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Name: Steve Prescott, AZ (Zone 7b)      Steve812 Oct 3, 2010 2:39 PM CST |
| Deer have been ravaging my garden on and off most of the summer. It has mostly been a minor annoyance. But four nights ago Bambi jumped over the fence and removed not just the rich purple new growth foliage that had recently appeared on about a dozen roses that really needed new foliage, she removed most of the old foliage from virtually every one of the hundred roses in the garden. This could, potentially, set back my rose garden by months, since this was the only new growth on most of them since April. Only a few of the older, two year old plants were spared. My response is to buy two Contech CR0101 Scarecrow Motion-Activated Sprayers from Amazon.com. May be too late to save some of the roses ravaged by deer this year. But next year, most of the nibbling animals will find themselves wet and cold after munching on rose leaves. Since it can get chilly at night here, even during the summer, my bet is that most of the furry offenders can be trained to stay away. When you dance with nature, try not to step on her toes. |
Name: Zuzu Northern California (Zone 9a)            |
| I'm so sorry to hear that, Steve. I had problems with deer and put up a fence that keeps them out effectively. The deer around here are the small valley deer, so a 6-foot fence is high enough to keep them out. |
Name: Alan Chandler, AZ; 85225 (Zone 9b) Sunset Zone 13            GardenGuyAZ Oct 3, 2010 4:32 PM CST |
| Yeah, that's a real bummer. So sorry to hear the news Steve. :( Alan |
Name: Mike Stewart Lower Hudson Valley, NY (Zone 6b)       Mike Oct 3, 2010 4:47 PM CST |
| Steve, This must be so frustrating for you. It's bad enough when deer munch on plants that are doing well (they recover soon enough), but when they damage plants that are struggling, that's adding insult to injury. Can you put down some nitrogen to get the leaves going again? |
Name: Steve Prescott, AZ (Zone 7b) Steve812 Oct 3, 2010 9:35 PM CST |
| Thanks everyone. I think nitrogen is a good idea. Not sure when it will be too late in the season since frosts are expected in two or three weeks. It was growing time I was counting on. The garden is fenced, but Bambi jumps right over the four and a half foot fence. Maybe if I have the new sprayers in place next spring, the other things that nibble on roses will be kept at bay, too. When you dance with nature, try not to step on her toes. |
Name: Suzanne/Sue Sebastopol, CA (Zone 9a) Sunset Zone 15        |
| I read somewhere that they won't jump over a fence where they can't see what's on the other side. I plan on adding vines & shrubs along bare spots of the fence to make a solid wall of green in my new garden. |
Name: Steve Prescott, AZ (Zone 7b) Steve812 Oct 9, 2010 12:45 PM CST |
| Sue, that's a wonderful idea. My plan has been to plant vines to grow on the fence or roses to grow next to the fence. Thinking of planting a row of rugosas such as Hansa. and a maybe Blanc Double de Coubert. They would be tall, dense, and prickly, making for both a good screen and a rough landing on my side of the fence. It's worked before... Trumpet vine also grows well here. But if I grow vines, my fantasy is to weave the fence with grapes. One short section of fence is in the testing phase for this idea. Meanwhile I've ordered an electronic scarecrow: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000071NUS/ When you dance with nature, try not to step on her toes. |
Name: Porkpal Richmond, TX   porkpal Oct 9, 2010 2:02 PM CST |
| I have seen those advertised, let us know how it works for you. Porkpal |
Name: Steve Prescott, AZ (Zone 7b) Steve812 Oct 9, 2010 2:13 PM CST |
| Wilco. When you dance with nature, try not to step on her toes. |
Name: Toni Denver Metro (Zone 5a) Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.         Skiekitty Oct 9, 2010 10:35 PM CST |
| I know that this is gonna be mean & all, but why not have Bambi burgers? In my experience, the sprayers don't work; I used to live near a large apple orchard & the installed the sprayers be aide the deer were eating all the apples. The deer ended up ignoring the sprayer after a while. I've heard that hot pepper powder would work (main ingredient in those deer away powders). May, if you have an Asian supermarket nearby, you could get some & sprinkle it on the roses (be cheaper than buying the deer away stuff. Or you could go to sam's or Costco & get cayanne powder). If you'd like, I can pick up so HOT chile powder at a local asian supermart & ship it up to ya. But I know that deterring deer is one of the hardest things you can do. Ooh, just thought about coyote urine!! A local garden store here sells that stuff & I'll bet that it does wonders! I know the fox urine works for bunnies & petunias. Roses are one of my passions! Just opened, my Etsy shop (to fund my rose hobby)! http://www.etsy.com/shop/Tweet... |
Name: Zuzu Northern California (Zone 9a) |
| I had no idea petunias were afraid of foxes. |
Name: Steve Prescott, AZ (Zone 7b) Steve812 Oct 9, 2010 11:02 PM CST |
