Deer-Proofing Your Garden and Landscape

Deer are awe-inspiring to observe because they are beautiful and graceful. However, because of their propensity for eating vegetation (and occasionally meat), these gorgeous animals may be a major nuisance to homeowners. They can cause problems on the landscape, chewing their way through vegetables, flowers, bushes, and even trees, whether alone or in a small herd. How can you protect your garden and landscape from deer? Lighting design landscape specialist Backyard Reflections is here to help! 

Know What Deer Like

Tender greens like lettuce, pansy, ivy, hosta (or plantain lilies) and most young plants are popular with deer. Even if they’re placed in containers, plants that bloom in the spring and early summers, such as tulips, lilies, and roses, appear to be particularly tempting to deer. They eat a wide range of fruits, including strawberries, fruit trees, and other falling fruit. Most trees and shrubs’ bark, twigs, and leaves are also eaten by deer and when they are starving, especially in the winter when food is short, they can destroy woody plants.

Know To Differentiate Deer Damage

Nibbled vegetables, harshly chopped foliage, buds and petals that disappear overnight, hoof tracks in the dirt and small heaps of round black droppings are all signs of deer visiting your garden. Deer antlers are frequently scraped on tree trunks and thorny shrub branches in the winter. Because deer can reach leaves up to six feet in height, scoring on trees that high excludes the possibility of lesser animals being the offender. Getting the opinion of reputable landscape services can also help you further learn about how to differentiate deer damage from other forms of landscaping damage.

Deer Deterrents

Many deer deterrents rely on odor, and their effectiveness varies depending on how quickly the deer in your yard adapt to them. Many approaches are only effective for a few days at a time, so learn to switch it up from time to time with different odors and materials. The following are some common deterrents that can be spread about your plants:

• Deer repellent plants like mint, rosemary, and Russian sage
• Garlic
• Fabric Softener (use ones that don’t severely affect plants!)
• Hair
• Blood meal fertilizer/animal feed

There are also several varieties of commercial repellent sprays as well as DIY deer-deterrent sprays for plants, such as rotten egg and water, soap spray, and hot pepper spray. Make sure your deer repellent sprays are as natural as possible to avoid any significant side effects. In other cases, homeowners even try to entice deer away by placing the animal’s favorite food in a far-off location away from the garden and flower beds.

If you think odor deterrents aren’t enough, deer will stay away from your gardens if there are certain barriers and items to avoid. The most obvious obstacle is fencing, although thorny branches and reflecting surfaces can also be helpful. The following are some other physical deterrents:

• Thorny shrubs and branches
• Concealed fishing  lines
• Fences
• Netting
• Floodlights

Contact Us!

Need the professional assistance of outdoor living contractors? Backyard Reflections is a full-service residential landscape design/build company with 20 years of experience. Since the year 2000, we have offered premium landscaping services to transform dreams into reality, creating unique outdoor spaces. From initial consultation through project completion, our talented team specializes in collaborating closely with our clients. After installation, we may also maintain and protect the beauty of the finished project to ensure maximum appeal for your property.

For any inquiries, contact us through our Annandale Office (320) 274-6336, Pequot Lakes Office (218) 454-1065, or fill out our contact form to request an estimate. We proudly serve clients and homeowners in the state of Minnesota.