Keeping Deer Out of the Garden
By Julie Martens
The sight of a deer visiting your vegetable garden can ignite dread in even the most seasoned gardener. After all, a mature deer consumes from 6 to 10 pounds of food daily. What deer eat varies by region, season, and species, as well as by local habitat. In spring and summer, deer tend to feed more heavily, because pregnant and nursing does and antler-growing bucks must fuel their seasonal life stages. Of course, these are also the two seasons in which most folks grow their gardens — and therein lies the problem.
In the vegetable garden, deer tend to enjoy most of the crops you do, with the exception of rhubarb, asparagus, and garlic. Some gardeners report that deer don’t favor onions or tomatoes, but other gardeners insist they do. It really depends on availability of other food. When food is scarce, deer eat just about anything, including prickly-stemmed okra and hot peppers. Vegetables that deer seem to prefer include beans, lettuce, cabbage, and cole crops such as broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts.
If the leaves of your affected plants look like parts have been ripped away, a deer may be the culprit.
Physical barriers.
Physical barriers are perhaps the most effective method you can use to keep deer at bay. These includes fences and covers, such as plastic netting, chicken wire, or floating row covers that you place over plants so deer can’t reach them. Covers work well with shorter crops, like lettuce, squash, or bush beans. Anchor lightweight covers in place so high winds don’t displace them.
Doubling up on fences (notice the fence along the outer perimeter of these two fenced beds) allows you to use shorter fences to keep out deer.
For fencing, a pretty picket won’t suffice. Deer are jumpers, and motivated or frightened deer can leap as high as 8 to 12 feet, depending on the species. (Check with your local extension office to learn which deer are in your area and how high they can jump.) Fences shorter than 8 feet may deter deer, but if they can see your tasty garden through the fence, that height won’t usually stop them. The fence in the illustration at the top of the page is an excellent example of tall, effective fence that still allows the beauty of your garden to show through. If you prefer not to build higher, though, consider a solid, stockade-style fence to block their view.
Lightweight polypropylene fences are easy to erect, and the plastic becomes invisible in a landscape. You can also erect a double fence, spacing the inner fence 3 to 5 feet from the outer one. Deer cannot leap a tall and wide fence area at the same time. When using a double fence, you can usually reduce fence height to 5 to 6 feet. Pounding stakes into the landing zone (3 to 5 feet from the fence) should also deter deer from taking the leap, as they usually won’t jump unless they can see a clear landing area.
Electric fencing can be effective as well, provided the charge is strong enough, the wires don’t start too high off the ground (allowing the deer to crawl under) and the electricity is left on at all times. You’ll want to hire an experienced professional to install it. Consider using a money-saving solar charger to supply the power.
Scare tactics.
Many options exist to frighten deer, but realize that these critters are adaptable. They’ll learn quickly whether a repetitive noise poses a true threat. If it doesn’t, they’ll soon begin to ignore it and resume munching your veggies. Motion-triggered devices that squirt water, turn on a radio, or emit an irritating high frequency sound may work a bit better.
Man’s best friend can be your vegetable garden’s best pal as well, as deer tend to stay away from dogs.
A barking dog is a good deer deterrent, but only if it has free range in the yard (or a long tether) and doesn’t bark incessantly. Deer quickly figure out if a dog poses a true threat, and will ignore non-stop barkers and pooches that are corralled in a run that’s separate from the garden.
Predator urine gives deer a fright by making them think a predator visits your garden. Note that liquid urine requires frequent application — as much as every week — and can be expensive for treating a large garden. Hanging liquid dispensers may be a preferable option, as they require only monthly refills. Granular forms can work effectively for treating large areas.
Repellents.
Most repellents—homemade or manufactured—feature things like hot pepper, garlic, sulphur, and rotten eggs. Research at the USDA/National Wildlife Research Center in Olympia, Washington, has shown that:
Without some quick action, this garden will soon become a buffet for this hungry fawn.
In general, most repellents offer protection in some cases, but not in others. Most gardeners get the best results through consistent applications and by rotating repellents.
Use caution when applying repellents to vegetables and herbs that you’ll eat. Make sure you follow label instructions carefully—you don’t want to make your harvest inedible. You may want to try using repellents to treat young crops, before they’ve begun bearing a harvest, as those treatments can train deer not to return for future feasting.
Crop selection.
