The process of keeping deer away from the yard can sometimes seem like a never-ending battle. No matter how high the fence, a hungry deer will leap over to enjoy a nice meal. Though no form of deer deterrent is totally effective, a method like homemade deer repellent is an easy and cost-saving way to encourage deer to snack somewhere else.
Repellents come in many varieties, but most of them contain harsh chemicals. The labels on these claim to be safe for animals, but one never knows if these statements are true. A safer alternative is the organic treatment sold in many garden centers, but these are usually rather expensive. The cheapest and safest ways to deter deer are found at home using common ingredients.
Things that discourage deer from entering the yard in the first place are called area repellents. Items such as human or dog hair, garlic cloves, or any type of bar soap can be placed in netting and strung from trees throughout the yard. Area repellents usually last for a period of one month.
Contact repellents are applied to the foliage and flowers in order to discourage deer from taking a nibble. The ingredients in contact repellents are things like rotten milk, eggs, and onions. When the mixtures dry on the leaves, the smell emitted by most of these ingredients will disappear. However, the taste will still be unappealing enough to prevent deer from chewing on treated items more than once. These treatments are very effective but require frequent reapplication, especially after a lot of rain.
Recipes for area and contact repellents may be found in library books or online. A simple recipe involves mixing three tablespoons of hot sauce, three tablespoons of minced garlic or garlic juice, and three uncooked eggs. Put these ingredients in a blender, adding enough water before processing to permit the items to be mixed. Add the mixture to one gallon of water, then pour into a spray bottle and treat the leaves and flowers in the yard.
Another common recipe uses ingredients that everyone should already have at home. Mixing an egg with one-quarter cup of water and then spraying this on the plants will be effective. The egg will stick to the leaves, enabling the deterrent to withstand a light rain. For treating large areas, mix two gallons of water with two eggs, two tablespoons cooking oil, and two tablespoons of liquid detergent. Pour this into a spray bottle and treat the plants.
Homemade deer repellent is a cost-effective way to prevent deer from causing damage to the landscaping around the home. Area repellents are hung around the locations where the deer should not enter. Contact repellents are made using household ingredients and then sprayed on plants and flowers. Either should prevent deer from causing any further destruction to the area.
One of the many ways people who are struggling with keeping the deer away from their gardens is to make deer repellent recipes and use them in their garden. You can find many home made deer repellents on our site as well as the best deer repellent in the market… Deer Guard. Deer Guard is member tested and recommended by the National Home Gardening Club.
