Controlling Deer In My Landscape
You may be excited or even feel a sense of awe, the first time you see a deer in your yard.
They can be beautiful, however…
As pretty as they are to look at unfortunately, deer can quickly decimate decorative trees and shrubs. Vegetable gardens and fruit trees are especially vulnerable. Not only can they be
destructive to your vegetation, deer can also carry ticks that spread Lyme disease, that can have a major effect on both people and dogs.
We regularly get questions from homeowners about the best method for deterring this potential nascence. To determine what will work best for your yard, you’ll need to assess the area in need of control.
Vegetable gardens
Gardens are highly attractive to deer, they will eat not only the fruit or vegetable but can chew through the plant material in no time. The best protection for gardens is a well-constructed fence or cage around the garden and doesn’t involve the use of sprays or chemicals.
Landscape
One technique to reduce deer grazing on your landscape plants is to substitute less palatable species of plants for those that deer prefer. Deer-resistant species include yarrow, coneflower, lavender and daffodils. However, there is no guarantee that a hungry deer will leave these plants alone entirely, you may find you need additional protection.
If you choose to use repellents spraying or granule repellents may be the best routes for control on landscape plants, while not affecting the aesthetics of the landscape.
There are many different sprays available in both homemade and commercial options. Using a liquid allows you to spray directly on foliage and target specific areas. Some commercial brands use latex and wax as a protective coating to help the product last on the plant.
Granular formulas are limited in that they can only be applied to the ground; however, a huge plus is that it can be applied in freezing temperatures, providing wintertime protection. Most of the granule products utilize garlic black pepper and other herb oils on a carrier.
Keep in mind whichever application method you choose, one application especially during the growing season will not be enough, so be diligent and re-apply to protect your beautiful landscape. Be sure to always follow the directions listed on the product label.
