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