How to Keep Deer Out of a Garden: 4 Strategies to Deter Deer

Garden beds are like a banquet feast for hungry deer, especially during seasons of drought or heavy snowfall. Deer and other critters can dig up your bulbs before they sprout in the early spring growing season. Deers love feeding on several types of plants, including perennials and fruit trees in particular. Deer might clean up some of the fallen fruit from your lawn, but they can cause severe damage to your unpicked fruit and branches.

The first signs of a deer problem in your garden or yard include droppings, trampled foliage, and broken branches. In the fall—rutting season for deer—male deer will scrape their antlers on the bark, leaving gouges and scrapes that can stunt the tree’s growth.

There are numerous species of deer, all with nuanced feeding habits and preferences, so there isn’t one surefire way to keep deer away from your vegetable garden. You will need patience to develop the right blend of deer-deterring strategies for your local herd. Here are four DIY pest control techniques that you can consider using to help you ward off deer from your property and keep your garden plants safe from harm.

1. 1. Add deer-resistant species. The intermittent planting of deer-resistant plants can help save your surrounding plants. Certain foliage with strong scents, like salvia, or a fuzzy texture, like lamb’s ear, can help repel deer. For flower beds, choose deer-resistant flowers and bulbs—these can include daffodils, marigolds, hydrangeas, geraniums, and azaleas. Planting certain aromatic vegetables and herbs like oregano, hot pepper, and chives can also deter fawns and younger deer from wanting to remain nearby.
2. 2. Employ scare tactics. Deer have excellent hearing and night vision, so they are highly sensitive to loud noises and other scare tactics. Scarecrows, wind chimes, and automatic sprinklers can act as natural deer deterrents for these nocturnal intruders. However, you might need to mix up your strategy once local deer acclimate to your defenses.
3. 3. Install fencing. Although deer can jump and maneuver over great heights, some deer fence options can create a physical barrier. A fence must be at least eight feet tall to stop deer in their tracks; however, a more practical, cost-effective strategy would be to install electric fencing around your perimeter. For homeowners with small children or pets, the use of fishing line or chicken wire is a more child-safe approach to keeping deer off your lawn and out of your tulips and pansies.
4. 4. Use deer-repelling scents. Deer have a highly tuned sense of smell to help them find food and avoid nearby predators. Since deer perceive humans as a threat, you can hang socks filled with human hair to mimic the presence of people in the garden. If you feel that hanging socks would take away from the aesthetic of a beautifully manicured yard or garden, you can consider using rotten eggs or bars of soap as alternative scent guards. Additionally, retailers sell manufactured deer repellent sprays with other scents that deer dislike. Coffee grounds are a common home remedy for deterring deer. However, there is no evidence that they are more effective than other strategies at preventing your vegetable garden from becoming a salad bar for deer.

Grow your own garden with Ron Finley, the self-described "Gangster Gardener." Get the MasterClass Annual Membership and learn how to cultivate fresh herbs and vegetables, keep your house plants alive, and use compost to make your community—and the world—a better place.