Deer are adaptable animals that can quickly turn a beautiful flower bed into an all-you-can-eat buffet, leading to significant frustration for gardeners. Successfully protecting your landscape requires moving past single-solution methods and adopting a strategic, multi-layered approach. The most effective strategies combine physical barriers, unpleasant sensory experiences, and active deterrents. This multi-layered approach conditions deer, which are creatures of habit and fear, to seek food elsewhere.
Implementing Physical Exclusion Methods
The most reliable way to prevent deer damage involves using physical barriers, though these often require the most initial effort. A permanent, single-layer fence needs to be at least eight feet tall to prevent deer from jumping over it, as an adult deer can clear seven feet or more. These fences are typically constructed from durable materials like woven wire or chain link, but they can be costly and visually obtrusive.
A more subtle approach involves double-layer or slanted fences, which exploit the deer’s poor depth perception. A two-tiered fence system, where two shorter fences are spaced four to five feet apart, deters deer because they cannot judge the distance required to clear both barriers safely. Electric fencing also acts as a psychological barrier, delivering a memorable shock that trains the deer to avoid the area. Using highly visible polytape and a powerful energizer is necessary, as the deer’s coat requires a higher voltage to be effective.
Utilizing Taste and Scent Repellents
Repellents offer a non-physical barrier by making plants smell or taste repulsive to deer. Commercial products fall into two categories: area repellents that rely on offensive odors (such as putrescent egg solids or predator urine), and contact repellents that coat the foliage with a foul taste. Hydrolyzed casein, a milk protein, is a common active ingredient in many commercial deer repellents.
For maximum effectiveness, repellents must be applied directly to the plants deer are browsing to reinforce the negative association. The biggest challenge is habituation; deer quickly grow accustomed to a single scent or taste, so it is important to rotate between two or three different types of repellents every two to four weeks. Reapplication is necessary after rainfall or overhead watering, as water washes away the active ingredients. Strong-scented soap hung on stakes near vulnerable plants can also function as a temporary deterrent by masking the appealing scent of the flowers.
Employing Active Deterrents
Active deterrents use sudden, surprising sensory input to scare deer away before they begin feeding. The most popular method involves motion-activated water sprinklers, often referred to by brand names like Scarecrow or Yard Enforcer. These devices use an infrared sensor to detect the deer’s body heat and movement, triggering a sudden burst of water.
The combination of sudden noise, unexpected movement, and the spray of water startles the deer, linking the area with an unpleasant experience. These sprinklers are effective because they utilize a triple-sensory fright response. To maintain the surprise factor, the device should be moved to different locations periodically. While bright lights or ultrasonic devices are sometimes suggested, deer often ignore them once they realize there is no real threat.
Long-Term Prevention Through Plant Selection
A permanent, low-maintenance strategy involves selecting plants that are naturally unappealing to deer. Deer-resistant plants typically possess one of three characteristics: a pungent odor, a fuzzy or coarse texture, or toxic properties. For instance, the fragrance of lavender, salvia, and marigolds makes them poor candidates for a deer’s palate.
Deer tend to avoid plants with fuzzy or rough leaves, such as lamb’s ear, catmint, and potentilla, as the texture is disagreeable to their mouths. Conversely, deer prefer smooth, tender, and high-moisture plants like hostas, tulips, and roses, which should be protected or avoided in high-pressure areas. A strategic planting layout involves creating a perimeter of highly resistant plants, such as ornamental grasses or boxwoods, around the exterior of the flower bed. This outer ring helps shield more desirable but vulnerable plants positioned closer to the center.