Jan 31, 2017 4 min read

Methods to combatting these ingenious foes begin with the most expensive and most complicated and end with the least expensive and least complicated.

Barriers work by blocking or changing the deer’s general trail through your gardens by, for example, building a tall and very wide fence. Deer are less likely to jump a fence when they are not quite sure where they might land. High barrier fences may be prohibitive for some properties based on ordinances, aesthetics, logistics or cost. However, plastic mesh fencing is relatively inexpensive, lightweight, easy to install and almost invisible.

This method may be attained by use of a motion sensor around the perimeter of the garden, which will activate a radio tape of a human voice or a barking dog. This could also include walking your or a neighbor’s dog around the perimeter of the garden and allow it to mark it as the dog’s territory. 

A less intrusive method (Yard Enforcer Motion Sprinkler) uses a motion detector to activate a water spray to frighten the deer.

Other devices use ultrasonic sound waves the human ear can’t detect but that animals can’t stand. Recognize, though, that your dog may also be affected.

One of the easiest startling methods is tying white strips of cloths to a short fence around your garden. As the cloth strips are blown by the wind, the motion mimics the danger response of the white-tailed deer that signals the deer to run away.

There are several common sprays such as Liquid Fence, whose odor is offensive to both man and deer. Another spray (Deer Out) that is labeled as repellent for rabbit and deer is minty smelling to humans but claims to make the foliage bad tasting to deer.

Care must be taken with commercial repellents to be certain that they are safe to use on fruits or vegetables. Otherwise, their use should be restricted to ornamental trees, shrubs and flowers. An advantage of some commercial products is their ability to remain effective after rain and, therefore, do not need to be reapplied. However, from experience, the same is not necessarily true after snowfalls.

A safer alternative would be an all-natural repellent. A recipe passed on to me by a friend is made of eggs, hot sauce and water. Amazingly, although this recipe is allowed to age several days before it is used, it does not smell like rotten eggs (sulfur), but rather like hot sauce. This recipe even protects hosta, the “chocolate candy” of the deer diet. The drawback, however, is that it must be reapplied after it rains.

Another method to protect your garden is to plant the plants that are recognized as unpalatable to deer such as astilbe, daffodil, juniper, rhododendron, etc. However, if the winter is long and extremely severe, hunger trumps everything. One winter, we had temperatures so low for such an extended period, that gas lines were in danger of freezing and the National Guard was called in to help remove the accumulated snow. I spied a deer standing in the barberry bush in front of my family room window eating the juniper. As I rapped on the window, the deer lifted her head to acknowledge me and then put her head down and continued to eat.

Georgann Lombardi earned a bachelor of arts degree from Muhlenberg College and taught in high school before entering the PA civil service, and finally earned a bachelor of science in occupational therapy from the University of Pittsburgh. In addition to gardening, her interests are movies, her church choir, outdoor activities, learning about nature, taking cruises and reading.

Have a question? In Washington County, call the Master Gardeners office at 724 228-6881. Follow us on Facebook. Also, consult the Penn State Extension website at http://extension.psu.edu/ for additional information.