Damaged plants in a garden often signal the presence of a large herbivore, frequently the white-tailed deer. These animals are common visitors to home gardens and commercial plots, presenting a significant challenge to preserving soft, desirable crops. For those cultivating garden strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa), determining the exact nature of the threat is the first step toward a successful harvest.
Deer Feeding Habits and Strawberry Plant Preference
Deer readily consume strawberry plants, making them a high-value target in their diet. The plant’s appeal is multifaceted, including the sweet aroma and succulent texture of all its parts. As opportunistic feeders, deer prioritize tender, nutrient-rich vegetation, and strawberries offer concentrated energy sources like natural sugars and high water content.
Deer consumption is not limited solely to the ripe fruit; they eat the leaves, soft stems, flowers, and runners. Damage to the flowers directly impacts future fruit production, while damage to the runners hinders the plant’s ability to spread new growth. This browsing pressure increases in early spring when tender new growth is scarce, or during dry periods when the plant’s high water content is especially attractive.
Distinguishing Deer Damage from Other Garden Pests
Confirming that deer are the cause of garden damage requires careful observation of the affected plants and the surrounding area. The most telling characteristic of deer browsing is the ragged, torn appearance of the foliage and stems. This pattern occurs because deer have lower incisors but lack upper incisors, forcing them to clamp down and tear the plant material rather than making a clean slice.
This tearing contrasts sharply with the damage left by smaller garden pests like rabbits, which possess sharp upper and lower incisors. Rabbits leave clean, angled cuts on stems, similar to a precise clip from pruning shears. Deer typically browse between one and six feet off the ground, while rabbits damage plants only a few inches above the soil line. Deer also leave behind large, heart-shaped hoof prints or oblong fecal pellets near the feeding site, signs distinct from the smaller, round droppings of a rabbit.
Practical Methods for Protecting Strawberry Plants
The most effective strategy for protecting strawberry plants involves establishing a physical barrier. A permanent fence that is at least eight feet tall is the most reliable method, as deer are capable jumpers. An alternative deterrent is a double-layered fence, where two parallel fences (four to five feet tall) are placed about four feet apart. This configuration confuses the deer’s depth perception, making them less likely to attempt the jump.
For smaller patches, individual covers or cages made from wire mesh or durable netting can be placed directly over the strawberry beds. This exclusion method prevents access while still allowing light and water to reach the plants. Gardeners can also employ sensory deterrents, such as taste-based repellents applied directly to the foliage to make the plant unappetizing. Scent-based repellents, including those containing putrescent egg solids, are effective when rotated and reapplied frequently to account for weather and deer habituation.