How to Keep Deer out of a Garden

Deer can be quite a garden pest. Many common plants that home gardeners grow are very tasty to deer. It can be quite annoying to wake up in the morning and see deer destroying your hard work. If you are like most gardeners, you would like ways to keep deer out of your garden and still keep a nice garden. Plus, you don't want to hurt the deer, just keep them away. Here are some tips for keeping deer out of gardens.

Don't grow plants they love to eat. Simple. Many people forget this when starting a garden. They just plant and grow things they like, then worry about deer later. The best way to keep deer out of gardens is to not provide them with a tasty dinner! Deer are known to love some ivies, peas, lettuce, beans, various fruit trees, and berry bushes. They can have a love for some flowers like impatiens and pansies. If you insist on planting things that deer love, a good trick is to plant them as close to your house as you can. You can keep a watchful eye on them much better, and deer may be reluctant to get so close to human activity.

Deer like sweet smelling plants. So, why not mix in a few plants that are not so sweet? Deer in many cases will turn up their noses at things that have a more bitter odor and turn tail. Some of these plants are very desirable in a garden. Chives and mint are great choices. They keep the deer away and are great in cooking. SInce the first choice for deer is a good smelling plant, turn the tables! Plant other ones to mask the odor.

Because deer rely on smell, anything that has a foul odor may work in keeping deer away. Sprinkle chili powder around plants. Mix hot pepper with water in a spray bottle and spray your plants. Garlic and onions have a pungent odor as well. None of these will hurt the deer and make your garden less desirable.

Even though deer pick plants that smell good, they are not stupid. They will not eat plants and leaves that are fuzzy, thorny, bumpy, or otherwise irritate their mouths and throats. Even a sweet smelling flower or plant that has these characteristics will most likely be ignored by the deer. They are looking for an easy meal. Thorny roses provide color as well as a built-in deer repellent.

Deer like the cover of tall grass to lie in. If your yard is surrounded by tall grass or brush, you are inviting them to move in. Cut it down.

Since unripe fruit does not taste as good as ripe fruit, which do you think deer will prefer? A sure way to get deer into your garden is to leave ripe, sweet, tasty fruit and vegetables right there for the munching. Pick your ripe fruit. Even if you are not going to eat it right away. If you don't, and you have a deer problem, the deer will take care of it for you. The ripe fruit should be on your table, not in the deer's stomach.

They jump, but do not like climbing. Build your garden in such a way that forces them to climb, and you have created a nice deer deterrent. Raised beds and terraces may do the trick. Placing obstacles in strategic places around your garden also helps. Deer like and easy walk-in meal.

But remember, just a raised bed garden may bring the plants to the deer's height. Plant in raised beds in the center and make them wide enough so the center is far enough away from deer.

If it is practical, make your garden invisible to deer. How? Put up a fence or hedge that one cannot see what is on the other site. Just any old fence or hedge will not do. A fence or bush that is easily see-through can be jumped over in a minute. If deer don't see a garden, chances are they won't go there.

Not always effective, but putting things in your garden that have movement, noise, statutes, and scarecrows may be a good option.

Wind chimes provide noise, so do whirly-gigs.

Garden statues of various things, like people and other animals may frighten the deer.

Wind socks can have bright colors and move in the wind.

But remember, a well-seasoned deer will know that all these things don't mean a thing.

There is a sure fire way of keeping deer out of garden. Having a tall enough fence completely surrounding your garden. The problem is they need to be at least eight feet high and go completely around the garden. Many times this just is not practical, and it does not look pretty. Plus, it distracts your view of the surrounding area.

If you are a gardener, chances are you like wildlife as well. Keeping deer out of your garden does not mean you want to harm them. don't use poisons or electric fences. Never. Besides, don't we like deer? Surly we can tolerate a few deer feeding on a few plants!

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Keep deer out of your garden.

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