How to keep Deer from eating my shrubs?

Question

Deer seem to eat all my shrubs escpecially the new yourg leaves, I have tried ringing with wire but they still seem to get in. short of making it look like a prisoner of war camp I'm lost for more idea's

Answer 1

You can buy coyote urine at both garden stores or outdoor/hunting stores, that seems to help. You have to reapply from time to time though.

Answer 2

This deer thing seems to be getting to be more and more of a problem. I have heard of deer nibbling potted flowers at the front door. The one poster mentioned them sleeping in his garage.

The thing to remember is deer are browsers and will taste almost everything. If deer are really hungry they will browse a shrub or plant to the point of no-return.

Having said that, you need to "be the deer". What makes your shrubs so delectable to them. Do you have a water feature nearby, providing not only food but water? Is a long established deer trail backing up on your property?

I have strung a single strand of non-electrified fencing wire across their paths and a second 3 feet or so down the trail at about a height of 3 feet. They can jump one strand, but do not have the intelligence to figure out the double tactic.

There are a lot of spray on things that do work, either homemade or store-bought. Trouble with these they need to constantly need to be reapplied. Sometimes though if you can make them think something doesn't taste good during their prime browse time--after winter has ended and before spring grass has grown at all--they won't be back. So the months of March through May are crucial for the spraying thing. These months also correspond with the month of the most rain in a lot of areas, so the sprays need to be constantly re-applied.

The third prong of your approach is to plant plants in your yard that confuse them or they don't like, like growing roses with chives. Anything that has a funny texture or smell (like all herbs) will deter them. There are also many shrubs they don't eat: spireas, lilacs, and potentilla. I have heard rugosa roses will not be touched as well. (Regular roses, though are salad!) Do a search for deer resistant plants.

In addition to deer resistant plants, any shrubs or plants that are multi-stemmed, instead of those with central leaders can be used as they will regrow after the high browse period is over, none the worse, and bushier, too!

I am with you! I hate the prisoner of war look. There is some new netting in a fine black weave, you might try draping over your shrubs during that intial spring high browse period. If you can start to change their habits and make the deer less interested , they may eventually go away.

Also, you might try predator dung, as in dog poo, maybe borrowed from a neighbor, at the base of your shrubs.

Answer 3

Google "baited deer fence" and you'll get a couple of choices that may work. One is a baited electric fence which lure the deer to lick the electified bait and the other (what I am going to try) is a 18" post that takes 2 AA batteries. It has an attractant as well but is easier to move around the property. If that doesn't do it, I'm investing in a good compound bow.

Answer 4

Put Irish Spring soap in pantyhose tied at the top of the shrub at the deer's eating height. Try sprinkling cayene peper on the leaves. Can dilute cayene pepper or red hot pepper sauce and spray it on the shrubs-- must be done whenever it rains to renew. Can spray dishwashing liquid diluted with water to give unpleasant taste. Use coyote urine but must be used frequently. At a garden center or zoo you can get big cat (tiger, etc) poop.

Answer 5

Start giving them names. They don't like that and they'll run away. Seriously, my brother has the same problem and they gave a name to the one that tried to get into the garage to sleep after he filled up on shrubs. I think my brother's wife named him after her favorite shrub. I know this doesn't help but your question just brought it to mind. They don't really run away. That deer still comes around during shrub season.

Answer 6

Sprinkle black pepper over the shrubs...It will soon get around the Deer population that those shrubs will burn their mouths and sting their eyes. You won't have any more problems.

Answer 7

Visit your local beautyshop and ask for some of their "cut hair". Put this in a knee-hi pantyhose and hang it near your shrubs. The smell of human keeps then away. I have tried this with success with newly planted pecan trees. Good luck & hope this helps!

Answer 8

Hi Jimima If you Google 'deer proofing' you will get all the advice you need re deer resistent plants and tips on how to proof your shrubs. cheers

Answer 9

Eat the deer.

Answer 10

There is a spray that you can get at any pet store to deture animals from the furnature and plants. It should work for deer also

Answer 11

to save the deer remote from our backyard in our previous residing house, I used to stroll the canines round it each day and enable him pee on quite some posts I had set interior the floor. It worked o.k. and after many years, i did not ought to do it anymore. did not artwork with rabbits tho.