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I welcome deer to my home one night per year - just the flying kind, and only on my roof. The rest of the year is spent using myriad tricks and methods to convince the terrestrial variety to roam elsewhere. Deer can wreak havoc on your garden and wipe out an entire season of blooms in one morning. I will discuss my years long battle against them and will report which methods and products work best, and which are a waste of your time and money.
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Each year deer cause millions of dollars in damage to home gardens. Their population has exploded in the past century as we continued the transition in land use from farm to woodlands and suburban communities. We displaced their predators, limited or prohibited hunting and introduced many varieties of plants which have served as a veritable banquet. Generally speaking, deer eat about 2% to 4% of their body weight per day. For bucks, consumption is greatest in the spring and averages about 4 1/2 to 6 1/2 pounds of forage. In winter, the daily amount is roughly half of that. For does, peak consumption is in early fall, before breeding season. [1] Deer tend to travel in groups. I have had as many as 10 - 12 in my suburban garden at one time! The goal of the home gardener is to alter their habits and encourage them to roam elsewhere. For me it has been a constant struggle and I  have no 'permanent solution'. Like planning a vacation at Disney, deterring deer requires a battle plan, multiple options and flexibility. One has to recognize when one approach has failed and have another ready to implement. Last, there has to be an acceptance that there will be casualties. The only truly worry-free, long-term solution to deer is fencing. The fence must be at least eight feet high. This can be expensive to install around the entire perimeter of your property and many local codes prohibit fencing taller than six feet. Where eight foot fencing is permitted, a more inexpensive option is to use heavy-duty, yet lightweight polypropylene (plastic) fencing. Dave Jensen, owner of Deer-Resistant Landscape Nursery in Michigan (Watchdog), says 'the black color of the fencing makes it less obtrusive in the landscape and tends to blend into the background, especially on sunny days.' He adds that the deer 'have difficulty judging the height of the fence and are more likely to simply move along, rather than attempt a jump'. For suburban gardeners, this solution, even where permitted, may not be very appealing for complete perimeter coverage. This can be due to close proximity of neighbors and the need to install gates for the driveway. An alternative is to enclose selected areas inside your property to protect vegetable gardens or ornamentals that the deer are attracted to. Most homeowners should be able to do this themselves.
Another approach is to use various repellents. Most commercial repellents are sprays that come ready to use or as concentrates. Most are some combination of egg products, garlic, hot pepper and some agent that prevents washing off. They work by presenting a foul odor to the deer which will then, hopefully, move on. They must be reapplied regularly - sometimes even more  often than the directions recommend, I have found. This can range from every couple of weeks to couple of months. Many people forget to spray the new foliage that is always emerging. They will spray their plant according to their schedule and forget about it until it's due again. I am usually spraying something every week. Most recently, I have been using Liquid Fence® (website), and it has worked reasonably well. You should make sure any product is safe for use on edibles if you intend to do so. I have also had some success with Milorganite® (website), an organic fertilizer made from processed sludge from the city of Milwaukee. I use it in two different ways. I fertilize my lawn with it, which helps distribute it throughout my property. I also pour it into piles, about six or so inches high in spots  along the perimeter of my property, concentrating on those areas where I have seen deer entering. My experience with commercial repellents in general is that they must be rotated because their effectiveness wears off as the deer get used to them. Just keep in mind that if they have their sights set on something, like one of my favorite lilies this past summer, they may still eat it, even if it was recently sprayed, as my lily was! Other commercial repellents include predator (fox or coyote) urine, combination attractant / shock devices and water spray 'scare' systems. These are not effective because the deer simply get used to them. There are also commercial deterrent systems that are installed and serviced (renewed) by a contracted company. They tend to be quite expensive. There is no shortage of homemade recipes and concoctions reputed to repel deer. This includes making a liquid similar to the commercial products using eggs, pepper, etc. They tend to wash off much sooner and must be reapplied every time the plant gets wet. Another is to use human hair in small mesh bags or stockings. This is not very effective and is downright silly in my opinion. Others include stringing fishing line, hanging mirrors or cd's to spook them, and even using human urine! Don't waste your time (or compromise your dignity) with any of these. The only one that I have tried that showed some success was the use of strongly scented soaps. You cut them in pieces and put them in mesh bags or stockings. Deer tend to avoid strong scents, but these only cover a small area and who wants these hanging all over the place? I have used garlic oil clips in a similar way, but again, it requires many just to cover one decent sized shrub and they look ridiculous. There