Keep Deer Out of Your Gardens, Trees & Bushes

Deer are beautiful creatures, but those who live in rural areas know how much damage deer can do to trees, bushes, and perennial plants. When food is scarce, like other wild creatures, deer will eat whatever they can find in an effort to survive, and deer do not care if they’re destroying private property. Deer can easily do hundreds of dollars in damage to landscaping. Homeowners often feel helpless to stop deer from destroying their property, but there are ways to control deer and stop them from eating and killing trees, bushes, and perennial plants.

Fencing

In order to keep deer out of your garden or yard, fencing must be at least 8 feet high. Fencing of this height isn’t always affordable, especially for those with large yards. Fencing just the garden is sometimes more practical.

If you don’t want to have to go through a gate to enter your garden, consider placing a wire fence above the ground. This may sound strange, but deer are primarily jumpers, and they do not like ducking under fences or anything else for that matter. Placing a fence 8 feet above the ground is an effective deterrent. Repellents may be tied to the bottom of the fencing for extra protection.

Shorter electrical fencing may be used to keep deer off your property, but electrical fencing isn’t legal in all locations. Check with your local building department to see if electrical fences are legal in your area. Electrical fencing kits can be found at building supply stores and garden centers.

Deer Repellents

Human scent is definitely a deterrent to deer. Placing human hair clippings around gardens, bushes, and trees helps keep deer away. Ask your beautician or barber for a bag of hair clippings. He or she will probably be more than happy to fulfill your request.