May 01 2009
Anti-deer potion, but will it work
We have a problem with neighborhood whitetail deer, known locally as “urban whitetail.” They feed on just about everything planted into the ground. Newly planted trees, left unprotected by fencing, will be nothing but a short stick by the next morning. I saw that happen to my neighbor lady, who labored for half a day to plant the thing, and lost it overnight. She never tried again. In fact, she put house up for sale and moved away, another frustrated gardener.
If I sit here at my computer by the upstairs window I can take photos of deer walking through my yard, or my neighbor’s, nearly every day of the year. They forage for food, of course, and my yard is easy pickings, normally.
Now I have begun spraying something called Liquid Fence, which is composed of putrescent egg solids and garlic, and nearly makes me vomit each time I spray it on the shrubs in front of the house. After a few hours I can no longer smell it, but evidently deer (and rabbits) can detect the odor and it repels them. Evidently. Supposedly, re-applying about once a month should keep the deer away. We will see.
One thing I DO know: Dogs LOVE the stuff! It smells like poop to them and if left available to them, they will lick it up and roll around in it. What FUN!
Just found your blog…finding it enjoyable. My husband retired yesterday (he is 2 years OLDER than me) and I was searching for “retirement resentment” which is exactly what I am feeling…
I’d be curious to hear how your wife has adjusted to your retirement now after some time has passed.
Ruth
not sure if that stuff works or not but it sounds gross.
A family friend of ours once asked for a couple pairs of my dirty pantyhoose yes I know sounds weird my jaw dropped and I started laughing… but apprently he was using them to tie around the sapplings as the smell (human smell i dont stink honest) keeps the deer from snacking on them… he claims he has done it for years and it works.
So if your stinky stuff doesnt work you could try that… a lady up the road also hung cd’s from trees to ward off deer (not sure if it works but it looks odd I must say)
We ignored the deer who eat our whole garden every year in bc so I cant say i ever personally solved the problem.
Thanks for the comments:
My wife has not problems at all with my retirement; however, I do stay pretty busy. In two years have NEVER watched daytime television.
I can’t shoot deer, even on my own property. Every legal hunting “area” is closely defined and this is considered to be within the urban area, thus “urban whitetail”!
Pantyhose around a tree would be something that I would seriously consider. Thanks for that visual thought.
GRUGGERS