Over the years we have had quite a run in with unwanted animals in our garden, especially deer. Along the way we have picked up a few tricks to help keep them out, without using harsh chemicals or having to build a fence. I thought that I would share a few of them with you today. These are things that we've tried personally, and know they work. Keep in mind though, that animals are smarter than you might think, and can get wise to some of these tactics. It is best to try and mix it up every now and then for continued success...
1) Scarecrow
Old faithful - Scarecrows have been used for many years, and work beautifully. Not just for crows as the name might suggest, but for any number of garden nuisances. Wild animals are naturally afraid of people. That's just a fact. If they think people are in your garden... They won't be! ~ Not to mention, making a scarecrow is also a super fun arts and crafts project to do as a family! It doesn't have to be anything as elaborate as the picture, either. Simply dressing up a cross post with an old hat and long sleeved shirt, can often times do the trick.
 |
| image source: adventbirmingham.org |
2) Hair
 |
| image source: antiagingpress.org |
3) Irish Spring
This one is kinda funny, to me at least. Deer HATE the smell of Irish Spring (the original green bar soap) and won't go near the stuff. I don't know why. I just know it works! Simply shave the bar of soap in and around your garden area. (I especially like to use this one to keep them out of my roses!) The rain will slowly dissolve the soap, so make the pieces kinda thick, so that they will last longer. ~ What's funny about that you ask? Well, my Hubby (the avid deer hunter that he is) used to only shower with the green original Irish Spring bars! He has since changed his soap. LOL
4) Pie Pans
This one is a great way to deter a variety of unwanted critters. Simply punch a hole in a pie pan. Run a piece of string or twine through the hole. Then tie it up somewhere close to, or in your garden. Make sure it can swing in the wind, and that the location is sunny. The movement and reflections of light will keep out deer, birds, and many other garden robbers. Hang up several for added protection.
5) Video / Cassette Tape
This one works along the same concept as the pie pans (with light reflection and movement) but with an added sound factor. Pull the ribbon out of any old cassette or VHS tape. (Make sure it is one that you will not mind destroying... Barney, anyone?!) Tie long strands of the ribbon in and around your garden area, so that they will blow in the wind, and catch a bit of the sunlight. They will also make a rustling sound as they blow, helping to deter unwanted guests. Super easy, and you finally get to get even with that annoying purple dinosaur! ;o)
 |
| image source: popscreen.com |
6) Disposable Plastic Shopping Bags
Like the ribbon, this tactic uses both movement and sound. Simply run a string line either around the perimeter or near the edge of your garden. Every so often, attach a bag to the line. To do this, simply tie each handle individually to the string, so that it looks as if you were ready to fill it. This will allow for maximum visual effect, and it will flap and blow in the breeze, making a rustling sound. I've seen some people attach the bags with clothes pins, but we prefer to tie ours, so that they don't blow off as easily. It's just one more great way to re-purpose those little bags.
7) Radio
Weather resistant radios are fairly inexpensive these days. And given the right conditions (perhaps a shed near the garden) you might not even need that. Set up a radio near the garden and tune it to any 24 hour talk radio station that you can find. If you can't find talk radio, tune it to any station that plays 24/7. The sound of voices will carry through the area, and scare off most animals before they even get close to your garden. Their hearing is far better than ours, and it doesn't take much for them to take notice. There is no need to crank up the volume. Just a simple, regular speech level is sufficient.
 |
| image source:edisastersystems.com |
Well, there you go, 7 simple ways to keep deer, as well as a few other animals, out of your garden without the use of harsh chemicals or a fence. ~ Now, if I could just keep the grass out as easily! ;o) I hope you've enjoyed this little post & if you have any other ideas, feel free to share them in the comment section. We're all in this together, and sharing ideas is why we're all here!
Happy Gardening!
I love the hair idea.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Debbie! It works really well. :o)
DeleteMake sure you put the hair into nylon stocking or something else.. Birds making nest get their feet tangled in it and cannot fly!!! Especially hummingbirds!!
DeleteThanks for the tips! A great way to keep grass out of garden, sprayer around garden with a mix of 1 cup vinegar, 1/2 cup epsom salt and a few drops of dawn, beware it will kill anything naturally. Reapply often, especially after rain.