is one final 'homemade' deterrent that does not work very well but is worth mentioning. That is the one I like to call the 'deranged dash'. That is  where the gardener runs full speed, arms flailing, expletives erupting, eyes bulging, toward the 'invading' deer, who obliges by practically yawning with fright. Survivors stranded on an island are less animated when they spot a rescue crew than are gardeners doing the dash. The deer will usually wait until you are about four feet away before scurrying away, leaving you breathless (so you can't even continue the profanity barrage) and looking for rocks to throw at the 'coward'. Not that I have ever done this, of course. A third approach is the use of deer resistant plants. Deer, like people, have their favorite foods and the simple idea is to use plants that they don't care for and hope they look for something tastier. There are many desirable plants that deer will tend to avoid. According to Jensen, 'deer prefer a bland diet and will bypass aromatic plants and those containing irritants or toxic chemicals'. He leaves all his plants accessible to the many deer which roam his property. This affords him the opportunity to see firsthand if the plants are remaining resistant. Deer also shy away from course or hairy foliage, and some prickly plants like barberry. Among the plants in my garden that have never been touched by deer are Alchemilla, crape myrtle, Amsonia, Cephalanthus, Euphorbia, ferns, hardy geranium, hellebores, blue spruce, castor bean and many more. Even the use of resistant plants has its limitations though. According to Amy Albam, master gardener and Cornell Cooperative Extension agent, 'even when we use more and more supposedly resistant plants, we are introducing plants that the deer may ignore until they realize that the material is palatable'.
There is one last approach that you will not read about anywhere. It is one that I have employed for the past few years. I buy my garden-envious neighbors plants that are deer candy, such as hostas, hydrangeas, tulips and lilies. When they come to me upset that the deer have ravaged my 'thoughtful gifts', I cheer them up with replacements. I consider this technique the equivalent of the fastpass in Disney. In love, war and deer deterrence, a little guile goes a long way! So if deer are bringing you to tears and making you regret the day you started gardening, don't give up! Use a combination of the techniques described and you should be able to enjoy your Eden.
(Please 'mouse over' photos for captions, and look for upcoming articles on deer resistant plants!) Sources: [1] Extension.org - Deer Many thanks to Dave Jensen, of Deer-Resistant Landscape Nursery, and Amy Albam, Cornell Cooperative Extension agent, for their contribution.
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My background is in engineering, but these days I am a stay at home dad. I have always loved Nature, but had no idea when I bought my house that I would become the gardening fanatic that I have. Gardening both stimulates and relaxes me, appeals to all my senses and gives me the privilege to be part of the Nature I love.
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Subject: Deer Boycott!
Posted by DonnieBrook (from New England/Florida
(United States)) on January 23, 2008 at 4:22 PM:I have caught wind of a clever attempt on behalf of many deer colonies to boycott this article because of its extensive information and its effective approach. While I am a big fan of this writer - AND his good sense of humor injected into the mix of sound advice, I am also a fan of the bambiesque, and cannot imagine spending a summer without enjoying their visits to our meadow. Despite the comprehensive and well-written info provided by the author, I have found it most successful to initiate face to fawn discussions with the wildlife at issue and to negotiate - in the manner that many parents today negotiate with their toddlers - a reasonable boundary approach. As some research indicates that this negotiation approach seems to give less than admirable results with those toddlers [or presumably deer] who are not members of MENSA - then the "deranged dash" approach seems to me to be multi-purposed in providing neighborhood amusement and a good ice-breaker with any new neighbors - while giving the hungry deer a decent distraction as well. All in all - a most worthy article! ... Posted by victorgardener (from Lower Hudson Valley, NY) on January 23, 2008 at 4:28 PM: Thank you! Let me know how the negotiations go - I'll meet you at the impasse! Actually I took a gardening course at Disney one year and the lady spoke about how she had an 'understanding' with the animals in her garden and we could do the same thing at home. They would feel our vibes! Think she'd been with Goofy too much. ... Posted by DonnieBrook (from New England/Florida
(United States)) on January 23, 2008 at 4:36 PM: Watch it with the Goofy comments....!! LOL Really - all kidding aside - your article was thorough, well-written and enjoyable as always, Victor! Shall we just agree to disagree on the relative merits of the deer population? LOL ... Posted by victorgardener (from Lower Hudson Valley, NY) on January 23, 2008 at 4:53 PM: Thanks again. Just what are the merits??? ... Posted by DonnieBrook (from New England/Florida
(United States)) on January 23, 2008 at 5:11 PM: They're cute? And they're trying to raise toddler deer by negotiating boundaries??? (See, I guess that approach doesn't work very well. LOL) ... Posted by victorgardener (from Lower Hudson Valley, NY) on January 23, 2008 at 5:47 PM: Baby face Nelson was also cute. They 'negotiate boundaries' by eating through them! ... Posted by DonnieBrook (from New England/Florida
(United States)) on January 23, 2008 at 7:56 PM: You got me there!! LOL ...
