Tri-County News

Strategies for nuisance deer in your yard


By Kathryn Anderson,
Meeker County Extension
Master Gardener and
Karen Johnson,
UMN Extension Educator –
McLeod and Meeker Counties
Most people enjoy seeing a variety of wildlife visiting their yards and gardens. However, some wildlife, deer in particular, can be quite a nuisance as they are not shy about eating a variety of common landscaping plants. Meeker County Extension Master Gardener Kathryn Anderson knows the struggles as a small herd of about 11 deer decided to call her yard home for the winter. The deer had significantly pruned a couple of long Arborvitae hedges and enjoyed several other shrubs and trees (some of which sustained severe damage from the deer rubs).
Here are some strategies to make your yard less appealing to deer:
• Fencing – Fencing is the most effective way to deter deer. However, depending on the type of fencing used and area you would like to protect, fencing can be expensive and unrealistic for large areas. The most common types of fence are woven wire or wire mesh, and electrified fences. Kathryn shares, “I have found in my vegetable area, if I have different stands, posts, small fencing around to support different crops, it does tend to spook deer because they don’t have a clear passage.”
• Deterrents – There are a variety of deterrents available, from store-bought repellents or motion activated lights, noisemakers or sprinklers as short-term options. Deer (or rabbits for that matter) will get used to one deterrent type making it ineffective.
• Deer-resistant plants – Many plants can serve as a natural deterrent to deer due to their toxicity, fragrance, or texture. Daffodils, coneflowers, marigolds, and Russian sage are just a few examples of these types of plants. Example – Kathryn has an extended stream of Hostas along a waterway which are like candy to deer. With the addition of daffodils, little to no damage caused by deer has happened.
• Protecting sensitive plants – Consider covering plants/shrubs and wrapping small trees making them hard to access by deer.
Try several different strategies to have the best success in deterring deer from your landscape. Deer are beautiful – just not when they are using our landscape as a buffet. For more information about fencing options, deterrents, and deer-resistant plant varieties, please visit extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/white-tailed-deer-damage. Feel free to reach out to the Meeker County Extension Office with any questions at (320) 693-5275.

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