DEER

Although human use accounts for the greatest loss of our natural landscape in Virginia, deer run a close second in the disappearance of vegetation, not only in natural areas, but in home landscapes as well. As deer populations continue to expand, woods are being stripped of the vegetation that other wildlife depend on.

The most our local landscape can support is 15-20 deer per square mile, but much of Virginia is suffering under the burden of 60-100 deer per square mile, a human-induced phenomenon. We need to help the rest of the living world to fight back!

PROTECT YOUR PLANTS! HERE ARE SEVEN WAYS TO KEEP DEER AWAY FROM YOUR PLANTS.

1. Fencing. The only completely reliable protection is a fence. Six feet might do, eight feet is safer. Home supply stores sell a tough black plastic mesh in rolls for this purpose which is nearly invisible when seen from a distance and which can be attached to trees or posts.

2. Temporary enclosures. Newly planted trees and shrubs may be protected by cages made out of wire fence cloth or tree tubes.

3. Netting. Netting over the garden bed is relatively effective, but can be a nuisance. Birds and other animals may get caught in it.

4. Repellants. It works best to use multiple strategies at once and to rotate products periodically.

5. Smelly sprays.  Usually based on "putrescent egg solids," sometimes mixed with other oils such as rosemary or lavender, and a spreader sticker.  Must be re-applied periodically, usually every 30 days.

6. Granules such as Deer Scram. These are applied to the ground monthly.

7. Capsaican tablets. These are put into the ground in spring. As the plant grows, the roots take up the capsaicin, which makes the leaves less palatable.

8. Pin small plant plugs down with garden staples.

9. Motion activated sprinklers - can be quite effective, if you have a hookup with good water pressure.

Learn more about the effect of deer on the environment.