Deer in my garden...help!

jallen76

We live out in the country and deer are inevitable.  So far, they have stayed away from my garden.  I was out there this morning and saw fresh deer tracks.  It walked around the perimeter of the garden but didin't eat anything ....YET!  We will not have the time this weekend to put in a fence, but will next week.  Any recommendations for a deer fence? Or anything else instead of a fence work better?  Also, is there something I can do in the meantime to scare them away.  Aluminum pie pans hanging from my  posts?  I do have low chicken wire fences around my SFG to keep bunnies out, but need something taller for the deer. 

TIA

-auntie-

I have a friend who has a Rainbird system that detects motion and sprays jets of water. Pretty effective.

-auntie-

http://www.zimbio.com/Scarecrow+Sprinkler+Keep+Animal+Away

 

 

 

TootsieK

I use Milorganite ... it seems to deter the deer from my hostas and makes the plants nice and healthy.  But you might feel a bit squeamish about putting it on vegetables.  Milorganite is a fertilizer made from processed sludge from the Milwaukee sewage treatment system.  Deer don't like the smell.  I don't either, but I'm willing to put up with it.

alissa2128

I believe if you plant marigolds around, they will keep the deer away.

lexus192

You likely already know the answer....the ONLY way to truly keep the deer away is with a 5-6' fence.  Sad but true.  When they're starving enough, they'll eat anything.  Our issues aren't that bad in the summer as the woods are full of yummy things to eat but they'd munch on the garden if we let them as we're in the woods. They've taken out so much that we've fenced practically everything in. GL!

ladyyoung

Cayenne pepper sprinkled on and around the flowers has worked for us in the past.  This year, it hasn't been fail-proof, and i wouldn't trust it on our veggies but it's a good short term solution.

toothpastechica

At my reletives they planted a lot of purple...apparently deers dont like purple plants, and it seems to be working! Many of thier other flowers/plans get eaten....the purple ones are still there. Also they planted more desert type plants, which are quite rough/prickly like aloe and the deers dont seem to like those either, so if your climate can grow desert plants that might be worth trying.