Deer Repellent Strategies

Lets be honest. Bambi was cute...

...well maybe not so cute if you wake up one morning and find your garden or newly-planted flower bed leveled by Bambi and friends. I believe people and animals all share the planet and deer have every right to go about their business, but just not in my garden. Theres plenty of food out there so my objective is simple...keep them away from my yard without harming them.

Here are the facts...

They are here to stay.
It is difficult to move deer out of areas where they are not wanted.

"Deer-proof" plants...no such thing.
A hungry deer will find almost any plant palatable. Some more than others, yes...but all are on the menu.

There's only one sure-fire control method.
Adequate fencing (minimum 8 foot high and electrified) will keep deer out of an area you want to protect.

Alternatives to fencing.
"Scare" repellents and both "contact" and "area" repellents (homemade and commercial) can be effective..

Some plants and trees are more susceptible to deer damage than others. But are any plants really "deer-proof"? Probably not. If deer are hungry enough, they'll eat almost any plant.

If you are starting a new garden or bed in your landscape, choosing plants that are less appealing to deer is a good first step in minimizing future damage. The chart below rates a few plants and should give you a good start.

Check with your local nursery for information about deer-resistant varieties in your area.

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As already mentioned, no plant is "deer-proof" so even if you've planted deer-resistant varieties, you need to protect them.

Experts agree that a sturdy deer fence 8 foot high, constructed with thick-gauge metal mesh, and electrified, is 99% effective in keeping even a hungry, motivated deer away from your garden or landscape. The barbed wire in the photo would probably make it 100%/....and it would go a long way in making your house look like a prison !.

Some people believe a 4 or 6 foot fence can be effective in turning away deer, especially if other sources of food are nearby. (If you agree too, dont watch the video below, it will ruin your day...) The reasoning... most deer will usually take the path of least resistance (just like most humans) so instead of trying to jump over a 6 foot fence, they are more likely to try the next yard instead. Dont bet on it !

An important note: a rigid fence with sturdy metal mesh is most effective. Flexible deer "netting" is less effective at keeping deer out of an area. It has, however, been proven to protect small tree trunks from rub damage when you use the netting as a wrap instead of a perimeter fence. Hungry deer will usually test a perimeter fence made of netting if there is food on the other side. They can easily knock it down or push through it if they are hungry enough !

The bottom line on fencing... Depending on the size of the area to be protected, any fence might not be practical or affordable. Since most suburban homeowners with large properties are not likely to put a fence around their entire property, many consider the repellents instead.

Strobe lights, radios that switch on and off during the night, and other scare tactics that are motion-activated can be effective at frightening deer away. Before you set up a full-blown light and sound show, you might want to consider the neighbors !.

Another very effective (and easier) method is a motion-activated sprinkler. You hook it up to your hose and it does the work for you. When a deer (or other animal) approaches, it starts pulsing a spray of water for about 3-5 seconds that frightens the animal away with its sudden activation. It also doubles up on its effectiveness because deer, as a general rule, don't like to be wet. The device in the photo has gotten rave reviews on Amazon (over 400 people with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 !) It covers quite a large area (up to 1000 sq. ft.) and you wont have to worry about bothering your neighbors. For more information or to purchase, click below.

Repellents generally fall into two categories:

Contact Repellents - Typically applied directly to plants and when deer begin to feed, they dont like the taste and they move on.

Area Repellents - Used in common areas to repel deer before they get to the plants. Some examples include ammonia, rotten meat scraps and even bags of human hair or soap suspended on string in the vicinity of area you want to protect.

Other factors to consider :
- Most area repellents work by generating a foul odor that repels deer, but the odor will also be offensive to people. If you can deal with the smell, these remedies might work well for you.

- The effectiveness of many homemade repellents is quickly lost over time, especially after heavy rain or watering. Reapplication may be necessary on a regular basis (sometimes once a week) for the control to remain effective.

I prepared the chart below with a review of some common homemade remedies. It is important to note that the effectiveness of a remedy may vary and will depend on the specific circumstances in your area.

