How to Stop Deer and Other Animals From Ruining Your Yard (Without Ruining Your Yard)
If you’ve put a lot of effort into planting your outdoors, the last thing you want is for pests to take up residence and use your yard as their own personal storage room. If you don’t take a proactive approach to keeping them away, animals like deer, rabbits and raccoons can quickly destroy your flowers, fruits and vegetables.
You probably don’t want to spray your space with a bunch of chemicals that could harm you, your plants, or even pests—so try one (or more) of these safer strategies instead.
Build a physical barrier
Fencing can be the most effective way to keep animals away from your plants since they won’t be able to eat them if they can’t get to them. Deer fencing is tall (usually 7 feet) with narrow weave and can be made of wire or heavy plastic, and wire mesh can keep rabbits away . Make sure your wire fence is at least 4 feet high, buried 6 inches deep to prevent burrowing, and curved away from the garden to prevent jumping and climbing. You can also use domes or wire mesh cages on top of the beds. These are not the most attractive solutions, but they work.
Growing in greenhouses or fenced raised beds with high sides can also limit insect damage. Or, if you want a more natural physical barrier, place a thorny bush or hedge native to your area around the plants you want to protect.
Finally, tall grass and shrubs along the edges of your yard or garden can create a natural barrier to entry while also providing a low-stakes snack for pests. If they become filled with these plants, they can cause less harm to those you care about most.
Use smells and tastes they hate.
If you’re going to plant something that animals like to eat, you should also plant something that they don’t like to eat – very fragrant plants are fine. Rabbits do not like flowers such as lilacs, zinnias, daffodils, lavender and snapdragons, as well as onions and garlic. Sage and other herbs can also repel insects. For deer, try placing containers of mint around the edges of your garden, as the smell will deter them. Anything textured or prickly can also act as a natural deterrent.
Besides plants, there are other odors and natural substances that can repel animals. The Farmer’s Almanac has a long list of recommendations for rabbits (and another for deer ), but the most common are talcum powder, Irish Spring soap, and cayenne pepper, which can be mixed with water and sprayed around plants or beds. Peppermint oil applied to hard surfaces or peppermint tea bags placed near plants can repel deer. Be sure to reapply after rain.
Scare them away (gently)
Frightening creatures when they enter your yard or approach your garden can deter them from approaching your plants. Motion-activated lights and sprinklers that can be easily moved to different locations are a good option, such as solar-powered lights that stick into the ground. If you have a problem with rabbits, try placing small mirrors or jars of water in and around your garden, this may deter them. Ultrasonic devices can also repel deer without harming them.
Keep your yard tidy
A tidy yard offers fewer opportunities for pets to live. Consider storing compost in a covered container and clearing away piles of brush and leaves. Seal holes that could be rabbit dens and block the entrance to the space under your deck or porch.
Of course, none of these methods are foolproof, and some may only work temporarily or in combination with each other. It is best to be realistic about the problem and the effectiveness of the solutions.
Finally, keep in mind that some creatures can actually be beneficial to your yard , as they both increase the diversity of your outdoor ecosystem and protect against harmful pests. For example, birds can be effective pollinators and provide pest control services by eating mosquitoes, aphids, and even rodents. Toads, frogs, lizards and worms can also contribute to the growth of your garden.