A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion Landscape trials and triumphs Deer!

I'm new here but what a great place to find all things gardening!
I have a universal problem, DEER! Lovely yes but boy are they murder on anything in the garden.
I live in Western Michigan, and we are in a rural setting, we have 7 acres and pine woods, so we have lots of the 4 legged garden wreckers.
We have lived here 9 years, And I have ony this year decided I was really going to put in some beds.
Will post pics later. I have had success with Liquid fence, it really keeps them away if you do the whole perimeter of your property, Problem is, I get complacent, after awhile, and forget the stuff wears off, and there go the Hostas! Filet Mignon of all deer!
I recently planted about ten large Hostas that a friend gave me, She was ripping them out and going to toss them,, AGH, I snatched them up and they look lovely after 2 weeks in the ground.
Been usung a nother repellant, and so far so good, BUT I had them in my yard this morning, 6 of them, No damage but they are looking.
I know everyone has this problem now and again, especially if you are in a rural area. Wondering if some of you have some advise. And no I don't have a dog, When we did they never came near the place.

There are a few million dogs waiting to be rescued.
I get occasional deer but not enough to be a problem. Just fun to watch. I actually keep running water and a salt lick to attract them.
My pesty critters here are ground squirrels. And I have found that plants purported to be deer resistant seem to be equally distasteful to the squirrels. So that is what is planted around my perimeter. That helps a lot.
They do have water sprinklers set on motion sensors (solar) that tend to scare off some of the critters. They are the noisy impact sprinklers. And will only stay on for a few minutes each time they are set off. I've always thought that modifying that idea with other noisy items could make for some fun in the garden, too.
Welcome. You will like it here. I can tell already.

We have deer in our yard a lot but they've never eaten my hostas.

Well We have had a really rainy day all day.
This morning, I went out and a mom and her 2 fawns were in my front bed. Ate down the new Rudbeckia and my asian lilys.
I am at my wits end.
I shot the 22 off in the woods to scare them. They were back this afternoon.

I have tried the fishing line on small bamboo posts, a nursery guy I buy from swears by it. he says they cant see it but they hit there legs or chest and dont go any further.
Umm well maybe but they go around.
I am scared to see what will happen by tomorrow. I may ibcest in one of those ultrasonic things that give off a noise they hate.
As for all the plants they supposedly dont like, Well mine thing everything is yummy.
Thanks for the welcome. I was hoping for a miracle cure! LOL

Keep your fingers crossed for the rest of my plants.
My husband says I am just suppplying them with a salad bar.

I have a lot of deer problems at my house too! This year I bought Liquid Fence and they didn't eat a thing! I just sprayed it around the flower beds and on the plants themselves! First year I got to see my lilies bloom!!

I have thought of getting a sprinkler with a motion sensor. I have no idea how much they cost but it is worth checking into.

Tie your dog there.

I just have a little house dog. I'm sure if I had a big dog it would scare the deer away!

Thats what we have.......heinz 57

He is part border collie.

We have a rat terrier.

don't count on it. even the biggest dog only has to be kicked once by a deer before they come to an understanding with each other.

gosh, my daughter lives on 77 acres and see herds of deer all the time but they never eat her plants. If they munch on my plants it's not enough to make a difference. Wonder how are yards are different from yours.

Me likes terriers.

Difference is the farms have other food for the deer to eat right now.
We plant corn and they go snakey eating it........It is for the cows.
Neighbors put out salt blocks for the deer.

LOL Michigan deer are 4 legged rats.
They are thick as mosquitos. I am convinced that all the years of my neighbor baiting them has made them very happy to be in our yards.
LAst night the 2 hay fields down the street were covered on both sides, must have been 200 plus head.
No baiting this year, they found cases of Cronic wasting disease, so all baiting in the lower penninsula is forbidden.
Dog size I dont think matters, its the smell, When My shepherd was alive I never saw a deer in the yard.
But fear not, I have stocked up on my Liquid fence, and for the last 3 nights, no foot prints or munching.