Growing blueberries often brings gardeners into conflict with local wildlife that finds the plants appealing. This requires a proactive approach, especially when dealing with deer, which can cause significant damage to the bushes. The primary concern is understanding the specific threat deer pose and implementing reliable methods to keep these animals away from the harvest.
Do Deer Eat Blueberry Plants?
Deer are opportunistic browsers that readily consume blueberry plants, though they may not be a preferred food source when other forage is abundant. The threat increases during periods of environmental stress, such as drought or deep winter snow, when their usual food sources become scarce. At these times, the plants offer an accessible and nutrient-rich meal.
The most appealing parts are the tender, new growth, including leaves and young shoots that emerge in the spring. Deer also target the flower buds, which can severely reduce the potential fruit yield. When the berries ripen, the sweet fruit becomes a strong attractant. Repeated browsing can weaken or even kill young plants, while mature bushes may suffer from stunted growth and reduced vigor.
Recognizing Deer Browsing
Deer damage looks distinct from the damage caused by smaller pests like rabbits. The most telling sign of deer feeding is the ragged, torn appearance of the remaining stems or leaves. Since deer lack upper incisor teeth, they press their lower teeth against a hard dental pad and pull or rip the vegetation, rather than making a clean slice.
This browsing damage typically occurs at a height between one and six feet off the ground, sometimes leaving a noticeable “browse line” on mature plants. Rabbits have sharp incisors that create a clean, angled cut, and their damage is usually confined to within a few inches of the soil line. In the late summer and fall, a different type of deer damage is antler rubbing on woody stems. Male deer scrape their antlers against the bark to remove velvet or mark territory, which can shred the bark of young bushes and cause girdling that kills the plant.
Strategies for Protecting Your Plants
Protecting blueberry plants requires a multi-layered strategy that combines physical barriers with various deterrents. Physical exclusion is the most reliable method for preventing deer access. A permanent woven-wire fence should be at least 7.5 to 8 feet tall, as deer are capable of jumping over lower barriers.
For smaller gardens or individual bushes, a temporary enclosure such as a mesh cage or netting secured to the ground can protect young plants from browsing. For the fruit itself, draping bird netting over the bushes, secured to the ground, will protect the berries from both deer and birds.
Chemical repellents work by creating a taste or scent aversion. Repellents containing putrid egg solids, garlic, or capsaicin are often the most effective, as they are applied directly to the plant’s surface. It is important to apply these products consistently, especially to new growth and immediately after heavy rain, to maintain effectiveness.
Deer can quickly become accustomed to any single repellent, so rotating between two or three different types is necessary to keep them off balance. Another practical method is using motion-activated sprinklers that startle approaching deer with a sudden burst of water. These devices are most effective when their placement is rotated every few weeks to prevent the animals from habituating to the tactic.