ground and another about 3 feet high. The deer will bump into the fishing line and flee.
Deer Netting
You can use deer netting like you would the fishing line. I’ve also just tossed it over the garden and skipped the stakes. It is fairly cheap and works well.
Fencing
Eventually I’d love to have a deer fence, but that just isn’t in the budget yet. A deer fence needs to be 6 to 10 feet tall so that they can’t jump it.
Rocky Border
Have you ever seen the rocks around the edges of the animal enclosures at the zoo? Those are to keep the animals in. The same will work to keep deer out of your garden. They don’t like the uneven footing. Make sure you use a variety of rocks. Something like gravel will not do much of anything.
Electric Fence
Electric fence is one of the only guaranteed ways to keep deer out of your garden. Professional farmers use this to protect their crops. If your garden isn’t close to an outlet, try using a solar panel.
The site may contain links to affiliate websites, and we receive an affiliate commission for any purchases made by you on the affiliate website using such links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. As a Revive EO Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases.
