How to Keep Deer from Lunching on Your Landscaping

Sure you still shed a tear or two whenever you see “Bambi.” But your empathy for deer can suffer serious setbacks when you discover they’ve been munching on your landscape in which you’ve invested lots of time and money.

Wildlife management experts estimate there are about 30 million deer living in the United States. The animals cause millions of dollars of damage to the farming and nursery industries, not to mention thousands of car crashes each year.

“While avoiding deer on the road may be a matter of chance, you can keep them out of your garden using some proven environmentally friendly techniques,” says Jim Messina, certified landscape architect since 1988, owner of Messina Wildlife Management, and product developer of Deer Stopper. Messina Wildlife Management has been managing deer and other pesky critters, using certified organic products to prevent them from wreaking havoc on homeowners’ landscapes, since 2000. Messina personally developed the product line out of his own desperate need as a landscape architect to prevent deer and other wildlife from ruining his garden designs.

“First, it’s useful to understand where and what deer like to eat,” says Messina. Deer prefer to feed in open areas near cover, such as parks and suburban neighborhoods. Homes with open lawns, summer gardens and ornamental shrubs are particularly appealing to them.

Before you take action, be sure the damage to your garden or landscaping is really being committed by deer and not insects or other pests. Ragged, broken ends of branches, at a height of around 6 feet off the ground, rule out smaller animals and point to deer damage.

The good news is, once one deer has been turned off to an area, others will be reluctant to enter it as well. Deer have good memories and learn from each other. Fencing, electronic devices and chemical remedies have all proved effective in warding off deer. Fencing, however, can be expensive and will change the look of your landscaping. Electronic devices may be unreliable in some landscapes and environments. Some chemical products may repel deer but also prove harmful to the environment.

Fully organic alternatives, such as Messina’s Deer Stopper, do not harm the deer or the environment. Effective for 45 to 60 days per application, the product sprays on and dries clear without any offensive odor. Deer Stopper is available nationwide at lawn and garden retailers and hardware stores. For more information on Deer Stopper and the rest of Messina Wildlife Management’s repellent line, visit www.messinawildlife.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent