| Well, the word has gotten out. The deer know | | | | parents they got zapped. Unless you live in a |
| you have started another buffet of green | | | | rural area, you may also find it difficult to |
| delicacies. Word spreads fast in the forest | | | | find a supplier. This can be overcome by |
| and it won't be long before these uninvited | | | | shopping online or traveling to rural or |
| guests will arrive at your garden gate. Deer | | | | farming communities near you. Select a low |
| tend to feed on our gardens at night making | | | | powered fence designed for smaller livestock |
| it difficult to keep them out of the garden. | | | | - after all, you are not trying to keep |
| Some favorites of deer are: Apples, | | | | animals the size of horses or cattle out of |
| Arborvitae/white cedar, Arrow wood Viburnum, | | | | the garden. Low lying electric fences (and |
| Birch, Day lilies, Dogwood, Euonymus, Garden | | | | low powered) can be effective for Rabbits and |
| lilies, Hostas, Hydrangea, Impatiens, Linden | | | | other smaller animals. They should be kept |
| basswood, Yews , and Roses. An important | | | | very low to the ground using two lines, set |
| factor that will effect how often deer enter | | | | on an angle away from the garden - set the |
| your vegetable garden, is availability of | | | | first line about 3" above the ground and the |
| food in their native habitat. Unless you live | | | | second about 8". Keep the lines clear of |
| in a city, the odds are you will have deer in | | | | grass, shrubs or any other material that will |
| your garden at some point. If you live in the | | | | ground the charge and reduce the |
| country, your garden is almost like having an | | | | effectiveness of the fence. A new electric |
| open invitation for dinner - everyday. These | | | | fence for slugs is under development in |
| nuisance deer can be difficult to deter | | | | Canada and should be on the market by 2007. |
| without taking some serious and consistent | | | | We can not elaborate on this now, but testing |
| action to prevent them from enjoying a buffet | | | | is proving very successful and we will |
| dinner that you call your garden. So how do | | | | provide details when given the go ahead from |
| you keep deer out of the garden? There are | | | | the developer. Deer Repellent Plant Protec: A |
| several ways to keep deer out of your garden, | | | | new product from this all natural green Deer |
| some of these deer repellents you may not | | | | Repellent plant protector clips easily on |
| even be aware of. In addition, there are many | | | | most plants. Emits a non-offensive garlic |
| plants that deer will usually avoid. One of | | | | odor keeping deer and other unwanted pests |
| the hottest products to hit the market to | | | | away. Environmentally safe with no spraying |
| protect your plants from deer is the | | | | and no mess. Plant Protec lasts up to 8 |
| Scarecrow - a motion activated sprinkler that | | | | months. Egg Based Deer Repellent: A another |
| shoots a 3 second burst of water in the | | | | product from is the Deer Repellent egg based |
| direction that triggers it. There are many | | | | repellent, it has been tested and proven |
| home remedies that may be effective, but only | | | | effective against deer browsing. This unique |
| for a short time. Fencing is expensive, labor | | | | product repels by odor but, unlike some |
| intensive and needs to be at least six feet | | | | repellents, Deer Away will not be offensive |
| high - besides, who wants to hide their | | | | to you. Tested in independent studies by the |
| beautiful garden behind a fence - in some | | | | USDA and Penn State. Deer Away was originally |
| case a fence is not even an option. Planting | | | | developed for use in large reforestation |
| deer resistant plants may deter deer until | | | | projects. One application will last up to 2 |
| they get really hungry - kind of like kids | | | | months. This product is designed for pines, |
| and spinach. Dry weather will attracted deer | | | | firs, fruits, citrus and ornamentals. Other |
| to irrigated plants for the refreshing | | | | names this product is known as include "Deer |
| moisture. Overall, the final consensus | | | | Away" & "Deer-Off". Human Hair: Human |
| amongst most gardeners is effective deer | | | | hair wrapped in a old nylon and hung on |
| management requires a combination of | | | | branches or tucked between plants will |
| deterrents to be effective. This includes | | | | provide some protection against deer and |
| commercial repellents combined with home made | | | | various animals. The smell of a human |
| remedies as listed below. Fencing for most of | | | | indicates danger to most wild animals and |
| us, is not an option and very expensive. As | | | | should keep deer away from these areas. Tree |
| such, we won't cover fencing here. Instead we | | | | Guard(tm) : Tree Guard with Bitrex(tm) is |
| will focus on the known alternatives. Deer | | | | another deer deterrent. It is lightly sprayed |
| Repellents & Control: Use these known | | | | on seedlings, shrubs, ornamentals, hedges and |
| deer repellents and controls in combination | | | | flowers to produce a lingering nasty taste |
| for best results Dogs: A dog that will | | | | that animals do not like - DO NOT USE on |
| actively chase away deer is probably the | | | | anything that you will be eating. The bitter |
| number one, most effective deer deterrent | | | | tasting Bitrex is locked into the plant |
| there is. If your dog does not wonder, keep | | | | surface forming a "protective jacket" which |
| him out at night and you should have no | | | | resists dew, snow, rain and vaporization. One |
| further problem with deer. If fido is a | | | | quart can covers 250-400 seedlings, one |
| little on the lazy side, other alternatives | | | | gallon - approximately 1000 seedlings. Not a |
| as listed below may warrant attention. The | | | | concentrate - ready to go! Tree Guard does |
| Scarecrow: The Scarecrow is a motion | | | | not wash off, it adheres with a single |
| activated sprinkler that works both day and | | | | application and continues to protect through |
| night. It not only scares away deer, but is | | | | all kinds of weather. The Manufacturer states |
| effective for cats, dogs, rabbits, raccoons | | | | that Tree Guard is the most effective deer |
| and larger birds. It sprays a maximum 35 foot | | | | deterrent on the market today. We have not |
| stream of water for 3 seconds. One 9 volt | | | | used it, so we cannot back this one up. Bar |
| battery will provide approximately 3000 | | | | Soap: Said to work by a number of gardeners, |
| bursts of water. Works on water pressure | | | | Take a piece of ivory soap, drill a hole in |
| between 30 - 80 psi (use a pressure reducer | | | | it, tie it to the plant. The deer won't come |
| at higher psi), is fully adjustable and comes | | | | near your plant. You can also put a bar in an |
| with a 24 month warranty. Liquid Fence | | | | old stocking and hang in shrubs - try to find |
| Â(R): All natural, the long lasting | | | | a location, like under large leaves, that |
| Liquid Fence Â(R) Deer & Rabbit | | | | will protect the soap from rain and watering |
| Repellent will stop deer and rabbits from | | | | - the bar of soap will last much longer. |
| eating your flowers, shrubs, vegetable | | | | Sound Based Deterrents: Their are a number of |
| plants, trees and vines. And rest assured, it | | | | motion activated sound based deterrents |
| won't harm your plants or animals! The | | | | available. However, for most people these can |
| manufacturer offers a written 100% money back | | | | cause more problems with neighbors, than the |
| guarantee. Features as noted on the Liquid | | | | positive results in your garden. Imagine the |
| FenceÂ(R) website: * Environmentally safe | | | | neighbors delight, when a high pitched noise |
| and biodegradable * USDA field tested * | | | | goes off several times during the we hours of |
| Easy-to-use * Long lasting and rain resistant | | | | the night. If you live in a remote, rural |
| * Family & pet friendly * 100% Money Back | | | | area and feel you won't be woken up in the |
| Guarantee * Member tested and recommended by | | | | night by such products, check around online |
| the National Home Gardening Club! * We have | | | | for possible suppliers. Marigolds - Myth or |
| not used this product, but it has been | | | | Fact?: It has been suggested that marigolds |
| recommended by fellow gardeners - usually the | | | | planted in a garden will keep deer away. I |
| most reliable source. Electric Fence: The | | | | have tried this on several occasions with |
| electric fence is often overlooked by many | | | | little effect. This does not mean it will not |
| gardeners. It is very effective for cattle | | | | work. It is possible that I did not plant |
| and horses and offers some protection against | | | | enough, or that I used the wrong variety. If |
| deer - although if they jump over and never | | | | you want to try this, I would plant around |
| touch it, they will not be afraid of it. | | | | the plants deer like to eat. Marigolds are |
| Fortunately, deer tend to graze and nibble as | | | | attractive and are reported to keep away |
| they feed and the odds are in your favor that | | | | various insects so it will do any harm to |
| they will touch your fence and flee, | | | | plant them regardless. Now, if none of these |
| realizing this area is better left alone. | | | | solutions keeps the inquisitive deer out of |
| Electric fences are best used for the | | | | your garden, a regular fence may be your only |
| vegetable garden in back yards, were public | | | | choice. However, it is a pretty good bet |
| access is restricted. You do not want the | | | | you'll have success with one of these |
| neighbors kids running home and telling their | | | | options. Good Luck! |