Tips for Repelling Deer
At one time the deer population density averaged 8-12 deer per square mile. Currently there are areas in the United States that have a reported 200 deer per square mile. The overall estimate of deer in the US approaches 30 million. Compare this to the 500,000 of the early 1900's. No wonder deer problems are so prevalent!
You might think the growth of suburbia would keep the deer population in check. Just the opposite—deer are thriving in these areas. Reproduction in deer directly relates to food availability. When food is scarce, only one fawn is born. But when food is plentiful, deer readily produce twins and sometimes even three or four fawns in a single pregnancy.
New housing developments invariably plant new landscaping, which requires attention to establish. We water, we mulch, we fertilize, and we grow beautiful, lush plants that we continue to care for. But, we're not the only ones who rejoice. Deer also love this tender new growth. They have a very strong sense of smell and are drawn to your wonderfully fertilized plants. No wonder deer don't go deeper into the woods to avoid people. We provide them as good—if not better—nutrition as Mother Nature.
How to Recognize the Signs of Deer in Your Area
All too often, the most common sign of deer is the torn, shredded, and eaten-down plants they leave behind. Others include hoof prints, tracks in soil or snow, deer droppings, and deer bedding. Deer droppings measure 3/4 inch in size with a slightly ovular shape, as opposed to rabbit droppings which are about the size and shape of peas. Deer also average around 70 droppings, a higher number than rabbits. Bedding areas are depressions of approximately 1 3/4 feet by 4 feet, where a deer has been resting. They may be more easily recognized in snow.
How to Recognize Deer Damage on Plants
How to Recognize Deer Damage on Trees
Deer will also rub their antlers along shrubs, tree branches, and tree trunks to remove their velvet as well as mark territory. This can be recognized by the vertical scrapes and shredded bark, along with broken branches. Often, the underlying wood of the trunk gets exposed. Not only can the damage look unsightly on your specimen trees, it can devastate saplings.
5 Creative Ways to Stop Deer from Eating Your Garden
There are not many gardening situations as frustrating as finding deer tracks and a half-devoured veggie patch at harvest time. In an effort to prevent such a catastrophic occurrence in your garden, we present five creative ways to deter deer.
The best method for you will depend on your lifestyle, finances, and personal preferences. If you have found a successful method and would like to share it, please let us know and we'd be glad to share it with our fellow gardeners.
Make Your Garden Less Inviting
Deer prefer to stay near the edge of woods and emerge at twilight to feed. Many suburban homes incorporate wooded areas, which offer the deer cover, surrounding a garden with very appealing plantings. In theory, if you blend deer-resistant plants with your favorite flowers and shrubs, you should be able to discourage them from bothering your garden. But, if hungry enough, deer will eat any plant.
Install Fencing
If you want to keep deer from your garden by putting up a fence, bear in mind that deer can jump up to nine feet high. In order for a fence to work against deer, it should be eight feet tall. So, an effective fence is expensive and may not be a good choice for aesthetic reasons.
Dogs and Deer Don't Mix
Just the presence of a dog in your yard may be enough to keep deer away. However, you may not be ready to take on the cost and responsibility of adding Fido to your family just to get rid of deer.
Scare Tactics and Ultrasonic Devices
Some of the electrical devices used to frighten deer include motion-activated strobe lights, sirens, radios, and water sprinklers. However, in addition to being costly, these may do more to alienate your neighbors than successfully repelling deer. Eventually, the deer get used to them, even when these devices are moved to different locations around your property on a weekly basis.
Bars of Soap or Human Hair
One of the homemade suggestions is to hang bars of soap or unwashed human hair (placed in mesh bags) from trees and shrubs. Each bar of soap or hair bags may cover a three foot area. This method may not be acceptable for aesthetic reasons. In a larger garden, it can also be a rather tedious choir.
"If you have anybody wondering if it's worth using I Must Garden Deer Repellent tell them to call me! Hands down it's the best repellent I've ever used, and I've tried them all!
Use I Must Garden Deer Repellent for Guaranteed Results!
One of the easiest, economical and most reliable solutions to get rid of deer problems is to spray with I Must Garden Deer Repellent. It is environmentally safe for your family and pets and won't harm any animals. And since it doesn't smell awful, you won't scram from you own garden after you spray! We are so confident on the effectiveness of our repellent that we fully guarantee it!
But don't just take our word for it. Patty Y. of Hillsborough, North Carolina writes:
"I think the magic potion has been discovered in I Must Garden deer repellent. I started using the product two months ago and have not lost a single plant since!".
We want you to be satisfied with every purchase from I Must Garden. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us
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