While you may not want to fill your garden with rhubarb, asparagus, and garlic, you can use these plants to disguise desirable crops. Some gardeners report success by placing plants that deer don’t like (others include rosemary, oregano, and as a border around those plants they prefer to munch. As with so many other deterrents, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t — but it doesn’t hurt to try!
Illustration by Steve Asbell of therainforestgarden.com.
By Julie Martens
The sight of a deer visiting your vegetable garden can ignite dread in even the most seasoned gardener. After all, a mature deer consumes from 6 to 10 pounds of food daily. What deer eat varies by region, season, and species, as well as by local habitat. In spring and summer, deer tend to feed more heavily, because pregnant and nursing does and antler-growing bucks must fuel their seasonal life stages. Of course, these are also the two seasons in which most folks grow their gardens — and therein lies the problem.
In the vegetable garden, deer tend to enjoy most of the crops you do, with the exception of rhubarb, asparagus, and garlic. Some gardeners report that deer don’t favor onions or tomatoes, but other gardeners insist they do. It really depends on availability of other food. When food is scarce, deer eat just about anything, including prickly-stemmed okra and hot peppers. Vegetables that deer seem to prefer include beans, lettuce, cabbage, and cole crops such as broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts.
If the leaves of your affected plants look like parts have been ripped away, a deer may be the culprit.
Signs of Deer Activity
Deer prefer to feed in early morning, at dusk, and overnight, so unless you’re outside at those times, you may never see a deer in your garden. Look for these clues to know if they’ve been there.- Hoof prints. Deer prints resemble upside-down hearts. In soft earth, you may not see the actual print; instead you’ll note deep, almost cylindrical holes poked into soil.
- Droppings. Look for small piles of round, pebble-like droppings.
- Trampled plantings. When deer walk through the garden, they don’t always stick to the footpaths.
- Torn leaves. Deer lack upper front teeth (incisors), so when they bite a plant, they jerk their heads and pull, creating a ragged, torn edge on leaves and stems. Rabbits and gophers, on the other hand, have both upper and lower incisors, so their feeding creates neatly clipped edges. When they chew on your plants, it looks like someone has gone through the garden with clippers.
Protecting Your Garden Against Deer
To prevent deer from feasting in your garden, you have four choices.Physical barriers.
Physical barriers are perhaps the most effective method you can use to keep deer at bay. These includes fences and covers, such as plastic netting, chicken wire, or floating row covers that you place over plants so deer can’t reach them. Covers work well with shorter crops, like lettuce, squash, or bush beans. Anchor lightweight covers in place so high winds don’t displace them.
Doubling up on fences (notice the fence along the outer perimeter of these two fenced beds) allows you to use shorter fences to keep out deer.
For fencing, a pretty picket won’t suffice. Deer are jumpers, and motivated or frightened deer can leap as high as 8 to 12 feet, depending on the species. (Check with your local extension office to learn which deer are in your area and how high they can jump.) Fences shorter than 8 feet may deter deer, but if they can see your tasty garden through the fence, that height won’t usually stop them. The fence in the illustration at the top of the page is an excellent example of tall, effective fence that still allows the beauty of your garden to show through. If you prefer not to build higher, though, consider a solid, stockade-style fence to block their view.
Lightweight polypropylene fences are easy to erect, and the plastic becomes invisible in a landscape. You can also erect a double fence, spacing the inner fence 3 to 5 feet from the outer one. Deer cannot leap a tall and wide fence area at the same time. When using a double fence, you can usually reduce fence height to 5 to 6 feet. Pounding stakes into the landing zone (3 to 5 feet from the fence) should also deter deer from taking the leap, as they usually won’t jump unless they can see a clear landing area.
Electric fencing can be effective as well, provided the charge is strong enough, the wires don’t start too high off the ground (allowing the deer to crawl under) and the electricity is left on at all times. You’ll want to hire an experienced professional to install it. Consider using a money-saving solar charger to supply the power.
Scare tactics.
Many options exist to frighten deer, but realize that these critters are adaptable. They’ll learn quickly whether a repetitive noise poses a true threat. If it doesn’t, they’ll soon begin to ignore it and resume munching your veggies. Motion-triggered devices that squirt water, turn on a radio, or emit an irritating high frequency sound may work a bit better.
Man’s best friend can be your vegetable garden’s best pal as well, as deer tend to stay away from dogs.
A barking dog is a good deer deterrent, but only if it has free range in the yard (or a long tether) and doesn’t bark incessantly. Deer quickly figure out if a dog poses a true threat, and will ignore non-stop barkers and pooches that are corralled in a run that’s separate from the garden.
