Does this scene sound familiar to you: It’s a beautiful, warm summer evening, and you stroll out to your garden to admire your flowers and vegetables that should be ready to bloom. At first glance, it seems as though nothing has bloomed yet, but with a closer look, you see that someone has munched the tops of all of your buds and blooms. Nooooo!
What is with these Mid-Michigan deer feasting on our flower gardens? Are you frustrated with this problem as well? You’re not alone. These majestic animals have zero care or concern for the hard work that you put into your garden. In fact, they see it as a treat that you’ve prepared just for them.
Here are a few tips to help keep the deer at bay:
1. Plant things they don’t like to eat.
While the deer aren’t picky by any means, there are plants that deer don’t like to eat versus plants they like to eat … though if they’re hungry enough they may even snack on these plants as well.
Poisonous plants (like daffodils or foxglove)
Plants with a strange or unappealing texture (like fuzzy or prickly leaves)
Plants with strong scents or bitter flavors (like marigolds or peonies)
Highly fragrant plants (like rosemary or lavender)
2. Build or extend an existing fence.
Go with 7 feet minimum. This is how tall a fence needs to be to keep deer from jumping over the top. Your fence can be made of a solid material like wood or metal, or it can be as simple as stringing a fishing line between poles. Be sure to check local municipal codes as some cities may restrict the height for solid fences or require a permit over a certain height.
3. Enclose garden beds or plants individually.
If you only need to protect a few vegetable beds or specific plants, it may be easier to enclose those plants individually with cloches, cages, netting, or other physical barriers.
This makes the most sense if you have to control other garden pests as well, such as raccoons, opossums, or rabbits. Depending on the type of enclosure used, it could also protect seedlings from insect pests that lay eggs and hatch their young on vulnerable leaves.
4. Use deer spray or other natural repellents.
When used correctly and diligently, deer repellent sprays are very effective. Many of them include active ingredients like cinnamon, clove, or mint in their formulas (scents that deer dislike) and are harmless to wildlife, pets, and children.
Try this: Create your own hot pepper spray. Mix 1 gallon of water with 4-5 tablespoons of cayenne pepper and 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil. Spritz the mixture all over your plants. This concoction will not harm your plants, and the deer will definitely be offended!
5. Never feed the deer.
Well-meaning people think they’re being helpful by setting out food and water for deer but feeding wildlife is always a bad idea. Not only will you be adding to your own deer troubles, but those of your neighbors as well.
So keep the deer at a distance. With a little planning and effort on your part, hopefully, they’ll do the same for you.
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