(HOST) Commentator Charlie Nardozzi has some common-sense tips for keeping the neighborhood deer out of your garden.
(NARDOZZI) At the National Gardening Association in South Burlington, we have 30 community gardens in a field where local residents grow their own vegetables and flowers. Since the gardens are in an open field not far from a wooded area, deer often are seen nearby. While visitors look in delight and awe at deer bounding across the field, the gardeners at NGA cringe. They know, sooner or later, the deer will find their plants.
Deer have become a big problem across the country. With few natural predators, deer populations have increased. With increased development into deer’s natural territory, deer browsing in yards is now common.
So what’s a gardener to do? Deer are big animals, and they can eat a lot. Small herds can eat through a yard of shrubs, flowers, young trees, and vegetables in no time. Every year there seems to be a new deer control product on the market. So here are a few tips that may help you thwart these four-legged pests.
The most fail-safe way to prevent damage is a fence. You can build a wooden or wire fence, but you’ll have to build it 8 to 10 feet tall and at an angle. Or build two fences a few feet away from each other because deer can jump a single fence. A smarter way to go is an electric fence. The key is to train deer to stay out of an area before they know there’s something good to eat. String the fence about 3 to 4 feet high, and bait it with peanut butter. The idea is to shock the deer a few times early in the season. They’ll soon learn to avoid the fence and won’t even try to get inside. Another trick I’ve tried is running a small monofilament line about 4 feet off the ground around the perimeter of my property. Deer like to be able to see what’s in front of them. The line is fine enough they can’t see it clearly, yet they sense something is there and will avoid passing through it.
You can try repellent sprays, too. Home remedies include fragrant soaps, human hair, and moth balls. Commercial products include predator urines, taste, and smell deterrents. One commercial product called Tree Guard has bitrex as an active ingredient. This bitter compound proved effective in repelling deer in Minnesota in the winter, so it should work here. Repellents are most effective when you select 3 or 4, apply them regularly, and rotate their use. Deer are smart and will quickly get used to one smell or taste. By using different deterrents at different times, you’ll confuse the deer, and hopefully they’ll stay away.
Oh, and by the way, forget about deer-resistant plants. Yes, deer will avoid ornamental grasses and ferns, plants with bitter and pungent flavors, and plants with fuzzy leaves. But, that being said, if they’re hungry enough, they’ll eat anything!
Still, with a little planning and work, you can make your yard safe from deer.