Home \
Home & Garden
Deter Deer from Dining in Your Yard
(ARA) - Winter marks the beginning of the worst season for deer damage to your landscapes. -With their food supply low, they can't be choosy. Deer are hungry enough in the winter to eat vegetation that they ordinarily would not eat.
You can be sure deer have been munching on your landscapes this winter if you see:
* Rub marks on trees where bucks have rubbed their antlers to mark their territory; the tree bark is actually rubbed off.
* Any kind of torn vegetation. Deer do not have incisor teeth so they "rip" the vegetation when they bite into it.
* Damage about 6 feet off the ground.
* Deer tracks. The prints are about 2 to 3 inches long and are shaped like broken hearts.
So what do you do to keep the deer out of your back yard? Loads of "home remedies" have been tried with varying results … human hair, soap, pepper spray, even a battery operated radio, sealed in a plastic bag, tuned to a talk radio station fooling deer to think humans are in the yard! These remedies might work sporadically, but they are not reliable deterrents for deer.
Then there's fencing. Installing a 6- to 8-foot fence can be an effective solution to some extent, but fencing is costly and can be quite unsightly.
Perhaps one of the most effective and easiest methods to deter deer is repellents. Deer repellents are designed to impart objectionable odors or tastes. Most are not allowed on food crops. Some repellents can also be injurious to certain trees or shrubs, and especially to new growth.
This season, Messina Wildlife Management (www.messinawildlife.com) offers Deer Stopper, a new, 100-percent organic repellent that works by both smell and taste. You won't have to worry about burning your plants or using it on edibles. Deer Stopper is actually pleasant smelling, but the deer find it unpleasant enough to stay away. The product dries clear and odor free. Deer Stopper is ideal for winter protection: if plants are covered by snow, it can be applied directly to the snow to prevent digging and foraging. As the snow melts, the product will bind to the plants and bulbs below the earth.
Deer Stopper is listed for use by organic growers, meaning it is safe to use on any vegetation, including edibles. It is an all-natural, biodegradable liquid repellent that guarantees deer will stop feeding on your prized gardens, shrubs and trees for 30 days per application.
This winter protect your plants and shrubs and create your own boundaries for foraging deer. Now you're in control, just spray Deer Stopper and watch those darn deer disappear from your backyard landscapes.
For more information on Deer Stopper, retail store locations and repellents for other garden pests like rabbits, groundhogs and squirrels, visit www.messinawildlife.com.
Copyright © 2007, ARAnet, inc.
|
|
Previous Story: How to Cut Winter Heating Bills
|