Deer have been known to strip a freshly planted garden to stumps in a matter of hours. Deer are very prevalent in rural as well as suburban areas, such as our own Almaden Valley. Of course, one would think a way to curb that problem would be to plant trees and shrubs that deer do not like. Many of these plants are said to be deer proof, but a warning, most deer
(when hungry enough) will eat almost any foliage. Therefore they should be considered deer resistant plants, not deer proof.
However, you don't have to limit your garden to resistant plants when there are a myriad of remedies to try. First and foremost, also the most obvious, a tall fence! A couple of home remedies include human hair or Irish Spring soap hung in stockings around target areas. They act by emitting odors deer associate with humans. Another product you can use in a stocking is blood meal. Deer associate the smell with dead animals, which can serve as a good deterrent. You can also try decorating your garden with strips of blue cloth or plastic. These strips are supposed to deter deer through some type of visual stimulus.
Although these home remedies might work for some, you might want to consider the use of more effective chemical repellents. There are a number of different chemical repellents available including, Liquid Fence and Deer Scram. Both work by odor, as to deter the deer before they taste the plant. Liquid Fence is a product using inedible egg solids as a base for an active ingredient. The odor is mild but not objectionable."
We have found Liquid Fence to be the most effective product in the mix. It contains a mixture of garlic oil, potassium sorbate, lauryl sulfate and whole eggs that creates a pretty powerful combination. It is long lasting (30 days) and completely biodegradable and environmentally safe. It has a very strong odor at application, but once it dries, it is not noticeable to humans. To learn more about this product visit their website: www.liquidfence.com.
Deer Scram deer repellant is blended from selected organic components. Deer Scram has no foul odor for people, but Deer Scram will keep deer off your plantings because, through their uncanny sense of smell, it convinces deer that harm is nearby. It is organic, rain resistant and lasts up to 45 days. To learn more about this product visit their website: www.deerscram.com.
You may choose to alternate some of these repellents occasionally to keep the deer from getting used to them and building up a resistance.
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