Gardening Charlotte

Deer Me

I was meeting friends for dinner when one turned with a distressed look on her face. They ate my whole garden, she greeted me, her hands moving through the air in circles as if she could push the image of her missing vegetable garden away. Not a terrible surprise since she said she has fed these deer since they were fawns.

That’s the first challenge trying to strike a balance between having wildlife close by and a garden. As more of their native habitat is developed for human use, and weather conditions such as drought make food supplies scarce, wildlife will compensate by finding other ways to get what they need, even if it means snacking on your prized hostas.

To prevent deer from using your garden as a snacking spot, there are several things you can do:

1. Identify where their normal path areas through your neighborhood are. Deer will use the same paths so know where they tend to forage.

2. Don’t feed them, or at least don’t feed them close to your garden area.

3. When planning your plantings, place them in areas that have some protection from easy deer access. I have favorite herbs, tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers growing in pots on my deck, where deer can’t easily access them.

4. Plan plantings that don’t attract deer. Daffodils, for example, exude a toxin that repel most wildlife munching. Tulips, on the other hand, are a favorite spring deer treat.

Some other common garden flowers that are deer-resistant include ageratum, geranium, marigold, morning glory, nasturtium, salvia, snapdragon, Shasta daisy, canna, liatris, petunia, phlox, verbena, vinca and yarrow.

5. Deer don’t like pungent smells. Favorite recommendations for dispelling deer are bars of Irish Spring soap, either hanging in mesh bags around the garden or scattered around the garden edge. Other smells they don’t like include mint oil; cinnamon; garlic; hot peppers; citrus, and bundles of dog and human hair scattered around the garden edge.

For an easy, homemade deer repelling spray, University of Missouri Extension David Trinklein, associate professor of Plant Sciences and State Floriculture specialist in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, at the University of Missouri, suggests a mixture of 20% whole eggs and 80% water, mixed well and sprayed liberally around the garden. Reapply monthly and after rain.

6. Deer don’t like moving objects. Whirlygigs, hanging mirrors and aluminum pans, even the old-fashioned scarecrow all work to keep deer at bay. The key is to move them around so deer won’t get used to them.

7. Small plant cages, netting and fences, including electric ones, are the next level of defense. When planning a fence, make sure it’s at least eight feet high or deer will jump right over it.

One note about a favorite recommendation, using moth balls. If you read the product directions, they say don’t, moth balls are doused in chemicals that can leach into soil and are harmful when in direct contact.

Charlotte Ekker Wiggins is a beekeeper, gardener and sometimes cook. Published by El Dorado Springs Sun once in print and online with author’s permission. Copyright 2017, all rights reserved. This column may not be reprinted, republished or otherwise distributed without author’s permission. Contact Charlotte at gardeningcharlotte at gmail dot com.

GAUDY DETERS DEER – Whirlygigs, hanging strong-scented soaps from mesh bags and night flashing lights are among recommendations for deterring deer garden munching.

MOTH BALLS WORK – Although a popular recommendation, using moth balls scattered around a garden to dispel deer is not a good idea. Moth balls contain chemicals than can leach into soil. Here I have a few moth balls in a plastic mesh hanging from a hook to discourage a snake from one of my small ponds. Stay tuned on whether that works. (Photos by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins).