You’ve invested a lot of time, money, and energy in your garden, and the result is a gorgeous landscape you’re extremely proud of! Yet, you and your neighbors aren’t the only ones admiring your hard work; nighttime marauders are treating your prized plants like an all-you-can-eat buffet. Sound familiar? Time to flip the script on these devastating deer!
Well, there is a solution: Wayside’s deer-resistant plants and all-natural deterrents discourage grazing, with unpleasant tastes, smells or textures, leaving your garden intact and thriving, despite after-hour visits from unwanted guests. The key is to keep changing your approach so the deer don’t get used to whatever technique you’re using at the time.
1. Grow Deer-Resistant Plants.
Basically, make your neighbor’s garden slightly more appealing than your own. Plant strongly perfumed flowers and strongly fragrant trees, things deer will find repulsive. If you’re careful, you can even sneak some of your favorite deer prone plants into the mix as long as you weave plenty of the undesirable plants with them to hide their tasty scent. You can find plenty of great options right here.
2. Use Repellents
Besides using physical fencing, scent is another effective barrier between these skittish creatures. We highly suggest using powerful yet natural chemical deterrents which will keep nosy nibblers at bay. Aside from these effective formulas there are some other tried and true remedies for deer. For example, many local gardeners scatter their hair and their pets sheddings in the soil or among the foliage of their most vulnerable plants to add the scent of human and predators to deter Bambi and company
3. Build a Fence (or Grow One!)
Deer can jump really high, but don’t make it easy for them. 6 feet is a deterrent, and 8 feet is a solution. You can also grow your own organic fence using tall landscaping trees like Thuja or big prickly bushes like holly make a great deterrent.
4. Lights, Alarms and Sprinklers
If you want to explore more high tech solutions we suggest investing in some gadgets that could make your life a lot easier. Motion sensors sprinklers, flashing light and loud sounds are all things that will disturb even the most bold deer. Use deer’s natural startle instinct against them and let your garden grow in peace.
5. Own a Dog.
Talking with the master gardeners and horticulturists on staff, the consensus is that a dog is the best deer repellent you can buy, especially if it is a big dog that mostly stays outside. But even the scent of a little dog in your yard will keep away most grazers.
For more information check our online Plant Care Library.
September 3, 2009
what type of plant will keep dogs out of my garden, the fence didn’t work I built a structure around my iris plants,and when they were resdy to bloom my dogs got in somehow and ate everything.even the bulb. they ate my vegetables, they have eaten everything. help!!!!!
March 14, 2013
My neighbors dogs used to graze in my raised garden until I planted some rhubarb. For a few days I’d see a few piles of barf, and then they stopped coming around. Also planting daffodils and some hyacinths seem to deter them as well – the dogs ate all my tulip bulbs, but not the daffodils and hyacinths.
September 16, 2009
Keeping dogs out of your garden-
As the owner of 6 dogs and a large garden, I’d suggest you fence your dogs. As long as they are running free, they look to your garden as their special playpen!
September 28, 2012
I have invested a lot of money and time in my garden for 5 years now the squirrels and groundhogs are my best customers for FREE 3 square meals. Like clockwork the groundhogs come morning/noon/evening. The squirrels watch me plant my bulbs and wait for me to move and you don’t even notice until nothing come up in the spring or summer. HELP!!!!!
October 15, 2012
Netting and fencing are the best solutions.
Erecting a fence made of bamboo stakes and bird netting is easy, barely visible, and inexpensive. The stakes and netting can be obtained at most any hardware store.
Simply sink the stakes into the ground and attach the netting with twist-ties. Cut the netting to fit the stake height. Be sure to leave a small gap at the bottom for snakes and the like to be able to pass through. This will also help keep the netting from getting snagged by a lawnmower, rake, etc.; and it will make it easier for you to access plants.
January 5, 2013
I have a German shepherd, live in Central Florida ,and deer are a real problem in rural areas. They “clip” my fence, eat anything, everything. I now have my orange trees in separate round fence enclosures, roses and blueberries, black berries, etc. all fenced in. I am now trying a device that it motion activated and supposed to send a high pitched sound whenever an animal nears, even my precious shepherd. We’ll see. My frustration is at a point where I’d try anything to protect my plants. I would love to hear more from people who have the problem. Karin
January 5, 2013
I have a German shepherd, live in Central Florida ,and deer are a real problem in rural areas. They “clip” my fence, eat anything, everything. I now have my orange trees in separate round fence enclosures, roses and blueberries, black berries, etc. all fenced in. I am now trying a device that is motion activated and supposed to send a high pitched sound whenever an animal nears, even my precious shepherd. We’ll see. My frustration is at a point where I’d try anything to protect my plants. I would love to hear more from people who have the problem. Karin
February 18, 2013
Birdnetting spread over my hostas and other precious plants and shrubs. It is virtually invisible. However, it takes steady attention to keep growing plants from getting entangled in net. It is worth the effort.
Our large deer population drove us last year to surround the property with an electric fence which was turned on only a few nights but kept deer away for the rest of the season.
March 15, 2013
We have a dog and she runs all over our yard……we still have deer come into our yard and eat everything…………………………