Deer-Proofing Your Garden: Top Strategies That Work
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Deer are beautiful creatures, but as a gardener, you likely know the havoc they can wreak on your garden. When we first moved into our house it was a challenge to find something to plant that they didn’t enjoy feasting on. Irises, marigolds, zinnias…yum yum said the deer. These plants were supposedly deer resistant. Not here they weren’t.
How about fencing in the vegetable garden with deer netting? It seemed like a success. My tomato plants were growing fine, undisturbed. I was so excited to see the fruit developing, the plants getting taller. Until those tomatoes finally started ripening. The flimsy U posts I put in and the netting were laughable to them. They waltzed right in before I could get one red tomato, bending my metal U posts as they stomped through. I felt so defeated.
My neighbor said I would never win. The deer would always get in no matter what. I was determined to prove him wrong. And now I'll share with you what I've learned in the last 10 plus years gardening in a high deer pressure area.
Plant Choice: Building a Deer-Resistant Garden
Choosing the right plants is the first line of defense against deer intrusion. By selecting plants that deer really do find less appealing, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of your garden becoming their buffet. If you're looking for specific plant recommendations, check out our detailed guide on 10 Deer-Resistant Plants. These plants have proven to be resilient against deer browsing.
Here are some tips to guide your plant choices:
Choosing Deer-Resistant Plants
Fragrant Herbs: Incorporate aromatic herbs such as rosemary, lavender, and thyme into your garden. Deer are repelled by strong scents, making these herbs an excellent deterrent.
Pungent Flowers: Plant flowers with strong fragrances like daffodils. Not only do these add welcome color to the spring garden, but they also act as a natural barrier against deer.
Foliage Texture: Deer tend to avoid plants with coarse or fuzzy foliage. Consider plants like lamb's ear or lungwort, which have textures that deer find unpalatable.
Native Plants
Over time, native plants have developed defense mechanisms, such as thorns, bitter taste, or toxic compounds, to deter herbivores like deer.
Understand Local Preferences: Different regions may have different deer preferences. Consult with local nurseries, extension services, or your neighbors to determine which native plants are less appealing to deer in your area.
Lavender
Anise Hyssop
Although native plants seem to be on the rise in popularity, it can still be a challenge to find many of them in nurseries. This is when it pays to grow from seed. A great source for native plant seeds is Prairie Moon Nursery. Check out their website to see what is native to your area.
Biodiversity
Introduce a variety of plants into your garden to create a diverse environment. Deer are less likely to target a garden with a wide range of plant species.
Different plants have different growth patterns, including heights, shapes, and structures. A garden with varied growth patterns can create physical barriers that make it more challenging for deer to navigate. Tall plants may overshadow shorter ones, and a mix of groundcovers, shrubs, and taller perennials can create a complex and less inviting environment for deer.
Planting a variety of plants can help to deter deer.
I have found that growing large ornamental grasses allows for me to get away with growing some “deer candy.” For example, I often have sunflowers popping around my miscanthus. To my surprise the dear let me have a few of them. It seems that they are so bothered by the grass it's not worth it for them to climb in and get all the sunflowers.
As a bonus, biodiversity helps prevent the spread of diseases and reduces the likelihood of a single pest wiping out an entire garden, promoting long term garden health. A diverse range of plants also supports a variety of beneficial insects, birds, and microorganisms that contribute to the overall balance of the garden.
Repellents
A. Commercial Deer Repellents
Many commercially available deer repellents rely on strong scents to deter deer. Sprays containing garlic, peppermint, rotten eggs, or coyote urine can be effective in making your garden less attractive to deer.
B. DIY Deer Repellents
Homemade Sprays: Craft your own deer deterrent sprays using household items like hot sauce, garlic, or soap. These concoctions can be sprayed directly on plants, creating an unappealing taste for deer.
Human Hair and Soap Bars: Scatter human hair or place bars of strongly scented soap around your garden. The unfamiliar scents can confuse and repel deer, acting as a natural barrier.
Timing and Frequency of applying repellents:
Spring:
Begin applying repellents in late winter or early spring before new growth emerges. This is a critical time as deer are actively foraging after the winter months.
Follow the recommended application frequency on the product label. In many cases, this may be every 30 days, but for fast growing annuals and perennials it may be every 7.
Summer:
Continue applying repellents throughout the summer months, especially when plants are in their peak growth stages. Deer may be more tempted to browse on lush, young foliage.
Monitor your garden for signs of deer activity and reapply repellents promptly if necessary.
Fall:
As autumn approaches, deer are preparing for the winter months, and their foraging behavior may intensify. Reinforce your repellent application in late summer and early fall.
Adjust the frequency based on the specific repellent product and the level of deer activity in your area.
Winter:
While deer activity tends to decrease in winter, it's advisable to continue repellent applications. Some evergreen plants remain susceptible, and deer may still forage if food sources are scarce.
Reduced growth during this season may allow for less frequent applications, typically every 30 days.
Fencing Options: Fortifying Your Garden
When it comes to protecting your garden from deer, fencing is often the most reliable solution.
Types of Fencing
Welded Wire Fencing
Mesh or Netting:
Install a sturdy mesh or netting around your garden. This physical barrier may prevent deer from accessing your plants if the deer pressure is not super high in your area.
Welded Wire Fencing:
If the deer in your area are more aggressive like mine, the mesh or netting is not going to cut it. Our deer chewed through ours. For my garden I had to go with the welded wire, and it has held up great for the last 10 plus years.
Double Fencing:
Create a double-layered fence with different heights, also referred to as a moat. Deer are less likely to jump in a complex barrier, reducing the chances of an invasion. You can grow things in the space in between or use it as a chicken or duck run.
Fence Installation Tips
Height Matters:
Ensure that your fence is tall enough to prevent deer from leaping over. A height of at least 8 feet is generally recommended.
An alternative to an 8-foot fence is to weave sticks, willow and bamboo work well, into a 5 or 6-foot welded wire fence to make it more challenging to jump over. No one wants to get stabbed by sticks!
If your garden is on the smaller side, you can get away with a fence as short as five feet. Deer don't like to jump in enclosed areas that will make them feel caged in. I have found the widest I can go with a five-foot fence is 12 feet- when the garden is wider than that I have to make sure I have bamboo stakes or some sort of trellising up throughout the garden to make it look too cluttered for them to jump in.
Use Strong Posts:
Go with sturdy steel T posts, available at big box stores and farm supply stores. They are easy to install with a post driver. No digging required. You just bang them in the ground.
They are not the prettiest things. If you are concerned about aesthetics, I recommend spray painting them. I have had success with using Rust-oleum’s rusty metal primer spray paint as a base coat, and then dark antique copper metallic as a topcoat. The paint has been holding up well for years.
Check for Gaps:
Regularly inspect your fence for any gaps or damage. Deer are opportunistic and can exploit even small openings. Also, remember to close your gates!
Deer-proofing your garden may seem impossible in the beginning but you can do it! Try some of these tested strategies of choosing the right plants, using repellents, and putting up the right fence and you can enjoy your garden along with the occasional visitor.
Experiment with different methods to find the combination that works best for your unique gardening environment. Happy gardening!
