“You’ve put in a garden, and you are feeling rather proud of yourself. After the spading and hoeing and tilling, the seeds have sprouted, and the starts have flourished. Before you know it, you will be enjoying fresh from the vine tomatoes, squash, and beans, not to mention lettuce and cabbage and Brussels sprouts. As far as you’re concerned, your garden is such a show piece it’s worthy of being featured in a magazine spread.
Then, one day, you go out and make the horrifying discovery that your beloved garden has been turned into an all you can eat salad bar by ravenous deer and what once was such a source of pride is now nibbled to nothing. All the work you did and all the expense you incurred has been for naught. You have never been more discouraged. How could this have happened? Why did this have to happen? Life is not fair! While it is discouraging to see your garden snuffed out so unceremoniously, there are things you can do to ensure success with a future garden. You can win this war the deer have waged and keep them from sinking their teeth into your produce. It is possible to get to see (and eat) the fruits of your labors. Let’s start with fencing. Your garden area needs a sturdy fence. Deer netting, experience has shown, is something of a joke as the deer will just burst right though it. To have the garden you have dreamed of you will need to go no less than 6 feet high and optimally up to 8 feet high to keep the deer away. Metal fencing is costly, but you can sometimes find deals at home improvement stores. This will require a bit of research on your part. But, to have a garden unmolested will be worth the initial expense. Another option, if you don’t mind inflicting pain, is an electric fence. It is not as spendy as a metal fence and is less conspicuous from a visual standpoint and for obvious reasons will keep the deer away. Another tactic is to erect a fence around individual shrubs and trees so they can be allowed to grow large enough to withstand the deer once the fence is taken down. Repellents are another bit of arsenal that works well in this war. There are a number on the market. All of them, naturally, stake a claim on being the best. However, deer can become accustomed to the same repellent used over and over so it is a good idea to rotate repellents and employ a variety of approaches as you protect your garden. Coyote Urine - This is known to be among the most powerful of “red alert” repellents as deer instinctively heed the warning that predator urine provides. Rather than a yellow liquid however, this is a dry, granular product that is applied as a barrier around a garden. A teaspoon every 8 feet or so should suffice, with the first week requiring three applications to make the odor strong enough to get the deer’s attention. After this has taken place, a monthly re-application is all that will be necessary. Liquid fence – This is a produce that contains Putrescent Egg solids and garlic and also stimulates the predator/fear response in deer. This should be applied monthly to obtain optimum results but is not to be used on edible plants prior to harvest. This product does, unfortunately, possess a strong odor but it does become unnoticeable to humans once it dries. Liquid fence is cost effective and when applied properly, will be very effective in deterring both deer and rabbits. Be sure to use gloves during application of this and similar repellents and do not spray during a period of wind. For those who would rather not dabble in chemicals, there are other ways to enter into combat with deer that are effective to varying degrees such as: Scare tactics – Contech “Scare Crow” Outdoor Animal Deterrent - This is a motion activated sprinkler that is attached to your hose and frightens the beejeebers out of unsuspecting, marauding deer or any other creature that dares to wage an invasion of your garden. It works for up to 4 months on a single battery and is a great tool for the vegetable garden when you would rather not go to the trouble of erecting a fence. Deer-O-Scaping – This involves planting deer resistant plants. A copy of the Deer Resistant Plant List can be obtained from Home Grown Gardens in Corvallis. Should you stop by, feel free to ask a nursery associate to assist you in making some appropriate choices for your yard. Home Remedies – There are many of these. People have been known to hang bars of deodorant soap, dryer sheets, and strings of bells in an effort to keep the deer away while others have used a homemade egg wash of 1 fresh egg mixed in 1 quart of water that is shaken well and then sprayed on. The effectiveness of these things varies with some people swearing by their strategy while others are left swearing at it or, rather, the deer. All in all, what will work best for you will require your judgement as you consider your time availability and your monetary resources. But with the right amount of tenacity, not to mention plain old luck, a beautiful, productive garden can be yours and who knows? Perhaps that magazine spread might actually happen! Good luck!
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