Deer are typically a problem in the home landscape in the rural Ozarks in late winter and early spring. During February and March when the typical food sources deer find in the woods and fields are depleted, deer will venture into Ozark yards in search of grass and other leafy greens to eat.
The bad news for gardeners in the Ozarks this year is that the late spring freeze zapped much more than a few plants in the garden. April’s freeze ruined the prospects for a healthy acorn harvest, a staple of many of the Ozarks wild birds and animals, including the deer. Additionally, dry, hot autumn weather has depleted much of the area’s grass supply.
Deer are already leaving the woods and roaming area yards in search of food, and this will continue throughout the winter. Gardeners need to keep this in mind as they prepare their gardens for winter. Precautions can be taken to protect your trees and plants. Once a deer feels comfortable in your home landscape, it will return, taking in new territory each time.
We have many common trees and plants in the Ozarks that deer are known to enjoy — Lily, tulip, cotoneaster, burning bush, azalea, maple, redbud, yew, euonymous, holly, rhododendron, rose, ivy and periwinkle to name a few.
A fence is not a great deterrent for deer because they will jump over fences up to eight feet high. Deer will also crawl under fences that do not go all the way to the ground. Fences can also block views and be costly to install.
Wire mesh or other mesh material can be fashioned around trees and shrubs you wish to protect, but when or if leaves poke through, deer will nibble them off.
Natural repellents for deer are human or dog hair. The hair can be hung in mesh bags around areas you wish to protect. Blood is also a natural repellent. Animal livers can be soaked in water to make a spray that can be applied in areas where deer are unwanted.
There are chemical remedies on the market that contain rotten eggs, tar oil or ammonium soap which repel deer with odor. Additionally, fungicides containing thiram will also repel deer.
Any deer repellant must be reapplied with frequency, at least once a week. Rain and dew will also cause repellants to need to be reapplied.
The aforementioned plants are favorites of deer, and there are some plants that are considered to be “deer-resistant.” The bad news is that when deer are very hungry, they will eat just about anything.
The more time deer spend in areas with human activity, the more acclimated they become to them. Most importantly, gardeners that do not want deer grazing in their home landscape need to be vigilant, especially during the upcoming months.
Questions or comments related to gardening? Contact Joleen at missourigardener@hotmail.com
