|
|
|
Keep Bambi Out of the Backyard
As residential neighborhoods continue to expand, more and more deer are finding their way into the suburbs.
(MS) — As greater numbers of neighborhood developments are built, more and more wooded areas are being torn down to make room. This is leading to a once unique but now relatively standard problem in suburbs across the country. That problem is what to do with all the wildlife that is suddenly homeless. In particular, homeowners across the country are seeing an abundance of deer showing up on their doorsteps looking for food, particularly during winter days when edible foliage is at a premium.
While the prospect of a deer eating berries outside your kitchen window can sound quite appealing, it can also be quite a nuisance, especially for lawn and garden afficionados. Deer can trample and eat a season’s worth of work in a matter of minutes. Thankfully, protecting your lawn and garden from such a fate can be done in a number of ways.
Sprays
A host of deer repellent sprays exist. Some work better than others. Sprays are often an expensive option as well. All repellent sprays need to be applied regularly to maintain effectiveness and most can be applied to trees, shrubs, bushes and even flower beds. Gardeners beware, however, as applying such sprays to vegetables or fruit trees can ruin the crop. Also, and this is a chief reason why repellent sprays can be so expensive, re-applying after heavy rain is always necessary.
Fencing
As the old saying goes, "fences make great neighbors." They can also make for great repellents, depending on the type of fencing you choose. A standard chain link fence won’t do much, as deer are easily capable of jumping those fences and getting into your yard anyway. That said, a good fence for repelling deer must be several feet high, which can take away from the aesthetic appeal of your property.
Also, fencing, unless it’s around your entire property, won’t do much in the way of keeping planted flowers safe. It can also be very expensive to install, making it a less than ideal option.
Human hair
Though it may sound a little strange, some homeowners swear it works. Deer see humans as a natural predator, which is why they often run away the moment they see a human. The scent of human hair can be enough to keep deer away from a garden or flower bed.
Fox urine
Along the same lines as the human-hair method, fox urine can be sprayed around a garden or flower bed to deter deer, who also see foxes as a natural predator. Fox urine can be bought in most lawn and garden stores. However, like repellent sprays, fox urine must be applied on a regular basis and after heavy rains.
Baby powder
For whatever reason, deer don’t seem to like baby powder. This can be an odd approach to take, but anyone lost for what to do should give it a shot. Simply sprinkle the leaves of plants with baby powder on a regular basis and sit back and see if it works.
|
|
|
|
|
|