Predator urine gives deer a fright by making them think a predator visits your garden. Note that liquid urine requires frequent application — as much as every week — and can be expensive for treating a large garden. Hanging liquid dispensers may be a preferable option, as they require only monthly refills. Granular forms can work effectively for treating large areas.
Repellents.
Most repellents—homemade or manufactured—feature things like hot pepper, garlic, sulphur, and rotten eggs. Research at the USDA/National Wildlife Research Center in Olympia, Washington, has shown that:
- Repellents that emit sulfur odors, like that found in egg products or bloodmeal, provide the best control;
- Repellents applied to leaf surfaces are more effective than those (such as capsules or reservoirs) that release an odor intended to create a perimeter;
- Repellents that cause plants to taste bitter are the least effective.
Without some quick action, this garden will soon become a buffet for this hungry fawn.
In general, most repellents offer protection in some cases, but not in others. Most gardeners get the best results through consistent applications and by rotating repellents.
Use caution when applying repellents to vegetables and herbs that you’ll eat. Make sure you follow label instructions carefully—you don’t want to make your harvest inedible. You may want to try using repellents to treat young crops, before they’ve begun bearing a harvest, as those treatments can train deer not to return for future feasting.
Crop selection.
While you may not want to fill your garden with rhubarb, asparagus, and garlic, you can use these plants to disguise desirable crops. Some gardeners report success by placing plants that deer don’t like (others include rosemary, oregano, and as a border around those plants they prefer to munch. As with so many other deterrents, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t — but it doesn’t hurt to try!
Illustration by Steve Asbell of therainforestgarden.com.
Today at 8:08 am by Rocky
» MM&C 4/25/24 National Bank of Iraq goes live with Temenos core banking and payments
Today at 8:06 am by Rocky
» utube MM&C 4/26/24 Iraqi Dinar - US Treasury Exchange Rates- Focus - Banking Partnerships - Rate C
Today at 8:06 am by Rocky
» A banking official indicates a "danger" to Iraq by depriving more than half of its banks of dollars
Today at 7:55 am by Rocky
» With the participation of the Association of Private Banks, investment opportunities are on the tabl
Today at 7:45 am by Rocky
» Within a month... an Iranian border crossing recorded a noticeable increase in exports of goods to I
Today at 7:44 am by Rocky
» The Association of Private Banks appreciates the efforts of the government and the Central Bank to c
Today at 7:43 am by Rocky
» Al-Maliki's coalition presents a third candidate for the position of governor of Diyala
Today at 6:57 am by Rocky
» Arab gathering: The Kirkuk problem is getting complicated and the Sudanese must intervene
Today at 6:56 am by Rocky
» Next week.. a Kurdish delegation will visit Baghdad to meet with the Minister of Finance
Today at 6:54 am by Rocky
» Under the pretext of salaries... Al-Party refrains from handing over port revenues to Baghdad
Today at 6:53 am by Rocky
» Association of Banks: For the first time, we are witnessing a clear targeting of depriving half of t
Today at 6:51 am by Rocky
» Parliament does not know the reason for the delay in sending the 2024 budget schedules: Voting takes
Today at 6:49 am by Rocky
» Applicants for the 2024 Hajj are demanding that the Central Bank secure the dollar for them through
Today at 5:09 am by Rocky
» Governmental and private banks will showcase their services tomorrow during Financial Inclusion Week
Today at 5:08 am by Rocky
» Iraq's oil exports rise despite OPEC+ cuts
Today at 5:06 am by Rocky
» A study explodes a "surprise"... Iraq is among the countries that export oil to "Israel": How is the
Today at 5:04 am by Rocky
» Al-Araji emphasizes working to strengthen national identity
Today at 5:02 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani visits Saudi Arabia to participate in the World Economic Forum in Riyadh