Subject: Try Fido!
Posted by paj222 (from West Chester, PA) on January 23, 2008 at 12:12 PM:The only true success we have had occurs when our golden retriever is in the yard. She looks so much better doing the "mad dash" than we do! ... Posted by victorgardener (from Lower Hudson Valley, NY) on January 23, 2008 at 12:43 PM: Ha ha! Yes, my neighbor has a dog who runs loose but is brought inside overnight. That's when the deer come calling. Thanks. ...
Subject: How about water?
Posted by geekgirl512 (from Camas, WA) on January 23, 2008 at 2:03 AM:We love roses, and so do the deer in our neighborhood. They also have had quite a feast in past years pulling up my carrots and munching on the leaves of the green beans. We used to spray repellent, but as you said, it must be reapplied frequently. Last year, we tried something new: it's called a Scarecrow - a motion-detecting sprinkler. It is hooked up to a garden hose and can be set to varying levels of sensitivity but will spray a random shot of water for several seconds whenever something moves within range. It sprays in a sweeping motion so it's not just spraying in one place. It worked great - it even scared us a few times when we went out into the yard and forgot it was there. For the first time, our roses looked beautiful all summer long and it was no work to keep the deer away. The initial purchase was a bit spendy (about $75 I think) but compared to the cost of buying sprays over time, I think it will turn out to be a bargain in the long run.
We would turn it off whenever we were out in the yard, but always made sure to turn it back on again, especially at night. There were several times we heard it going off at night through the open window but we just smiled and went back to sleep, knowing our roses would still be safe in the morning. :-) ... Posted by victorgardener (from Lower Hudson Valley, NY) on January 23, 2008 at 8:48 AM: Hi geekgirl (love that screen name!). I did mention sprayers in the article and they will work for protecting individual areas are not practical for protecting entire gardens. But I am glad to hear that it's working for you! One other possible problem is water restrictions, which many areas of the country have. Thank you and continued good luck!
Victor ...
Subject: Deer Resistant Plants
Posted by DeborahLink (from New Canaan, CT) on January 22, 2008 at 9:45 PM:I have many deer which/who have pushed me into learning about plants they leave alone. Over the past five years I have planted many many varieties of Allium. The choices for them are increasingly wide and their shapes, sizes and timing of blooms makes for many continuing surprises in my Connecticut garden. ... Posted by victorgardener (from Lower Hudson Valley, NY) on January 22, 2008 at 9:51 PM: Thank you Deborah. I too have been adding Alliums. Nice that there are even fall blooming ones! I'll include them in my article that focuses on the plants.
Victor ...
Subject: the "deranged dash"
Posted by banzaibetty (from Kootenays
(Canada)) on January 21, 2008 at 2:15 PM:Tooo funny!
At least you still have a sense of humour regarding this very aggravating subject.
The deer here are constantly nibbling and munching (in the wee hours so I only see the evidence - droppings, tracks, and destroyed plants...)
Can't wait till the elk make their migratory stroll through here. Yikes. They can strip a garden down to the soil and can be aggressive as well. ... Posted by victorgardener (from Lower Hudson Valley, NY) on January 21, 2008 at 2:26 PM: Thank you. I feel for you with the elk too! I strolled around yesterday and found poop and nibbling evidence. Sprayed the whole garden afterward. ...
Subject: Great article!
Posted by lalushc (from Kitty Hawk, NC) on January 21, 2008 at 10:13 AM:I am finding that Milorganite is having some success. Also I am trying interplantings of very aromatic
herbs among the plants I really want to save - still assessing this method.
... Posted by victorgardener (from Lower Hudson Valley, NY) on January 21, 2008 at 11:48 AM: Thank you lalushc. I tried the interplanting or 'surrounding' method and it did not work. The deer simply bypass what they don't like to get to what they do. Good luck!
Victor ...