Here is a homemade deer repellent recipe that was originally published in Backyard Magazine and recommended on the forum at gardenweb.com

Beat together 1 egg and 1/2 cup of milk. Add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil and 1 tablespoon of dish soap. Strain the mixture and add the liquid to 1 gallon of water and shake or still well. Let stand 2 days before using.

Spray or sprinkle plants every two weeks or after a heavy rain. Store in a covered container.

WARNING : This mixture will smell and DO NOT APPLY TO EDIBLES.

Some people have strongly suggested including 1 large clove of garlic and 3 teaspoons of Cayenne pepper powder into the initial mix and using a blender to grind the ingredients.

Commercial deer repellents can be expensive but are effective. If your answer to the following questions is "Yes", they may be a cost-effective method to protect your garden or landscape.

1. Do you have low to moderate deer numbers in your area ?
An occasional group roaming through is OK but if you have a herd every day, its unlikely anything will prevent significant damage.

2. Have you or your neighbors only experienced light to moderate deer damage in the past ?
If all vegetation under 8 foot has been deforested, you're in deep trouble if you want to protect a freshly-planted flower bed !

3. Is the area you are trying to protect relatively small ?
Generally, a half-acre (22,000 sq.ft.) or less can be cost-effectively controlled with commercial repellents.

4. Can the area be treated with no more than 3-4 applications in a growing season ?
The staying power of commercial repellents vary greatly. Make sure re-application isnt required every week.

Other factors to consider :
- Some commercial repellents, even though they may be labeled "organic" or "natural", may still contain toxic chemicals. Unless specifically-labeled "safe for children and pets", use only as directed.

- Always follow the manufacturers instructions and never use more than instructed. Using a "little extra", may cause physical harm to the animal.

Commercial deer repellents come in two basic forms...spray and pellet.

Spray repellents
There are quite a few varieties but one product consistantly came up in my research as a leader, both by experts and by people who have purchased the product. Liquid Fence comes in both a ready-to-use and concentrated version. Both are applied as a spray and will usually last up to a month before reapplication is needed...and the Liquid Fence company recently announced that their products are now safe for vegetable gardens starting with all product shipped in March 2010. Thats great news !...The down side...Liquid Fence is an "area" repellent so it works by odor. it can be strong but the product works.

Pellet repellents
As with sprays, there are a number pelletized deer repellents but one product stood out in my research and gets consistantly high ratings. Deer Scram from Enviro Protection is specially- formulated to keep deer and rabbits away from vegetables and plants. It is available in 3, 6 and 25 lb. containers. Granules are shaken in and around garden and flower beds and is safe to use around pets and children. The pellets are effective up to 45 days before reapplication is needed. ...The best part...no foul smell.

1. If feasible, use plant varieties that are less appealing to deer.

2. Slow them down with a fence. An 8 foot fence may not be practical but a smaller one constructed with relatively-inexpensive deer netting, is better than nothing.
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3. You have mechanical, homemade and commercial spray and pellet deterrents at your disposal. Deer are smart. If you only use one of these over and over, its quite likely they'll get used to it and begin to overlook it and feed on your plants anyway. A combination of at least two deterrents, alternated week to week, will provide better protection than one. A combination of three or four will provide maximum protection.

4. Start early. Getting an early start in the growing season will be more effective than trying to stop deer after they've started feeding in your yard.

If you are a home gardener, chances are you have had problems with squirrels eating your flowers and vegetables.

If you have, visit the author's free guide
Effective Ways To Get Rid Of Squirrels to learn how you can protect your yard and garden from these furry, HUNGRY little critters...
safely and humanely.

Bunnies in your yard are "cute", but wild rabbits can cause considerable damage to unprotected flowers, vegetables, trees and shrubs on your property.

Effective rabbit control can be easy and cost-effective with the humane methods you can learn from the author's free reference guide, Effective Rabbit Deterrent Strategies.