Today at 5:01 am by Rocky
» Iraq is talking about producing one million additional liters of gasoline
Today at 4:59 am by Rocky
» The Council of Ministers approves the implementation of the Baghdad Metro project
Today at 4:56 am by Rocky
» Minister of Commerce: We formed a joint economic committee with Türkiye
Today at 4:55 am by Rocky
» Resources: Government measures have contributed to improving the water situation in Iraq
Today at 4:53 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Finance: Baghdad will continue to send salaries to the region’s employees until settle
Today at 4:51 am by Rocky
» A parliamentarian describes the corruption of Iraqi ports as “ghouls” and reveals the involvement of
Today at 4:49 am by Rocky
» Obelisk Hour: Basra is the subject of political conflict and ambiguity over the fate of the funds al
Today at 4:48 am by Rocky
» Turkmen leader: An agreement on the local government of Kirkuk is near
Today at 4:45 am by Rocky
» Anbar calls for the operation of its factories despite financial obstacles
Today at 4:44 am by Rocky
» Turki: The crisis of the Presidency of Parliament prompted the Sunnis to amend the Council’s interna
Today at 4:43 am by Rocky
» The Agriculture Committee confirms the existence of Iraqi-Turkish-Iranian discussions on water
Today at 4:42 am by Rocky
» Resources diagnose the challenges facing the water file in Iraq
Today at 4:38 am by Rocky
» Parliament pledges to the Interior Ministry: We will transfer money to buy weapons from citizens
Today at 4:33 am by Rocky
» Al-Issawi is the closest.. Parliament sets the date for deciding the choice of the new president
Today at 4:31 am by Rocky
» Deputy: Iraq's investments have risen and need a comprehensive review of previous years
Today at 4:30 am by Rocky
» Iraqis consume 7 billion eggs annually and import about $900 million
Today at 4:28 am by Rocky
» The Iranian role complicates attempts at open cooperation between Iraq and Turkey. Turkey is trying
Today at 4:26 am by Rocky
» Move in Iran to obtain $242 billion from Iraq in compensation for the eight-year war
Today at 4:25 am by Rocky
» 12 decisions from the Council of Ministers regarding the Baghdad Metro and Najaf-Karbala train proje
Today at 4:23 am by Rocky
» Sudanese Advisor: The path to development has begun... the Baka and the militias “we silence them wi
Today at 4:21 am by Rocky
» Not from Kurdistan.. How did Iraq become a source of oil for “Israeli tanks”?
Today at 4:19 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Agriculture criticizes the Sudanese and Erdogan agreement: Türkiye will control water
Today at 4:16 am by Rocky
» The Iraqi government issues new decisions
Yesterday at 2:35 pm by Rocky
» The story of “reduced oil” to Jordan, from “compulsion” to mutual benefit.. Is there a loss?
Yesterday at 2:33 pm by Rocky
» The Council of Ministers takes 12 decisions for the Baghdad Metro and the Najaf-Karbala train
Yesterday at 2:32 pm by Rocky
» utube MM&C 4/23/24 Iraqi Dinar - IQD Update - Development Road Project - Saviour of Global Banking
Yesterday at 10:18 am by Rocky
» Kidney from pig transplanted into deathly ill New Jersey woman — and begins working almost immediat
Yesterday at 10:15 am by Bama Diva
» The most difficult option.. Warnings of the danger of floating the Iraqi dinar without achieving an
Yesterday at 9:48 am by Rocky
» Trade from the “Economic Committee” with Türkiye: It will overcome all obstacles facing the traders
Yesterday at 9:46 am by Rocky
» Washington's hope for stable relations with Baghdad clashes with Iraqi parties' rejection of the Ame
Yesterday at 9:41 am by Rocky
» Karim Badr: Development is America’s will to kill silk
Yesterday at 9:36 am by Rocky
» Oil: Opening of a new port for liquid gas for vehicles in Baghdad
Yesterday at 9:33 am by Rocky
» A media advisor warns of corruption in a draft law on the Parliament’s agenda
Yesterday at 9:21 am by Rocky
» Economist: There is serious work to lift US sanctions on Iraqi banks
Yesterday at 9:16 am by Rocky
» Will the agreements signed with the US Treasury reflect positively on the exchange rates?
