Natural Deer Repellent for Gardens

Smell-based repellents

The majority of smell-based repellents use easily obtainable natural ingredients. Human hair, bloodmeal, soap, animal waste, rotten eggs, garlic and creosote are just a few smell-based options. Application is through a hanging method. Bags are hung near the crops at 28 to 32 inches off the ground.

Taste-based repellents include both homemade and commercially prepared sprays that are applied to the garden plants. The majority of taste-based repellents include ingredients such as hot pepper, soap, garlic and onion.

The best method of repellent protection for the home garden is to use several different types of repellents, rotated as necessary, according to West Virginia University. Many commercially prepared natural deer repellent sprays use a combination of taste and smell to repel deer. Bars of soap could be combined with a natural spray so that if a deer is not deterred by smell, the spray serves as a back-up repellent.

For success, repellents are applied at regular intervals. Weather conditions may require repeat applications, such as after heavy rains. Commercially prepared repellents should always be applied according to the manufacturer recommendations. Taste-based repellents should be reapplied with new growth, approximately every three to four weeks. Odor-based repellents require the gardener to watch for deer coming closer to the garden area. If they begin encroaching, the repellent should be replaced or reapplied. Materials that hang should allow direct contact with the deer. For example, hanging a manure bag six feet high is not very effective. Deer will never come into contact with the bag.

Deer can be repelled or deterred from a garden area naturally by planting plants that discourage deer through smell, taste and texture. For example, surrounding a garden with a tall boxwood border may prevent deer from entering the garden. There are a variety of shrubs that work for this purpose, including barberry, crape myrtle, spirea and butterfly bush.

Many strong-smelling plants will keep deer at a distance. Herbs such as yarrow, chives, garlic, St. John's wort, spearmint, rosemary, sage, salvia and marjoram help to deter deer. Other plants that repel deer include daffodils, bleeding heart, astilbe, bells of Ireland and chain fern. Heather, thyme, vinca and lavender plants provide a ground cover that repel deer.