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Deer Control
The U.S. deer population has expanded to more than 25 million, from less than 500,000 at the turn of the century.
This proliferation shows no sign of slowing, because there are few natural deer predators. The problem is most severe
in suburban communities where humans and deer compete for limited natural habitat.
In the United States deer browse causes an estimated $750 million in damage to forest regeneration programs.Besides
immediate browse damage, residual problems include: growth suppression, future yield reductions, growth deformities,
regeneration delays and plant mortality where plants are repeatedly browsed or pulled out of the ground. This is a
cost the forest indsutry can no longer afford.
The susceptibility of any plant to deer
damage is dependent upon many factors. Deer population, alternative food source availability, environmental factors,
and location all influence the degree to which deer feed on any plants. No plants are safe under all conditions. The
plants listed as rarely damaged are eaten only infrequently and are most likely to be avoided by deer.
Tree Guard is a popular product that customers admit works better than other products they have tried.
One of the most effective ways of deterring deer from feeding on your favorite plants is to provide perimeter plantings
around the yard of plants they like, but that you don't care about. This will keep the deer fed, without them needing to
go after your favorites. In conjunction with this, use physical deterrents to divert the deer traffic away from your
plantings. Stone walls around raised beds are discouraging to deer. They don't like to climb up if they don't have to.
Physical barriers such as landscape netting is also quite successful at deterring deer. The black mesh is fine enough
that you don't really notice it, but the deer and other animals can't get through it.
Using plants that deer do not like will help ensure that your landscaping will be less attractive to deer.
This can make the design process more challenging, but with a little creativity, you can develop a very attractive landscape
that will cause you a minimum of deer-induced headaches. Red or yellow-leaved barberries can add season-long color to your
plantings to take the place of some of the flowering plants that deer like. Pieris can give you early Spring bloom instead
of deer-prized azaleas. Ornamental grasses can give a great look to sunny areas and are available in a wide range of sizes
and colors.
Studies have shown have shown that ordinary bars of soap applied in the same manner as hair bags
can reduce deer damage. Drill a hole in each bar and suspend it with a twist tie or soft cord.
Each bar appears to protect a radius of about 1 yard (1 m). Any inexpensive brand of bar soap will work.
Human hair is an odor (area) repellent that costs very little but has not consistently repelled deer.
Place two handfuls of hair in fine-mesh bags (onion bags, nylon stockings).
Where severe damage occurs, hang hair bags on the outer branches of individual
trees with no more than 3 feet (0.9 m) between individual bags. For larger areas, hang
several bags, 3 feet (0.9 m) apart, from a fence or cord around the perimeter of the area to
be protected. Attach the bags early in spring and replace them monthly through the growing season.
You can get hair at local barber shops or salons.
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