Yesterday at 7:52 am by Rocky
» Iraq continues its quest to join the World Trade Organization
Yesterday at 7:51 am by Rocky
» Iraq completes the completion of the files for the initial offer of goods and services to join the W
Yesterday at 7:50 am by Rocky
» Economist: Travelers' dollars are leaking into the parallel market...and this is what the Central Ba
Yesterday at 7:32 am by Rocky
» President of the Federal Court: It is not permissible to force anyone to join any party, and the pol
Yesterday at 7:30 am by Rocky
» The Council of Ministers holds its session headed by Al-Sudani
Yesterday at 7:27 am by Rocky
» America weakens Baghdad...and increases Kurdistan's military capabilities
Yesterday at 7:26 am by Rocky
» The Iraqi government plans to build 10,000 schools throughout the country
Yesterday at 7:23 am by Rocky
» American threats close the Iraqi Stock Exchange at a loss
Yesterday at 7:21 am by Rocky
» Increase in external transfers at the Central Bank
Yesterday at 7:20 am by Rocky
» Al-Maliki calls on Britain to cancel restrictions on the entry of its companies into Iraq
Yesterday at 7:18 am by Rocky
» Planning and the European Union are discussing signing a number of agreements in the development, en
Yesterday at 7:16 am by Rocky
» Parliament talks about the mechanism for recovering smuggled funds and hints at the next stage
Yesterday at 7:13 am by Rocky
» Interior Ministry: The number of completed national cards reached 37 million cards
Yesterday at 7:06 am by Rocky
» Amnesty International: Violations of freedom and human rights continue in Iraq and the Kurdistan Reg
Yesterday at 7:04 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Oil: The government is proceeding with the decision to raise the price of improved gas
Yesterday at 7:03 am by Rocky
» A parliamentary committee in Basra to investigate violations of the port company and the local gover
Yesterday at 7:00 am by Rocky
» Revealing the 10 most important American exports to Iraq
Yesterday at 5:31 am by Rocky
» A noticeable increase in the rate of Iraq's import of Chinese cooling devices
Yesterday at 5:30 am by Rocky
» Prime Minister: Working on projects without completing the infrastructure is a waste of money
Yesterday at 5:28 am by Rocky
» Iraq.. Extending the deadline for registration procedures on plots of land
Yesterday at 5:27 am by Rocky
» What is the main purpose of conducting the population census in Iraq?
Yesterday at 5:25 am by Rocky
» A plan to transform Iraq from a barren land to green with 5 million trees
Yesterday at 5:24 am by Rocky
» The Housing Fund announces the acceptance of more than 11 thousand loans through the Ur platform
Yesterday at 5:23 am by Rocky
» The Bank of Baghdad is moving to increase its capital to 400 billion dinars
Yesterday at 5:20 am by Rocky
» The electronic payment system will soon be adopted on Iraqi buses
Yesterday at 5:19 am by Rocky
» “It threatens our interests and destroys our economy.” An Iraqi project “irritates” the Kuwaiti stre
Yesterday at 5:18 am by Rocky
» Warning from the Central Bank about “misuse of electronic payment cards”
Yesterday at 5:17 am by Rocky
» Iraq and the Sultanate of Oman are discussing sending capacities through the Gulf countries
Yesterday at 5:16 am by Rocky
» The fact that a decision was issued to deport Syrian workers from Iraq
Yesterday at 5:14 am by Rocky
» Rice comes first... America exports 10 foodstuffs worth more than 350 million dollars to Iraq
Yesterday at 5:14 am by Rocky
» A sixth licensing round for gas exploration
Yesterday at 5:12 am by Rocky
» Baghdad is preparing to host the 50th session of the Arab Labor Conference
Yesterday at 5:11 am by Rocky
» Scientific symposium on the future vision of the tripartite budget
Yesterday at 5:09 am by Rocky
» Five conversion power stations enter service in Najaf
Yesterday at 5:08 am by Rocky
» Planning: Conduct a population census next November
Yesterday at 5:07 am by Rocky
» Experts: Spreading misleading information harms development and investment
Yesterday at 5:03 am by Rocky
» Economists call for tightening money laundering laws and port controls
Yesterday at 5:02 am by Rocky
» Today's newspapers are interested in Sudanese's visit to Anbar Governorate and preparations for cond
Yesterday at 5:00 am by Rocky
» Iraq and Russia discuss cooperation between the two countries in the field of information and artifi
Yesterday at 4:58 am by Rocky
» With international and Arab participation. Diyala University hosts the International Specialized Sci
Yesterday at 4:56 am by Rocky
» The Basra government discusses with a UN delegation support for owners of qualified companies to est
Yesterday at 4:49 am by Rocky
» Oil stabilizes amid signs of an economic slowdown in America
Yesterday at 4:48 am by Rocky
» More than 11 thousand loans announced by the Housing Fund via the Ur platform
Yesterday at 4:47 am by Rocky
» A parliamentarian talks about the "tsunami of multinational begging" and identifies their crossing p
Yesterday at 4:43 am by Rocky
» Iraq alone possesses 9% of the world's reserves...a magical material to stimulate agriculture and th
Yesterday at 4:40 am by Rocky