What do I use for deer repellants?
I have some Euonymus shrubs that have been growing peacefully in my yard for over 20 years. Last fall I noticed deer damage on two of them. I used a product called Hinder that seemed to help but it was hard to say as it was past the growing season. This spring I've found more damage on a shrub that wasn't eaten before. But with heavy rains every few days spraying Hinder isn't practical. Can you suggest anything? I've heard that tying bars of certain brands of soap in the branches will keep deer away but I don't know which brands. And how effective is deer fencing?
Answer
You can try the soap, but I suspect that Hinder would be more effective. The soap was something we used years ago before the liquid repellants were developed. The soaps that we used were the very strong smelling ones like Dial or Lifebuoy. Netting works, except for the little branches that poke through the net.
Effective protection from deer is one tough problem. You may want to consider a 5 foot fence, which, from what I’ve been reading, may work. See the link below on effective deer fencing. See also the subject guide on Deer in the Garden.