For while I thought the deer were gone. Then this spring we saw the telltale signs of the whitetail deer. The hoof prints, the nibbles and the um…other signs. Then came the sightings. A single doe came strolling through the backyard taking nibbles of various plants. Fortunately most of the plants in our garden are deer resistant so the deer stayed away from those. Eventually she found the vegetable garden. In one evening most of the remaining spring greens were gone and a small sample of strawberry leaves was taken. This is where I became wise, or maybe just determined, and I found a solution – animal netting. I posted posts around the garden and hooked 7 foot mesh all around the garden. There were a few stretches I ran short of mesh and substituted strands of garden twine in between the posts to give the illusion of an obstacle. I’m not foolish enough to think this solution is 100% deer proof but when easier pickings are available elsewhere (like a neighbor’s vegetable garden down the road) it seems to work out just fine!
Now there are three deer to worry about. A doe and two fauns, just take a peak at the video as they wander through our backyard.
A while back when I was looking into deer-in-the-garden solutions I contacted the Havahart company who specializes in animal safe repellents. I found a really interesting device and requested it to try out in my garden. It’s a sprayer that is hooked up to a motion sensor. When the animal is in range it sets off the sprinkler the animal gets a surprise bath! The idea is that they won’t like the bath, will get scared off and will avoid the area in the future. I received the spray device about 6 weeks ago but haven’t been able to test it yet due to the unpredictable events of life. I’ll set it up this week and see how it functions – I’m sure my kids will enjoy giving it a test in the hot and humid days of summer. After that I’ll arrange it to see if I can spray and repel the wandering deer.
Have you ever tried Spray Away? If so how did it work for you?
I have given up on trying to get them (dee) away from the garden. Here along Lake Michigan, they are everywhere so instead of going crazy, I just let it all be. Keeps me more sane than trying to fight the deer. A test of my patience for sure! This year my problem was all the Vole damage I had to bushes and trees. Still working on cleaning that up. Jack
Haven't tried any deer repellents or devices (other than my cottage garden fence).
We are now up to at least 30 (seen and counted at one time altogether) so there are more!
Hope you have good luck with the device.
Dave,
We have a neighbor down the street that has something like this device. They use it to keep the peacocks from staring in their basement windows. Yes I'm told it works. Bad news here if I leave the hose on it makes our plumbing groan all night. During the day the heat would burst the hose when it is in the 90s.
I know that motion lights do not work. The deer are so use to the lights coming on that we sometimes turn on the lights at night for a better view!
We feed the deer wholecorn on the East side of the house so they pretty much stay on that side of the house. Although, they do wander to the West side and nibble occasionally…
I haven't tried Spray Away. The deer nibble on the Mulberry Bushes in the spring and we leave apples and corn at the far end of the yard for them, so they don't come near the garden. My culprits are groundhogs. Do you have a solution for them?