Well, that was a surprise about it having a vacuum function.

The goals are to get them out from underfoot so that we don't stumble on them and to get them out of the garden beds so that they don't sprout there. I blow them down to the ungardened areas, the first time before many leaves have fallen. We are abounding in oak trees.

I'll take some of those acorns off your hands next year, ecnalg, greenthumb and ssg, so that I don't have to buy so many bags of peanuts!

I've mentioned it many times, but for ssg and others who might need it, this is a really great deer repellent that sticks to plants longer than any commercial product I've tried: blend 1 tablespoon baking powder, 1 egg yolk and 1 quart water. Put in a spray bottle and spray away, focusing on leaves at browsing height and tasty buds. Store in fridge if you don't want it to smell.

The baking powder is the deterrent, not the egg (ever taste baking powder?), so it doesn't smell after it's sprayed on the plant. I have used it on many shrubs and perennials, both on leaves and flower buds. The only plant it seems to have damaged was Mistflower; the leaves got a little brown and crinkly.

Thanks for the tip, David!

Muddy, I'll save the acorns for you!!! That's the perfect solution, since I don't want to compost them and don't want to leave piles of acorns out on the lawn.

for the deer repellent recipe! That's really good to know.

You are welcome to our acorns as well, Muddy.

This is it!!!! I planted two flowering quince on Friday. Looked out the window this a.m.. Turns out the deer like flowering quince. OK I'm getting the wireless deer thingys and I'm going to fix the buggers good!!!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

No I'm not cruel but I hope I get to see one get stung.

Oh no!

Have you seen the new commercial with the man driving the car with his two dogs in the back seat (they look so cute in their seatbelts) and they're debating whether or not to go for sushi or barbeque for dinner. The punch line "...because I have two legs and I'm driving.". Well in the case of the deer, " I have two legs and I'm sick of you eating up my plants". They are actually the same as the invisible fence system but wireless. The deer get trained just as the dogs do to stay away from the area its just that the deer don't get to wear collars. I've pretty much got them trained in the back because of the dogs and I can put up a fence but in the front I'm hamstrung by the HOA and a neighbor who is stupid enough to feed the things luring them into the area. I'm sick of spending plant money on sprays. So, short of just plain shooting or poisoning the creatures this is the most humane remedy I have left.

and it causes them not harm.

I discovered the secret to keeping deer out of my yard years ago: Plant Hostas in my neighbors' yards.

and tulips for the early ones!

GOT ONE!!!!!!!!!! I went out to check yesterday morning before work and one of the sticks was down. When I went to put it back up there was deer hair stuck in it and foot prints all around it. It was one in the lily bed and not a bite taken out of a plant. Worth every dime.

When the deer learn to avoid the sticks and go after your plants again, try my homemade deer spray: 1 tbs. baking powder, 1 egg yolk, 1 quart water.
It stays on longer than commercial sprays and doesn't smell bad; the baking powder residue is what keeps them from eating the leaves, buds, etc.

I'm going to do the spray believe me with that and the sticks close together surrounding the beds....

I watched the videos and must admit laughing when they startled and ran away. I guess I have a mean streak!
Sounds great. Other people's stories with deer agree with the habit mentality, they can get a habit of going to someone else's yard now.

Just read a report by Wildlife Rescue. Inc.org about their non lethal spay program s in Virginia and Maryland for long term deer population control.

http://www.wildliferescueinc.o...

In part
"February of 2015 Update:
In February of 2015, we were permitted to manage our deer population in an open suburban community in Baltimore County, MD using the non-lethal deer sterilization spaying procedure. The MD DNR licensed Deer Cooperator who was our original principal researcher darted deer to immobilize them for the veterinarians to perform the rapid ovariectomy spaying procedure.

We are now seeing natural mortality reducing the deer population. It is sad to see some of our older does pass away, but it would be much sadder to see them killed. The contribution of observing them day in and day out to show the major benefits of non-lethal deer sterilization birth control proved invaluable. Benefits like less browsing because deer do not have the caloric requirements of almost 7 months of pregnancy and 3 months of nursing fawns. We observed spayed does eating for significantly less time than pregnant lactating does who ate up to 3 times longer. We observed how even though they still reside in the community, they serve as infertile placeholders who help keep out new deer while consuming much less. We observed how sterilized deer do not go into heat and they are not chased by bucks during rut, reducing deer vehicle collisions! Our observations confirmed lower deer populations can be achieved in a humane manner without killing deer. "

that's nice.

Ever heard of Choisya, Mexican orange? Supposed to be deer resistant, and looks pretty, though might suffer some damage in really cold weather.

http://www.monrovia.com/plant-...

MariposaMaid said:Just read a report by Wildlife Rescue. Inc.org about their non lethal spay program s in Virginia and Maryland for long term deer population control.

http://www.wildliferescueinc.o...

In part
"February of 2015 Update:
In February of 2015, we were permitted to manage our deer population in an open suburban community in Baltimore County, MD using the non-lethal deer sterilization spaying procedure. The MD DNR licensed Deer Cooperator who was our original principal researcher darted deer to immobilize them for the veterinarians to perform the rapid ovariectomy spaying procedure.

We are now seeing natural mortality reducing the deer population. It is sad to see some of our older does pass away, but it would be much sadder to see them killed. The contribution of observing them day in and day out to show the major benefits of non-lethal deer sterilization birth control proved invaluable. Benefits like less browsing because deer do not have the caloric requirements of almost 7 months of pregnancy and 3 months of nursing fawns. We observed spayed does eating for significantly less time than pregnant lactating does who ate up to 3 times longer. We observed how even though they still reside in the community, they serve as infertile placeholders who help keep out new deer while consuming much less. We observed how sterilized deer do not go into heat and they are not chased by bucks during rut, reducing deer vehicle collisions! Our observations confirmed lower deer populations can be achieved in a humane manner without killing deer. "

I wish this would be happening all around.

I don't believe I'm about to say this. I looked out the back window and there was a deer in the neighbors back yard. I watched to make sure it wasn't about to attack my veggie garden. Well, it turned out to be a nursing mother and her ribs, hip bone and tail bone were standing out to the point she looked like a runway model for a French couturier. My heart just wrenched. She looked like she had just been let loose from Aushwitz. I wanted to run out and feed her. Me! The deer hater! In the end I just called in the dogs and let her eat the neighbours cherry. Someone should make the "deer huggers" and PETA people who oppose the culling of these deer herds suffer the way these starving deer are and then make them declare which is worse, to be mercifully be shot through the heart by a sharp shooter or starve to death like these poor souls. I know I honestly couldn't have chased this poor mother away from even my most precious plant , that's how much her ribs and hip bones and neck bones were sticking out. There wasn't enough of her to make a decent pot of soup!

Enough said. I don't want to go on my rant.