DeleteOld cds/dvds work great too, just suspend them with fishing line. The sun hits them and animals don't like the flash
DeleteGreat ideas! Many I haven't heard of before. Thanks for sharing at Idea Box.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Danielle! I hope you find the ideas useful.
DeleteWonderful post! You are this weeks feature on The (mis)Adventures Monday Blog Hop!!
ReplyDeleteYay!! That's great news! Thank you so much!!
DeleteWe use a Solar powered fence, one wire knee high, It works great.
ReplyDeleteWonderful idea, Loretta! Thanks for sharing! :o)
DeleteI never knew most of these items would work. Very informative post. Glad you shared at #HomeMattersParty
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Angela. I'm glad you liked it.
DeleteJust to let everyone know, the Irish Spring soap idea really works! We tried this last year and didn't have any problems with animals. We will buy and hang fresh soap every year, since the scent does fade. But the cost of the soap is money well spent, if it prevents the loss of our crop!
ReplyDeleteI see why it keeps the animals away, I do not like the smell either. lol All the best for everyone with a garden.
DeleteIrish Spring never worked here. The deer actually chewed it up and spit it out. I am intrigued about the solar powered fence....I'll have to check that out.
DeleteDo you think hanging wine bottles with a marble in them throughout the garden would work?
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a great idea! If you try it, please let me know how it works out. :o)
DeleteWe live in the middle of nowhere, and the deer here aren't shy. One walked pretty close while we were roasting marshmallows and being really loud, and another two came and ate the grass at my mom's feet in the early morning. They adapt really quickly to new "scare" techniques....Do you have any ideas to deal with that? They've jumped out deer fence several times, and once a buck got stuck in it and tore a huge hole in it!
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely right. Deer will get used to things quickly, and they will no longer be deterred by them, because they have become familiar. The only way that I know to combat this is to change up your tactics often. I wish you the best of luck, Eon. I hope it helps.
DeleteI think the deer around our home just likes our company. Once they hear us talking they come running and hang around. I am going to try the Irish Spring soap idea. We have used the deer fence, but it smells so bad and it is not the odor I want at my front entryway.
ReplyDeleteThat is one good bonus to the Irish Spring soap working so well, it also smells great!
DeleteI use small pinwheels to keep rabbits away from shorter plants. Kinda like the pie pans, but a little more aesthetically pleasing to me.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! Thanks for sharing. :o)
DeleteAnyone hear about Deer Out Concentrate? Does it work or not?
ReplyDeleteI tried Irish Spring - something removed 75% of what I put out, overnight!
ReplyDeleteHow i can keep away deers by spray?
ReplyDeleteOne method I've heard of, but never tried, is run two strands of string around the garden, about 4' apart, and about 20" off the ground. Supposedly, the deer step over the first strand, then when they encounter the second, they feel trapped and want to get away.
ReplyDeleteNo matter how big your house is,( đá sapphire xanh đen) whether you have just bought( ý nghĩa của đá ruby đỏ) a brand new car, or even how much money you have(mua đá ruby đỏ ở đâu) in your bank account, your grave is just that much. ruler. Be humble.
ReplyDeleteThe Irish Spring didn't work at all here. The deer chewed it up and spit it out before continuing to eat everything in the garden.
ReplyDeleteAnd neither did fishing line. They merely plowed through it.
ReplyDeleteI have used The Irish Spring for rabbits when I lived in town and it worked. It was just a pain to keep re-applying. I used my food processor to slice it worked like a charm. Not sure if it will work for deer.
ReplyDeletei have heard that if you surround your garden with chicken wire laying directly on the ground they won't cross it because they hate the feeling under their feet
ReplyDeleteI have heard about putting white plastic forks around plants.Have not tried it but I just put white plastic straws (from Edible Arrangement Mother's Day basket)around plants to see if they work. Wish me luck.
ReplyDeleteWE use the Yard Guard or Yard Sentinal which emits high pitch sounds that we cannot hear but the deer can. It works. Children can hear it though so I unplug it if small kids are around. Also laying white sheets on the ground worked for us. Deer will not cross over them.
ReplyDeleteWe had a serious deep problem. My neighbor has used pinwheels, the kind children (and some adults) like to play with, for several years. Since they have been using them they have had no problems. They have an elevated garden. Two years ago I started using them as well. I have deer tracks late fall, but not while the pinwheels are up.
ReplyDelete