While we can appreciate the beauty of deer, they can be quite a nuisance when it comes to your trees and shrubs. Deer love to make a meal out of your trees and shrubs, and the best way to stop them is to learn their habits and outsmart them.
To determine if your trees have been damaged by a deer, you need to look for the following:
At Horhut Tree Experts, our experienced team has put together a few of our top tips for proper deer management.
Like many animals, deer rely on their sense of taste and smell, so it’s essential to use that to your advantage. You can plant shrubs and plants that deer don’t like the scent of; you can deter them from eating your trees. Plants and shrubs like lavender, thorny plants, garlic, sage, rosemary, catmint, and more can help prevent deer from destroying your trees.
In addition to planting plants and shrubs deer don’t like; you can hang things like mothballs, fabric softener, or garlic around your trees to keep them away.
By installing tree wraps or netting around the trunks of the trees, you can prevent deer from chewing on them. It will also help deter them from rubbing their antler against the trees. While these may look unsightly to some, they tend to work on protecting your trees.
Another excellent deterrent for deer is fishing line. Stretch the fishing line tight between stakes placed two or three feet high. As deer approach the tree, they encounter the line, get frustrated, and stop approaching it.
If you want to keep deer off your property, installing a fence or electric fencing will do the trick. Deer can jump pretty high, so be sure the fence is at least eight feet tall and keep the fencing secured at the bottom to prevent them from climbing underneath. With electric fencing, a deer will be given a safe but effective zap to keep them away.
Hanging reflective items in your trees can easily deter deer as it will throw them off. You can use small mirrors, aluminum pie pans, or other reflective items and hang them in the trees using fishing line or hooks. You can also add lights to the trees to help deter deer.
Wind chimes make enough noise to spook or startle deer and keep them away. Hanging wind chimes near your trees can help keep them away.
If you’re okay with using chemicals on your property, you can use a variety of deer deterrent chemicals on the market. Some organic sprays are also available. We recommend consulting with our professional team before applying chemicals to ensure they are safe for the trees and other plant life in your yard.
For more information about deterring deer from damaging your trees or for other tree services, contact professional arborists at Horhut Tree Experts today!
