Ways to Keep Deer Out of a Garden

Home and Garden - Gardening

By: ListMaker 05-Feb-2011

Introduction:

Although Bambi may have been an adorable creature, there's no need to feed the entire deer population with your garden. The below ways to keep deer out of a garden have worked for me and should work for you too.

Build a Deer Fence Around Your Garden

Now, depending on the aesthetic aspect of your garden, you might not want to build a deer fence around it. But, if you really want to keep deer from your cherished garden, erect an 8-10' tall deer fence as the deer will happily jump anything shorter to get at your tasty garden plants (deer can actually jump 12 feet from a standing position but don't like to exert that much effort). The fence needn't be very strong as it's just a barrier and deer will see it so black mesh wire strung between metal poles will repel deer just fine. Chicken wire also will work well if you really don't care what it looks like.

For added assurance, build you deer fencing so that it slants out at around a 45 degree angle. This will really perplex the Bambis in your yard.

Spread Dog Fur Around Your Plants For a Natural Deer Repellent

This tip to keep deer out of a garden has worked surprisingly well for me ,and I have an abundance of dog fur with six furry creatures running around the house. Brush your dogs weekly and spread the fur right at the base of the plants as the best deer repellent. Deer will not touch your garden plants when they're encased in dog fur. Replenish the fur after each rain as the moisture will reduce the smell of the dander.

Bury Mothballs In the Soil

Mothballs also acts as a natural deer repellent and the bonus is that rabbits won't touch your garden plants either. You just have to bury them right below the surface.

Mothballs will dissipate with moisture so if you have a lot of rain or water your garden frequently, add extra mothballs periodically right under the garden soil.

Mothballs will also work to keep neighborhood cats from using your garden or potted plants as a kitty litter box.

Install a Motion Detector Sprinkler

This method of repelling deer will also keep your garden safe from marauding raccoons, rabbits, or any other creatures happy to munch on your flowers or vegetable plants. Just hook to a garden hose and set the sensitivity so that it will come on when it detects movement in the garden. Just remember to turn it OFF when you go to weed or you might get caught in your own deer proof snare.

Spread Urine

Yep, that's right - either coyote urine or even human urine sprinkled around your garden will repel deer (here's your chance to have a real reason to pee outside guys...). You can purchase coyote urine in most garden stores and, while you're there, get a dispenser so that you don't have to reapply after every rain. A urine garden dispenser will slowly dispense the scent for up to 30 days.

Final Thoughts

Although I'm a fan of all things furry and deer are among my favorite wild animals, I'm not such a fan when they raid my Dad's memorial garden or my tasty vegetable garden (why do they always take one bite out of each ripe tomato???!). The above methods do really work if you're serious about keeping deer out of a garden.

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jseven 2/7/2011
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We have it bad here in my town, the deer are hanging out downtown! Great tips.
ListingToTheLeft 2/5/2011
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Love all of these ideas, especially the dog fur and urine. Makes perfect sense that these would scare the deer!
PajamaMommy 2/5/2011
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We are novice gardeners and novice country folk. This will come in handy when we start our garden this spring.
LWCox 2/5/2011
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Very effective ways to keep deer out of a garden. My husband sells most of these items at his Garden Center, but I'll have to tell him about the urine dispenser. Thanks for the tip!
clewand550 2/5/2011
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I haven't heard of the urine but have heard of the other things. Great list of 5.