Deer Fencing for Your Garden
Okay, you have a problem with nuisance deer passing through and feeding on your vegetable or flower garden. There are several things you can to do to try and keep deer out of your garden, but you should be aware of the fact that deer are creatures of habit. Once deer have established a feeding area, their patterns are difficult to change. There are several remedies that you can try, but the simplest way to protect garden is to install a deer proof garden fence. Keep in mind that deer can jump approximately eight feet high and a deer fencing at least 10 feet high, will keep deer out of your garden permanently. Also, deer fencing that slant outwards often prevent deer from jumping over them.
Here’s a list and explanation of the most common types of deer fencing:
Wire and Polypropylene Mesh – The mesh comes in heavy-duty black or “clear coated” that renders it almost invisible. From a distance, the black mesh is nearly invisible and blends well into objects and shadows in the background. Installation is easy and costs less than metal fences. This fencing is also good for enclosing large areas of your property. Attach the mesh to trees and posts. This type of mesh normally lasts for about 8 to10-years. Clear polypropylene mesh is not as durable as the heavy-duty black and over the years, persistent deer can weaken the mesh.
Electric Deer Fencing – This type of fencing uses an electric shock system. Pieces of aluminum foil, covered with peanut butter baiting are wrapped around the wire posts. The metal wires of the fence, causes an electric shock to the deer that stops by to nibble on the peanut butter bait. Environmentalist’s worry that this type of deer fencing may also be a danger to other wildlife, domesticated pets and small children that may wander into the deer fencing.
Ground Barriers and Repellants – Placing black plastic, newspaper or mesh fencing laid on the ground around your garden perimeter is another method used to keep deer, raccoons and skunks away, because the animals don’t like to walk on slippery or unfamiliar surfaces. Deer dislike getting their hooves caught in the wire mesh. Deer repellant products come in organic varieties that consist of urine and other predatory animals. Scent repellants often keep deer away because of the disdain smell or taste of the chemical.
Instead of using commercial repellants, gardeners have had some success with homemade repellants. Mix three eggs in a blender with one cup of water. Add the mixture to a gallon of water and spray it on your plants. Once the mixture is absorbed by the plant, the egg spray lasts through rain and yard sprinkling for about three or four weeks. Other gardeners hang bars of Ivory or a strong deodorant soap in plantings to keep deer away.
Try planting conifers, shrubs, perennials, flower bulbs and annuals around your garden. These plants usually do not appeal to deer. Also, you can also keep hungry deer satisfied by leaving large buckets of fresh water in a location far from your garden, and plant some alfalfa or clover around the bucket for the deer to munch on.
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Published in: Gardening
LeluLumpkin | Nov 7, 2012 | Reply
This is a really nice article. I was thinking I would need to buy a metal fence in Calgary but I think first I will try the egg mixture and spray it on my plants first. Thanks for the research you put into this.