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How to Keep Deer Out of the Garden for Good

Deer are one of the most dreaded wildlife pests since they eat nearly everything in their path, even plants that claim to be deer-resistant.

So what’s a gardener to do? You DON’T have to put up an electric fence—there are better, safer, and more humane ways to keep deer out of your garden.

Plant things they don’t like to eat.

– Poisonous plants (like daffodils or foxglove). – Plants with a strange or unappealing texture (like fuzzy or prickly leaves). – Plants with strong scents or bitter flavors (like marigolds or peonies).

Build or extend an existing fence.

– Tall enough to prevent deer from jumping over. – Low enough to prevent deer from crawling under. – Solid enough to keep them from seeing what’s on the other side.

Image: NC State Extension

Enclose garden beds or plants individually.

If you only need to protect a few vegetable beds or specific plants, it may be easier to enclose those plants individually with cloches, cages, netting, or other physical barriers.

Use deer spray or other natural repellents.

When used correctly and diligently, deer repellent sprays are very effective. Many of them include active ingredients like cinnamon, clove, or mint in their formulas (scents that deer dislike) and are harmless to wildlife, pets, and children.

Never feed the deer.

Deer will congregate in places where food is readily available (and bring their friends along too) which can lead to an unhealthy lack of fear toward humans, increased risk of disease transmission between animals, vehicle collisions, and habitat degradation.

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