Deer are the largest garden pest and can wreak havoc in your backyard.
Although these uninvited guests may visit your garden every season, spring is the time when deer are the most troublesome, devouring the tasty shoots with manic passion. At this time, the females either carry or feed their fawns, and males grow antlers (about 2.5 cm per day) and try to regain the weight they have lost during winter. For a winter-weary deer, your garden in the spring is like a vegetable restaurant beckoning with fresh produce.
These animals are not picky eaters at all, deer like to eat a lot of things, feasting on flowerbeds, shrubs, trees, even digging up carrots from vegetable gardens.
They feel most comfortable in twilight (before sunrise and sunset) and like to feed on the outskirts of forests and in gardens bordering on dense trees.
How to recognize deer damage
Jaws of these pests leave ragged marks on the leaves. Animals have certain preferences for certain types of flowers, so they may suffer more than others. Plants that feel soft to the touch are high in water and are favorites on deer menus (such as hostas, rhododendrons, roses, and buds). They do not like rough, bristly and prickly leaves, as well as intense flower aromas. However, a deer will eat anything if its hunger is strong enough.
Plants damaged by deer can be distinguished from rabbit damage by the ragged edge left at the tip.
Split hoof prints and bean-shaped droppings also indicate the presence of deer intruders.
If you notice that bark has been rubbed off from the trees it may point to male deer, who like to rub their antlers on wood.
Preventive measures
Trim the lower branches of the trees so that the animals do not have hiding places. No deer will feed in the open if there are lush bushes in the neighborhood. Always clear the yard of fallen acorns, rotten fruit and leaves, which are like an invitation to a feast to hungry deer.
Choose shrubs that deer don’t prefer (like forsythia, irises and lilac bush), as well as marigold, lavender, daffodils, and snapdragons. You can spread out strong-smelling plants on the border of the garden or near plantings that need more protection. Deer tend to stay away from poisonous and fragrant crops, as well as plants with downy leaves.
How to protect garden from deer
Unfortunately, the only sure-fire way to keep all of the plants completely safe from deer is fencing. You will come across a lot of tips recommending repellants or some weird tricks, but these are not very effective, especially if animals are hungry. Thanks to strong legs, deer are able to jump over any obstacles, except for the highest fences, therefore a proper fence is 2 meters high and well tensioned. Do not use lightweight plastic meshes as deer can end up tangled in them.
Now you know a little more about these graceful but annoying animals. Despite all the grace and beauty, it is better to keep deer away from your plants and take the issue of pest protection seriously.