| what is the best way to keep deer out on a close to zero budget? |
| You could try the commercial repellents which smell/taste bad to deer, or try a homemade one based on garlic and/or pepper. Some gardeners report success using soap (Irish Spring bars) hung from trees. You could also try caging off the plants with wire mesh. In my own sad experience, the only really reliable long term solution is a very tall fence. |
