Michael Mengak, professor in the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, spoke with Southern Living about how to keep deer from destroying your garden.
Deer will eat whatever’s available.
“They don’t stand in one place and devour the whole plant but rather graze selectively with a nibble here and there,” said Mengak. “They’ll eat things they’re not ‘supposed’ to eat, too, if they’re hungry enough and there is a large population of deer in the area.”
Advice Mengak gave includes putting up a 6-foot fence, adding depth to your fence, using scare devices and putting out repellants.
“They also must be put out before deer learn to come to your yard for groceries,” Mengak said.
Don’t use just one repellant either; rotate and reapply after precipitation.
“Keep them guessing, and don’t let it wear off,” said Mengak. “And be aware that some deer don’t care about repellants.”