Subject: Great!
Posted by Jax4ever (from Boxford, MA) on January 17, 2008 at 10:28 PM:I am trying my hand at Hosta hybridizing. I also have a host of cute little Bambis that I share my property with. I accept that I will lose foliage from some plants; luckily, it doesn't kill hostas, just make them bigger next year! On those plants I simply can't lose, I use wire fencing as a "cap". Inexpensive galvanized yard fencing can easily be cut and bent into an unobtrusive cover for valuable specimens, and they can be pinned to the ground with landscape staples. On the rest, I rotate commercial sprays.
Maybe the best position to take is that deer are lovely, and the sight of them is worth losing some blossoms. (And take pictures of your nicest plants before they get eaten!!!)
Thank you for pointing out that there is no one single solution! ... Posted by victorgardener (from Lower Hudson Valley, NY) on January 17, 2008 at 10:30 PM: You're welcome - thank you! ...
Subject: No white picket fence for me!
Posted by Dea (from Frederick, MD) on January 17, 2008 at 4:56 PM:You are sure right about needing the 8 foot fence. They clear our 6 footer like it wasn't there !
Great article!
... Posted by victorgardener (from Lower Hudson Valley, NY) on January 17, 2008 at 5:09 PM: Thank you Dea! ...
Subject: Educational humor!
Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on January 17, 2008 at 4:33 AM:Victor, what a terrific article. I have learned and laughed, what a great way to become educated.
Thank you for this enjoyable and informative article. I don't have deer, but if they ever invade my property, I will know exactly what to do. ... Posted by judycooksey (from Pocahontas, TN) on January 17, 2008 at 7:08 AM: Due to the drought last summer, the deer invaded the garden area around our house eating EVERYTHING, last on the list was Iris. Two days ago very early morning hours I heard them running on the porch ... I think it's time to invite some local hunters over for early morning coffee on the porch.
Great article and I found your humor delightful.
Judy ... Posted by doccat5 (from Fredericksburg, VA) on January 17, 2008 at 7:41 AM: Wonderful article. I was grinning the whole time I was reading. I especially like the "mad' arm waving gardener approach! There is always the shotgun with a potato silencer......I think that works on a shotgun???? LOL
Thanks, it was great! ... Posted by bbrookrd (from nantucket, MA) on January 17, 2008 at 8:44 AM: Victor, I am so saddened that my daily naked romp through my garden is pointless, but I am happy to know that the big box of hosta that I sent you will get planted at a good home, your neighbor's. I enjoyed this morning reading very much. Patti ... Posted by victorgardener (from Lower Hudson Valley, NY) on January 17, 2008 at 8:48 AM: Thank you all! Sorry to hear that Judy and Patti. I know that sinking feeling all too well. ... Posted by pixie62560 (from South China, ME) on January 17, 2008 at 9:34 AM: Victor, I loved the running, waving arms and verbal barrage! How did it work for you??
You forgot one very simple remedy......GET A DOG!!! (or 2) ... Posted by pirl (from Southold, NY) on January 17, 2008 at 9:40 AM: Informative and fun article, Victor. I enjoyed the arm waving, crazed human method but Deer Off works well for us. I use Milorganite in just one area and they never stray from our neighbors to us. Only two visits from them in 2007, thankfully. Next year I'll cut the tulips before they can get to them!
Great photos, too. ... Posted by victorgardener (from Lower Hudson Valley, NY) on January 17, 2008 at 9:50 AM: Rather have a coyote! My neighbor has a dog but the deer still come around - just during the night and early AM. Thanks! ... Posted by bbrookrd (from nantucket, MA) on January 17, 2008 at 10:11 AM: Victor, my dogs go nuts over deer, if they happen to be wake. So dogs don't work unless they are night owls. Do night owls chase deers?
We had one border collie that became a friend of one deer. She actually ran under it one day when DH started screaming at her to go out and clear the yard of the hoofed rat. She ran like mad out into the yard and then straight under the deer all the while looking around for what she assumed was an evil bunny to chase. The deer paid no attention to her. Our dear Jesse then headed back with a look to my DH of "you must be seeing things" She would chase other deer like crazy, just not this one particular one ever. Patti ... Posted by rcn48 (from Lexington, VA) on January 17, 2008 at 12:11 PM: I agree, a "terrific article"! I'm still at a loss as to what my next strategy will be to combat our deer problem. We've always had minor problems but with the loss of our dog last winter, the deer returned this year with a vengeance :( The beautiful Hostas and Ferns I had planted the fall before with expectations of a lush display of foliage were destroyed when the deer enjoyed their feast of Hostas with the first signs of growth. Although I had success with Deer Off (when I remembered to reapply!), we're hopeful our new puppy will help this year. Now, if Victor could muster up an article about how to stop her from digging in the gardens, I'd have one more battle licked!
