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Deer-Proof Your Backyard With The Help Of These Natural Ingredients
By ASHLEY WHITE
Garlic
White-tailed deer have 60 times the number of olfactory receptors as the average person and a natural aversion to the smell of garlic, making it an effective repellent.
To make a deer repellent spray, mix garlic with mint, combine it with eggs and water, or add red pepper sauce to it for a truly abhorrent scent. Re-apply after heavy rains.
Eggs
Putrescent whole egg solids are used in commercial deer repellents, and you can make one at home by mixing six raw eggs with one gallon of water to create a foamy mixture.
Leave it in the sun to putrefy, then spray on dry plants. Reapply the mixture every few weeks and after rain once the plants have dried. Avoid spraying on plants you plan to eat.
Human Hair
Deer fear humans more than other predators, so placing hair in your garden can deter them. Scatter it in mulch or garden beds, or hang it using pantyhose or cheesecloth.
Herbs
Aromatic herbs like mint and lavender can deter deer with their strong scents. Other effective herbs include basil, dill, oregano, sage, thyme, rosemary, parsley, and fennel.
Create a protective herb border around your garden, or pair them with plants deer favor. If space is limited, grow herbs in containers and place them near vulnerable plants.
Vinegar
Deer dislike the strong, overpowering smell of vinegar. To deter them, soak old rags in white vinegar and attach them to stakes, placing them around your garden.
You can also hang the rags from tree branches using rope or twine. Resoak the vinegar rags every seven to 10 days to maintain the scent and keep the deer away.