Hello eel-ga
The My Deer Garden web site is from a garden design company that
specialises in solving problems gardeners have with deer.
http://mydeergarden.com/ Most of what comes below is from this site.
1. Use of Repellants and Deterrents
“Deer will almost always stay away from plants that offend two or
more of their senses. As such, if a plant not only tastes bad, but
smells bad too deer will stay away from it”
“Some of the most effective and natural deer deterrents are: Hot
Pepper Wax, Garlic Oil, Predator Urine, fragrant Soaps and Home Brews.
Hot pepper wax is possibly the most effective deterrent available
that works on the sense of taste. Deer hate spicy foods! Combined with
a deterrent that offends the sense of smell, hot pepper wax will
render your plants almost deer proof. Garlic oil, predator urine and
fragrant soaps are all highly effective companions to hot pepper wax.”
http://mydeergarden.com/Deterrents/index.htm (this page includes
links to more information about how to use these substances).
Some solutions for repellant offered by visitors to the web site,
which were found to work, are available at:
http://www.mydeergarden.com/FAQ/DeerSuggest/index.htm
According to the Cooperative Extension Service of Clemson University:
“If it is possible to have one or more watch-dogs outside, that is
considered a sure method to keep deer away. Some people report
success with: “Repellent sprays, bars of soap in stocking feet hung on
branches of tasty trees and shrubs, hot pepper sauce, egg whites,
human hair placed about, lion or tiger manure, and even rock music.
One that caught our eye recently came from Louisiana and reportedly
effective there, is rotten eggs. A mixture of 12 to 18 rotten eggs in
5 gallons of water sprayed over an acre emits enough odor to repel
deer, but reportedly not enough to offend the gardener. Whatever
works.... huh?” By: James Amick, County Extension Agent –
SpartanburgCounty http://virtual.clemson.edu/groups/FieldOps/Cgs/flowers.htm
2. Use of barriers
According to the Cooperative Extension Service of Clemson University,
deer fencing or plastic netting is effective in protecting plants from
deer, but can be a very expensive option.
By: James Amick, County Extension Agent – SpartanburgCounty
http://virtual.clemson.edu/groups/FieldOps/Cgs/flowers.htm
The use of deer fences and deer netting is explained here:
http://www.mydeergarden.com/Solutions/barriers.htm
3. Design Deer Resistance into your Landscaping / Use Deer Resistant
Plants http://mydeergarden.com/Custom_Design/index.htm
The basis of their approach is the use of carefully selected plants:
“The most effective means of managing a deer problem is to use plants
deer dislike. While it may seem like deer will eat just about
anything, this really isn’t true. Deer have strong likes and dislikes.
They also seem to know which plants are poisonous to them.” The site
does make the caveat that this strategy will be somewhat less
effective during very hard winters when the deer are hungry.
To find out which plants are useful, go to the Plant Encyclopedia:
http://mydeergarden.com/Plant_DB/index.htm
The site makes available four free garden designs using such plants.
Links to the designs are at:
http://mydeergarden.com/Free_Design/index.htm
An article from the New York Botanic Garden has further tips:
http://www.mydeergarden.com/Deer_Problems/NYBGDeer.htm
What to avoid: “We also unknowingly provided the whitetail with an
ever-widening menu of ornamental landscape plants, which in winter
provide better nutrition than the plants in their native woods — a
gardeners nightmare. Whitetail favorites include arborvitae, azaleas,
coneflowers, daylilies, hemlock, mountain laurel, oak-leaf hydrangea,
plantain-lily; tulips, yew, and roses.”
Tactics: “We have invented deer-proof electric fences, erected 8’
cyclone fences, and concocted deer repellents from processed sewer
sludge and urine from predators such as bobcat and coyote. All
repellents work to a point, as long as you can re-apply them
periodically, according to Brad Roeller, Manager of Display Gardens at
the Institute of Ecosystem Studies.”
What to plant: “plants to consider that are seldom damaged by deer
include: barrenwort (Epimedium), daffodils, goldenrod, hellebores ,
Jacob’s ladder, ornamental grasses (including Panicum, Miscanthus,
Calamagrostis, Festuca, Pennisetum), peonies, shrubby cinquefoils,
ferns and many herbs (basil, thyme, tarragon, mint).”
The My Deer Garden site has an online forum where you can discuss this
topic with others: http://mydeergarden.com/Discussion/index.htm
Search strategy: deer, flower beds |
