Gardeners’ Forum: “Deer Eating Plants”
Back to Gardeners’ ForumDeer Eating Plants
Posted by DM on Monday, May 7, 2001 3:45 pm ADTI planted some fruit trees last year, apple, pear and cherry as well as raspberries and blackberries. Just as they were sprouting branches and growing well, the deer ate all of the new growth, even the prickly stuff. Does anyone know how to keep these pesky things away?
re: Deer Eating Plants
Posted by Sue on Tuesday, May 8, 2001 11:36 am ADTYou can try Skoot or Critter ridder. May want to try planting Fritillaria in the fall for next year, I have been told that deer do not like the scent of this perennial (and its pretty too!) Good Luck
re: Deer Eating Plants
Posted by bill on Tuesday, May 8, 2001 1:22 pm ADTI have found absolutly nothing that works over a period of time. I have tried almost every deer repellant-they liked it, sensor lights-they were dining by candle light, soaps like irish spring-were used to wash up after their dinner. I even planted flowers etc. that were advertised as not attractive to deer-I guess they did not read the same book I did and ate them anyway. What did work last night was my running out into the yard in my house coat and slippers and waving my arms and yelling like a mad man. Just opening tulips are like gum drops to them. I would also like to like know of a surefire way to repel deer.
re: Deer Eating Plants
Posted by terri on Wednesday, May 16, 2001 8:44 pm ADTI don't know if it will work for deer, but blood meal fertilizer seems to help with groundhogs, skunks and racoons. It smells like blood to the animals and they tend to leave the plants alone. It is not expensive and might be worth a try.
re: Deer Eating Plants
Posted by Ruth on Thursday, July 19, 2001 2:04 pm ADTI know it doesn't work for most people, but I have had great luck this year with Irish Spring soap. I don't hang it out though...I take an old potato peeler and peel the soap to spread little shavings around my garden. In the area I live it is not uncommon to see large groups of Deer wandering up the street. All the neighbors have had most flowers eaten this year...but they haven't even come near my hostas...we'll see what happens with the apples in the fall! Good luck. My luck may wear off and I'll need some advice as well.
re: Deer Eating Plants
Posted by John on Monday, March 25, 2002 4:36 pm ASTI have found that a fence made with monofilament fishing line works for a couple of years. String 2 or 3 strands on posts up to about 4 1/2 to 5 feet high. the deer run into it but can't see it and it spooks them. Three days after taking it down, they clean up the garden.