Looking forward to reading more of your informative and "fun" articles :)
... Posted by JoanJ (from Belfield, ND) on January 17, 2008 at 12:34 PM: Wonderful article. I loved every minute of it, both times I read it. Yep, I read it twice. :)
Judy, we've had deer come right up on our deck too. We couldn't figure out what was eating so much of the dry dog food until one evening we saw it with our own eyes. Deer! And the dog just sat back and watched them eat it, knowing full well we'd refill the dish again soon. ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on January 17, 2008 at 1:04 PM: Actually the naked arm waving gardener approach works on other things, too, including neighbors. The last time I used the method, the neighbors to the west packed up and moved on, as did the possom I was chasing.
I do not miss the neighbors or the possum.
I just had to come back and read your article again.
Thanks.
... Posted by carrielamont (from Milton, MA) on January 17, 2008 at 1:28 PM: Victor - I've been looking forward to this article ever since I saw the title! I don't THINK we have deer - too close to big highways - but then what ate all our tulips that one year? Thank you.
xx, Carrie ... Posted by Lily_love (from Vincent, AL) on January 17, 2008 at 1:41 PM: Bravo! Love what you've written on this topic.
Kim ... Posted by McGlory (from Southeast, NE) on January 17, 2008 at 2:44 PM: Beware Bambi! Thanks to Victor's article I am fully ....uh....armed. Thanks for the laughs! ... Posted by dragonfly53 (from South Boston, VA) on January 17, 2008 at 4:19 PM: Good article Victor! Last year was bad for us too because of the drought. The deer thought nothing of munching on my new planted viburnums and Elderberries. However, they never touched my vegetable garden and I had some good looking melons and corn in there. I read in an article that deer can jump high or they can jump wide but not both. So, we put 8 foot metal fencing stakes around the garden, (after putting them in the ground, they are about 6 feet tall), then attached another stake, this one 4 feet long to the tops of some of them.
I used 4 feet high black plastic mesh fencing strung on a wire and then attached to the stakes around the garden and also put a really high trellis in one of the raised beds near the center of the plot. I think that combination has fooled the deer for the past two years because never once have they even come near the garden! ... Posted by gabagoo (from Yonkers, NY) on January 17, 2008 at 4:32 PM: Great article, Victor!
Luckily, I don't have a deer problem - just raccoons, skunks & an occassional opossum.
There are deer in the area - there's a nature center about 2 miles up the road.
They can't get into my fenced yard though.
There's a 6 foot fence atop a 4 foot brick wall and no running room.
So unless they can fly a helicopter & lower themselves in the yard, I'm deer-free.
Nancy ... Posted by victorgardener (from Lower Hudson Valley, NY) on January 17, 2008 at 5:15 PM: Thanks to all for your kind words! I appreciate it. I used Deer-Off for a few years and it worked well. But it did leave white spots on the leaves. Sounds like a good design, dragon. I have seen angled designs, where the vertical dimension is still 8 feet high. I have seen double fences and of course, in rural areas, electric. Perseverance and changing tactics are the keys. ... Posted by ForVirg (from Brownwood, TX) on January 18, 2008 at 1:58 AM: Joan J. I laughed when I read your message as it's somewhat familiar. Our ranch dog barks at me, my husband, our ranch manager - in short EVERYONE and EVERYTHING it seems (including vultures and tornadoes). But one night we heard munching outside but NO barking, and discovered a skunk eating the dog's food! The suddenly mute dog? She was hiding around the corner. LOL.
I have a different kind of fencing solution for deer. But it only works for smallish gardens that are composed mostly of raised box beds. We live very rurally (on a ranch) so have tons of deer. I had my garden put together with raised beds with 4 feet in between each, then fenced the perimeter -- all 4 feet from the ends of the beds. And one end is up against a building. The lack of space between the planters makes the deer hesitant to jump in, as it looks to them like there's nowhere to land! It's worked like a charm for a year now. :-) I hope I didn't just curse myself. LOL.
Virginia
This message was edited Jan 18, 2008 12:00 AM ...
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