| I appreciate the offers. Not sure "harvesting" deer here is legal. IMO if a deer is a pest and if it is owned by the state we ought to be able to either recover damages or protect ourselves. Sadly, the law doesn't seem to reflect this point of view. Two years ago coyotes used to travel through the seasonal wash that is the bottom of my garden almost daily. Haven't seen one for a few months. Three days ago I saw a pair of knee-high bobcats in the same location. Not sure I know how to get them to pee on my fence. But it seems silly to pay for what nature sometimes provides for free. (Bottled water anyone?) I've heard that human pee will deter deer, too. I'm pretty sure that's not the case in my garden. (It's a pretty secluded place, BTW.) I tried grinding up chile pequins once and the effect, if there was any, was short lived. But that was when I was battling voles and pocket gophers. Might be worth a try. I expect the spray thing to work well since the deer visit at night or near dawn when the air is about 45F. I think being hit by water when it's that cool outside would make a deer a little unhappy. But if it doesn't work, I might try another one of your suggestions. When you dance with nature, try not to step on her toes. |
Name: Steve Prescott, AZ (Zone 7b) Steve812 Oct 9, 2010 11:03 PM CST |
| I'll have to remember that. Don't want any petunias raising havoc in my garden. When you dance with nature, try not to step on her toes. |
Name: Toni Denver Metro (Zone 5a) Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. Skiekitty Oct 10, 2010 9:01 PM CST |
| Petunias are infamous for taking over and only coyote urine (Specifically from ACME coyotes) the only thing that can keep them under control. Seriously, don't want petunias bleeding over into the marigolds or, heaven forbid! take over the roses. That could spell doom and destruction for everyone!! ai-yi-yi-yi... boy did I write THAT one wrong!! What I was TRYING to say was we had a ton of bunnies who were making salads every night in my petunia bed. Even found a bottle of Hidden Valley Ranch dressing in there.. it was that bad. Before we got the dogs, I didn't know what to do, so I went to my LGS and they suggested the coyote urine. Worked like a charm.  Not as strong as fox urine; that stuff stinks. If anyone needs some, I can see how much it is at my LGS as they sell it year round.Roses are one of my passions! Just opened, my Etsy shop (to fund my rose hobby)! http://www.etsy.com/shop/Tweet... |
Name: Steve Prescott, AZ (Zone 7b) Steve812 Oct 10, 2010 10:22 PM CST |
| Is it this stuff? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GPNFOM/ How does one get 4.3 lbs of dehydrated coyote urine, I wonder? On second thought, I'm sure I don't want to know. All I need to know is that petunia's like it. And it will save my roses. When you dance with nature, try not to step on her toes. |
Name: Toni Denver Metro (Zone 5a) Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. Skiekitty Oct 10, 2010 11:41 PM CST |
| No, that's not the stuff I bought.. it was a small bottle that was liquid stuff. And they harvest it humanely from coyotes in zoos.. they have the coyotes spend the weekend or so in a smaller area much like a dog kennel at a nice pound, and when they pee, it drains down the drainhole into a collection facility, where it's then bottled up for the petunias enjoyment. LOL! That's gross!!! :) :)Roses are one of my passions! Just opened, my Etsy shop (to fund my rose hobby)! http://www.etsy.com/shop/Tweet... |
Name: Steve Prescott, AZ (Zone 7b) Steve812 Oct 12, 2010 3:40 PM CST |
| It's the wonderful circle of nature. If you give me the name of the stuff you buy I'll google it. When you dance with nature, try not to step on her toes. |
Name: aka GardenQuilts Pocono Mountains, PA Andi Oct 23, 2010 5:06 PM CST |
| Around here, they say that you need 12' fences to deter deer. They haven't found my garden. Typically the deer and bears seem to stay in lower lying areas near the river. Occasionally a bear will wander to main street and discover the restaurant dumpsters. The park rangers and police tranquilize and relocate it. You can hunt deer in season with a permit on or off your own land. The first day of hunting season is practically a holiday around here. I celebrate by wearing bright orange. |
Name: Steve Prescott, AZ (Zone 7b) Steve812 Mar 29, 2011 7:47 AM CST |
| Update: When the winter rains came and greened up the grass in the nearby national forest, the deer problem all but went away. The deer ate my arugula, but who can begrudge Bambi a nice salad? At any rate, I notice that on the other side of the four foot fence the grass is eaten down to the ground. On the garden side of the fence it is about a foot high. So the fence or the sprayers have been making some difference. I did learn that it's not good to let them freeze with water in them. It made a mess but maybe (I hope) didn't ruin both of them. So they are off until frosts have ceased for the season. When you dance with nature, try not to step on her toes. |
Name: Porkpal Richmond, TX porkpal Mar 29, 2011 2:09 PM CST |
| Good news - so far, at least. Porkpal |
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