Deer Repellents

[Nyboy]

last year I mail ordered a Illinois Everbearing mulberry tree. I was sent a nice healthy tree ( brunt ridge nursery) which started growing right after planting. The 3 foot tree didn't have a chance, because of the deer. I just picked up a 7 foot tree from a locale nursery, hoping lager size will give it a chance. Will put a fence around tree, but only 4 feet high fence ( tree in front yard ). Is there any repellent that works?

 

[NwMtGardener]

Yes, but i cant think of the name. Errrrrrrr, uh, it stunk really bad when you sprayed it on, it was made in Pennsylvania, errrr...

 

[digitS']

Plantskydd .

From others' descriptions, I'm left with no desire to use it.

A motion-detecting sprinkler ? It would be just the sort of thing I'd be drawn to out of curiosity.

Steve

 

[Nyboy]

Weekend house willn't be comfortable with water left on for sprinker.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I haven't tried a commercial product but I've found nothing that repels deer like a fence. Deer are really adaptable. That's why there are more now in North America than when Columbus sailed. We've wiped out their predators and they've really adapted to living around people. The can quickly learn that things won't hurt them. Something might work for a few days, but either they get used to it or it rains and the effect is washed away. I tried dog hair and pepper spray, no good. I cut up a bar of Irish Spring soap and tossed the chunks in with my sweet potato vines after I saw some deer damage. They came back that night and finished them off.

My dogs lay in the front porch at night. I find deer and rabbit droppings all over. I don't know that I'd call my dogs totally worthless but in that regard they are pretty useless, even their dog hair.

Good luck with it. For some of us, deer are a pretty constant challenge.

 

[thistlebloom]

There are a lot of deer repellents that should work well for you NYboy.

There are a variety of active ingredients in every category.
Typically they use bovine or porcine blood, garlic, mint, eggs etc. Some of them use a combination of several.
There are homemade ones but they have to be reapplied after every rain.

Steve mentioned Plantskydd which is one of my favorites. The ready to use does smell bad, not as bad as some I've used, but definitely stenchy. HOWEVER, the powdered form of Plantskydd that you mix with water is really low odor, and not objectionable. The drawback with the powder is that it makes 2 gallons which is enough to do a lot of landscape.
It also is somewhat messy to mix up and requires straining through a mesh paint filter before you put it in your sprayer. The directions don't tell you that, but I'm a quick learner sometimes.
The advantage to most commercial sprays is their longevity when applied according to the directions. I have seen Plantskydd last for 3 months in an area with heavy deer pressure.
I'm not affiliated with any deer repellent company btw, just a user.

Another one I use a lot of is Deerout which is a mint based concentrate.

I just picked up a new one from the nursery last week...running out to truck...
okay, it's called Deer Stopper. The nursery just started carrying it at the request of a landscaper customer. I'll be using it this week so we'll see how it stacks up. It looks like it's active ingredient is egg solids with a bit of rosemary and mint oil.

There is another popular repellent that used to work around here but because of overuse it no longer does unless you spray daily, and it truly stinks. It's called Liquid Fence, and I'm sure it's a great product in an area where it hasn't been used by every golf course and neighbor for several years.

I used one for a customer that she picked up at the Farmers Market, made by a local and it shall remain nameless because I'm here to tell you it smelled just like liquified dog poo. I sprayed it on a windy day and couldn't wait to get home and shower.

The important thing with keeping deer at bay is to keep them off balance by changing up your tactics. If a lot of people in an area start using the same repellent constantly the deer get habituated to it and it is no longer, offensive/scary to them.

Maybe you could use a motion detector sprinkler when you're there, combined with spray repellents and some of that shiny ribbon that I can't think of the name of.

Good luck! There is not many things more aggravating than to find that deer have destroyed a tree or shrub you like.

 

[TheSeedObsesser]

A shotgun with plenty of ammo is a reliable deer repellant, but probably not an option if you live in a highly populated area.

Coyote/Wolf urine?

I think that a 4ft. might work.

 

[bobm]

For deer, a 4 ft fence is only a decoration. One needs at least a 8-10 ft. fence with spaces that are no less then 4 inches that is at least 6- 8 ft. away from the tree in all directions. Doing otherwise... lunch is served.

 

[thistlebloom]

For deer, a 4 ft fence is only a decoration. One needs at least a 8-10 ft. fence with spaces that are no less then 4 inches that is at least 6- 8 ft. away from the tree in all directions. Doing otherwise... lunch is served.

If the fencing is far enough away from the tree that they can't stand on it, or lean on it to reach the tree you're probably okay. Deer typically won't jump into a very small area even if the fence is low enough to do so easily.

There's always that atypical one you get every once in awhile though.

There's always a hot wire alternative too NYboy. There are battery operated
and solar powered chargers on the market.

 

[Nyboy]

Thistle you always have great advice!! solar hot wire sounds good