8 Ways To Keep Deer Out Of Your Garden

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Struggling with deer eating your plants? For those who live in the country (and often even gardeners within city limits), it can be difficult to keep deer away. Fortunately, there are plenty of safe, effective ways to keep deer out of your garden and keep your plants thriving!

While some gardeners turn to sprays and deer repellents, many prefer more natural methods for deterring deer. In this post, we’ll explore some of the safest, tried and true ways to keep these beautiful creatures away from the garden. For the most success, try combining two or more of these techniques.

8 ways to keep deer out of your garden

Here are 8, effective ways to keep the deer away from your homestead garden.

1. Invest in deer fencing

One of the most effective ways to keep deer away from your plants is to invest in some tall, quality fencing. Most whitetail deer can jump 6′ or more from a stand. Therefore, for best results, consider a fence that’s 7′ high or taller.

If your fence isn’t 7′ but you have taller posts, consider adding a wire up top to add some height to your fence more inexpensively.

Another idea is to plant trees or large shrubs inside your fence as another blockade for the deer. Even if they can technically jump over the fence, they won’t want to if trees and shrubs are blocking their landing.

2. Add noisy or shiny objects

If you have a fence in place, consider adding noisy or shiny objects to it, such as plastic grocery bags. They’ll blow in the wind and spook the deer away from your garden. Other objects that work well for scaring away deer include CDs or aluminum pie tins.

If you don’t have a fence, you can also hang these items from posts or tree branches.

3. Grow deer-repelling plants

Planting herbs, flowers, or other plants that deer won’t want to eat is perhaps the most beautiful, natural way to keep your garden lovely and make sure the deer are uninterested in your crop. You’ll want to choose plants that are heavily-scented or prickly. Here are some ideas for the best deer-repelling plants:

• Rosemary
• Garlic
• Chives
• Mint
• Lavender
• Lamb’s ear
• Globe thistle

4. Place rocks around your garden’s perimeter

Deer don’t like to walk on rocks, so creating a perimeter made of rocks is an effective way to keep the deer away. For best results, vary the sizes, using both large and small rocks to create an uneven surface.

5. Use Irish Spring soap

Many seasoned gardeners swear by Irish Spring soap for keeping deer away, as deer dislike the strong scent of the soap.

To do this, simply grate the bar of soap and sprinkle it around the perimeter of your garden. Then, replace it every few weeks when the rain starts to wash it away or the smell starts to fade.

Another common method is to hang the full bar of soap in a mesh bag and tie it on a shepherd’s hook or a tree branch.

To really keep the deer away, try switching up your scents. Use Irish Spring soap for a while, then try other pungent scents such as garlic or hot pepper spray. Deer are smart enough to get used to deterrents, so switching it up is a great way to keep them out.

6. Let your dog run in the yard

If you have a dog, letting it run freely in the yard is one of the best ways to keep deer away. If you don’t already have one, you might consider adding a doggy door so that your dog can run outside and bark the moment it spots a deer. Using your dog is a simple, free deer alarm option!

If you usually keep your dog on a leash or chain outside, the deer will likely be smart enough to know that the dog can only go in a specific area. If possible, consider moving your dog’s leash area around the yard so that the deer aren’t sure what to expect.

7. Install motion-activated deterrents

Motion-activated lights or sprinkler systems are another great way to keep deer and other pests out of your yard or garden. Deer are easily spooked, so if they set off anything that’s bright or loud, they’ll want to get away in a hurry.

8. Keep your garden close to your house

In most cases, deer feel safest in open spaces away from people and pets. If you’re still in the planning phase of your garden, consider starting with a kitchen garden near to your front or back door. If the deer notice you going in and out or can hear the sounds of the home near the garden, they’ll be less likely to be frequent visitors.

Don’t forget to switch it up!

Remember that deer are often smarter than we give them credit for! Therefore, the success of these methods may vary by the year and even by the season. So, don’t give up! Vary your methods so the deer don’t get used to them. And remember, if it doesn’t work one year, it may work the next year. Keeping deer away often means experimenting with what works best for your yard and your garden.

Homesteading, growing a garden, and raising your own food isn’t always easy, but it’s worth it!