DEER CONTROL IN LITCHFIELD COUNTY 10/5/21

New homeowners and those new to this area are often delighted to see deer along roadsides or in their yards. That is, until they see the unsightly and oftentimes irreversible damage the deer can do to their trees and plantings. There are many ways to deter deer from using your precious plants as their personal buffet. While the internet is full of home remedies and other old-wives-tale solutions, there are several things you can do to help keep the deer, and the destruction they cause, at bay. As always, contact your landscape consultant to find the best options for your needs. –Shayne

Most damage from deer occurs between the months of October and February when food is scarce. They love to browse through our garden beds looking for tasty things to eat, and they will eat almost anything! In the early fall they will invade vegetable gardens looking for unclaimed food, garden beds for flowers still in bloom, and the entirety of your property for almost anything else.

There are countless anecdotal remedies and many tried-and-true solutions to help make your property unappealing so the deer will pass through. Every situation is different and the approach used can be as simple as owning a dog or a little more complex requiring well thought out tactics. One method may yield the desired results, or many methods can be used together if the issue is more severe.

If you have mature plantings on your property, deer-proof fencing or an application of deer-repellent may be enough. Motion-sensor lights will spook deer at night but are useless in the daytime just as motion-activated sprinklers are not recommended in winter. Some home remedies employ wind-chimes, coffee grounds, scented soap, or concoctions made with hot sauce and vinegar sprayed on plants. Some of these may be harmful to the plant or soil. If you are experiencing a deer problem, it’s best to let us know so we can find the best solution for you.

If you are designing a landscape and deer are plentiful in your area, use deer-resistant plants as much as possible and try to keep the things deer most enjoy closer to your house. Because deer startle easily, household noise may be enough to keep them away from foundation plantings. Although no plant is 100% deer-resistant, there are some plants they typically shy away from and they can be planted among those plants you wish to protect and make the area generally less appealing to them.

If you are experiencing any problems with deer or other pests on your property, please let us know before the damage is done.

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