A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion Plant pests and problems deer damage

This winter the deer have eaten all the leaves off my PJM Rhododendrums and I am sure of no blossoms,but I don't know if this trauma will kill the shrubs or is there hope? There is not a leaf remaining! Any advise? Also,any information about how to keep the deer away from them? I have tried soap, hair and wind chimes and nothing seems to work! They have become very comfortable and bed down close to yard and road and they cross through the yard often.I can scare them off but they keep returning.Help!!!

Welcome Persistence. That might be a better name for your deer, though.
My dog is about the best deer repellent I have. He barks and chases.
I have seen things like coyote urine or hot pepper sprays to repel deer. All of those types of things need to be replaced after rains. And are costly.
I think the favorite thing I have seen advertised is an impact sprinkler on a motion detector. It goes off for a few minutes when something crosses its path.
I do not know if your rhodies can be saved. It will depend on further damage and watch for new leaf growth.

How old are the rhodies? When we moved to our new house last year, there were 2 rhodies that were old and had been left to grow as they pleased. They were about 10 feet tall and I couldn't see sections of my house behind them! So after some consultation with some people here, I decided to just hack away at them. I was told that rhodies are pretty resistant and that they'd probably be just fine, tho they probably wouldn't bloom this spring since I cut most of the buds off. I took them down to about 3.5-4" in height. They did put out some new leaves before it got cold for the winter and they certainly don't look dead. So, I'd think yours are probably ok, tho they might not bloom this year.

There is a town not too far from here where nearly everybody has rhodies. The town is on a mountain and in the woods and there are deer everywhere. I have noticed that just about everyone in that town has deer fencing up. It is made so that you can still see through it pretty well and it doesn't look totally hideous (if you live in a wooded area....I'm sure it would look rather strange if you live in a development or something). I like Memosa's thought of feeding them somewhere else. We used to do that with rabbits to keep them away from our garden.

feeding them elsewhere is brilliant but ...but deer usually browse so if your food "plot" is on the way past the bushes they will still stop in transit and eat .....a dog is about your best bet deer will stay away from a dog that barks or chases them ...but i have seen some deer be friendly with tied out dogs so who knows ......now my little suggestion .......i would try moth balls in a 20 ft circle ....deer for some reason just do not like the smell of them and i have used them while hunting dropping a few on a game trail here or there to try to change there route of travel and steer them more towards my opening for my archery stands......i have a 12 pt wall hanger that was taken this way 3 yrs ago ......