Deer

[saltman]

I planted a few fruit trees out on the ranch. I got a variety not knowing what to expect. Plum, Peach and an apple, once the weather turned nice they took off with a lot of new growth and are stating to flower or bud and then the deer showed up. The ate the top of the plum tree down to nothing and then went after the leaves on the apple tree.

Does anyone have a method other than a tree shield made out of chicken wire to keep the deer away.

Thanks

 

[Farwell]

I put 5 foot fencing around mine and so far it has worked. I made a circle with the wire and anchored it with stakes. I have 5 deer that visit me almost every night. Other than eating some flowers, fruit tree leaves and fertilizing my lawn they haven't been too much trouble. Every time they get into something I have to find a way to keep them out. I have to fence my garden or they will destroy it. I can't hunt in my area so the only herd thinning is road kills.
Dogs work quite well.
David B

 

[BTDT]

I think in a movie (forget which one), they used human hair from the barber shop scattered around on a field to keep away the deer so that grass could grow. May work in real life.

 

[redlevel]

I think in a movie (forget which one), they used human hair from the barber shop scattered around on a field to keep away the deer so that grass could grow. May work in real life.

The Rookie. Nope, doesn't work.

 

[ToadHill]

Purchase a product called Deer Away. It has a latex base with putrified egg and a product called bitrix. Spray the tree and after it drys it will last about 2 months. The deer don't like the smell and if they try a taste, it will burn their mouth. The trick is to train them to look somewhere else for their meal.
I used it commercially for several years to keep deer and rabbits from eating shrubs. I had great success with it. After a while the deer just walked right through my customers yards and found meals next door.

You can get the product on the web. Just google it.

 

[tawilson]

My mother heard about putting Irish Spring soap around the plants. I think it worked. I'll check with her later.

 

[weldingisfun]

My mother heard about putting Irish Spring soap around the plants. I think it worked. I'll check with her later.

That doesn't work either. My mother tried it and told me the deer ignored the soap.

 

[Asymtave]

I put a 4 foot high electric fence around my fledgeling apple orchard. They just jump it.

So - on the advice of a goverment employee that I can't mention - I put aluminum foil on the top wire of the fence. Then I put peanut butter on the foil.

 

[Knotbored]

I heard about using hot sauce (tabasco type) but haven't tried that yet for fear it might damage the blosums.

A local discount store sells off-brand stuff for $1 a liter (must be good stuff huh?)

I might try planting an early-blooming bush near the trees to attract them and spice it up-hoping to train the deer to stay away.

 

[redlevel]

The people who lease my land and plant peach trees on it use some kind of deer repellent that is about like pepper spray, but it isn't 100% effective. They still lose a lot of young trees every year.