On a quick run to the village today, I saw two separate groups of deer – perhaps two dozen in all. This time of year, they are seen frequently, foraging in the open as the weather improves & the supply of food in the woodland is exhausted from winter feeding.

I still get a little thrill each time I see these graceful creatures. We sometimes spot them in the open field across the road from the house, or in the hay field out beyond the back of our property. They don’t come near our house too much – I think the scent & sound of the dogs keeps them away. So I don’t have to worry about losing my garden to these ruminants.

Others aren’t so lucky. Our next door neighbor has a 3 foot fence complete with waving pennants around his large vegetable plot. Although deer can easily jump a fence that high, the fluttering flags seem to do the trick & keep most of the deer away from his beans & melons.

It is a common complaint in the country that deer nibble on just about anything & and are particularly fond of roses & fruit trees. If you can’t imagine how anyone could complain about such a beautiful creature being so close up, try thinking about the time & money that go into garden plants. So most people do want to keep them away from their growing things.

How to do that? A VERY high fence (minimum 6 feet/2meters) is probably about the most effective method. But it’s not very practical cost-wise for properties over an acre. A quick Internet search will return dozens of ideas for keeping deer at bay, from commercial repellents to human & coyote urine. There’s even a book: Deerproofing Your Yard & Garden

But, at the root, all of the formulas & conconctions have a common theme: throw odors at them. They don’t like garlic (hence, daffodil bulbs, lavender, sage & rosemary plants are safe). They’re not fond of the taste of soap or ammonia. And they can’t abide capsaicin, the ingredient that makes chilis hot. A water solution made with any of those items, sprayed on your plants & trees may bring some relief.

Call your local office of the government service that oversees wildlife welfare in your area. They should be able to give you an extensive list of plants native to your area that deer don’t like. And they should be able to tell you what they do like, so you can avoid planting those varieties, or keep them in a fenced yard, vigilantly spray them or post a dog in the vicinity.

Most folks around here worry only about their vegetable gardens, long ago having given in to growing only the flowers & other ornamentals that the deer don’t bother.

Could you give up your favorite tulips, beloved roses or prized rhododendrons? Or would you go to war with the deer?

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