hungry deer

[django]

Has anyone had success with Repellex for keeping the deer from munching on our hostas? My beautiful sagae is half chewed, as are quite a few others. This is the first year that the deer have gotten so close to the house, and I'm not happy about it! Any other suggestions for keeping the brazen deer away? Predator poop? I work in a zoo and have access to some. All suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks!

[viktoria]

The predator poop sounds like a worthwhile idea. No need to spread it all over, let alone close to the house (undesirable olfactory effects); just around the perimeter, especially where you think the rapacious ruminant rats enter.

Viktoria

[ontariohostaholic]

I have been doing some research on Alpaca manure and Alpaca poop as a soil ammender / additive and came across a couple articles that suggested that making a tea out of their droppings will keep the dear away when spread in the garden. If you work at a zoo I'm sure they have Alpacas around. I picked up both some Alpaca Manure and the Alpaca droppings (they call it Alpaca Gold) today and will be giving it a try in the gardens. The Alpaca manure/ poop is not "hot" like cow or sheep manure so it does not need to be aged. It has little detectable smell to humans and Alpacas poop doesn't carry Ecoli bacteria. They say that you can even use it on your indoor plants !!! The only problem that gets mentioned is that sometimes the dogs like to eat it....yukkk!!! Might be worth looking into.

[viktoria]

That has got to be an April Fool post! Why would a herbivore's manure be a better repellent than that of a carnivore?

Viktoria

[django]

We don't have alpacas at our zoo, but one of our employees does. So, I have access to that source, too. I have enough hostas and locations to try mountain lion, bobcat and alpaca. I'll keep you posted. Maybe post some pics of my deer-damaged plants. As I sit here writing this, I'm watching three deer making their way down the hill towards the house. They'll probably hit the bird feeder and then move on to the greens. A sling-shot might work, the barking dog sure doesn't. Thanks for your suggestions and listening to my venting.

[thy]

Will look for the follow up, even I do not have deer problems on Deer road... but they had years ago
The predactor poop or stuff with urin sound bullet proff.. but might keep your friends away too

I know some have used Liquid fence with some success and some have used things like CD on a wire
But one stupid question I have wonderd for years on the forum... how will garden lights work.. the sensor ones activated by movements

[hosta-see]

I use fregrant dryer sheet, I place them on post around my gardens and change them every week or two, or when they lose their scent. I use two different scents to keep the deer guessing.
Gary

[Aud]

Close to the house it could be the rabbits. They are eating the ones close to my house and the deer are taking care of my other Hostas.

My heart is breaking. I have tried everything they think Liquid Fence is salad dressing on the salad.

[viktoria]

Haven't tried the lights myself but have heard that they get used to them after a while.

There are thousands of hostas in my gardens. In Montgomery County, NY, where I live, hunters take more deer each year than in any other county in the state, yet the population remains stable or is increasing! Despite this, only a handful of hostas are touched by deer each year. The solution: dogs! Years ago, when I saw where the deer were entering the garden, I staked a dog out there for two weeks. I had no (zero, nada, zilch!) deer damage for five years! When next I saw damage, I placed a kennel (400 sq.ft.) in that same location and put a dog or two out there for the growing season. The deer try entering the garden from other sides (thus the occasionally grazed hosta) but as soon as the dogs get a whiff of them (and I swear they can spot a mosquito a quarter mile away), they raise a ruckus and the deer vamoose.

Viktoria

[Bill Meyer]

Hi Everybody,

Trickery like predator stuff with no predators, things that make sounds or lights or water sprays, things that smell like dryer sheets or Irish Spring soap, etc. usually only work temporarily until the deer figure them out. Fences and dogs work best, but aren't for everybody. The one thing proven to be a steady continuing deterrent is capsaicin, the hot pepper chemical.

Studies have shown that the hotter the plant the better it works to keep deer away so don't go light on the heat. Pure capsaicin is pretty expensive so not really practical cost-wise, so use the hottest stuff you can lay hands on and make a spray that really burns their mouth bad.

What I'd suggest now is get some seeds of the really really hot peppers like Bhut Jolokia or Trinidad Moruga Scorpion, and grow a number of plants. For only a few dollars a year you can get lots of really nasty capsaicin to mix home sprays with. Use with a "sticker" additive of some kind to make it stay on the plants through rain and you should get good results without breaking the bank. It may take a little experimenting to make a spray that doesn't mar the plants' appearance, but once somebody has a good recipe hopefully they will share it.

........Bill Meyer