Lets be honest. Bambi was cute... Well, maybe not so cute if you wake up one morning and find your garden or newly-planted flower bed leveled by Bambi and friends. I believe people and animals all share the planet and deer have every right to go about their business, just not in my garden. There is plenty of food out there so my objective is simple, keep them away from my yard without harming them.
Here are a few facts:
1. They are here to stay. It is difficult to move deer out of areas where they are not wanted.
2. "Deer-proof" plants...no such thing. A hungry deer will find almost any plant palatable. Some more than others, yes, but all are on the menu.
3. There is only one sure-fire repellent. Adequate fencing (minimum 7 foot high and electrified) will keep deer out of an area you want to protect.
4. Alternatives to fencing. Other repellents can be used instead of, or in addition to fencing to insure maximum protection.
Planting deer-resistant varieties is a good first preventative step. If you already have an established landscape, this is not a reasonable option. Deer fencing is the next best line of defense, but anything less than 7 foot high might not be too effective. A fence that high might also not be practical or cost effective if you have a large area to protect.
Alternative deer repellents can include mechanical, home-made and commercial products. They are best used in rotation and as a secondary method of protection for areas that are not already fenced in.
Mechanical deer repellents can include such scare tactics as strobe lights or radios that switch on and off during the night. These motion-activated methods can be effective at frightening deer away but before you set up a full-blown show, please consider the neighbors! Deer also become used to these methods quickly and may eventually ignore them.
Battery-powered "shock" sticks can also be considered. They are usually placed around a perimeter or scattered throughout an area you want to protect. They are baited with a substance that is appealing to deer and when they begin to feed, a harmless, but frightening shock is delivered to the animal. Depending on your views, you may or may not consider this method acceptable or humane.
Another very effective method is a motion-activated sprinkler. You hook it up to a hose and it does the work for you. When a deer (or other animal) approaches, it starts pulsing a spray of water for about 3 seconds that frightens the animal away with its sudden activation. It also doubles up on its effectiveness because deer, as a general rule, don't like to be wet. It can cover quite a large area (up to 1000 sq. ft.) and you wont have to worry about bothering your neighbors.
Experts concur that planting deer-resistant varieties and using deer fencing, when practical, are good first steps in protecting your garden and landscape from deer. Beyond those two methods, a homeowner has scare repellents, homemade recipes and commercially-available sprays and pellets to use. A combination of at least two or more of these alternate methods, used in rotation, rather than in combination all the time, provides maximum protection against deer damage.
