Deer Country 5: Deer & Veggie Gardens

Raising veggies in Deer Country is a challenge. When I surveyed Howard County Master Gardeners and asked them to name vegetables that deer don’t eat, the most common answer was, “I can’t think of one.” Several said “onions.” Fewer said “herbs.”


Unfortunately, those answers are correct. Deer eat most garden veggies and avoid plants in the Allium family, such as onions, garlic, and chives, as well as strongly scented herbs, such as those in the mint family.


So what’s a veggie gardener to do? Here are three options:


Repellents: In “Deer Country 4,” I discussed repellent sprays and the fact that many cannot be used on edibles because they contain rotten eggs or other offensive ingredients. But note that I said “on edibles.” Some repellents are designed to be used “near” edibles, close enough that deer turn away from the repellent and the garden. Also note that I said “many,” not “all.” Some spray repellents may be used on edibles and have labels outlining proper usage. Because of their expense and requirements for reapplication from time to time, repellents often are only practical for relatively small gardens.

Gromit, Garden Guardian (Photo: Cindy M.)

Dogs: Chihuahuas probably won’t make deer move on to distant grazing land, but larger dogs, usually with fencing, are sometimes used to keep deer out of agricultural areas, especially orchards. When I surveyed Howard County Master Gardeners, one replied that she has an Australian herding dog, Gromit, who loves to chase away deer that come inside his “Invisible Fence.” She explained that deer have learned just what Gromit’s limits are and stop running once they reach the boundary. Pets of home gardeners, of course, generally aren’t on sentry duty 24/7, which your local deer will duly note. And if your pet is a “digger” and you don’t want your garden uprooted, your solution more likely is fencing.


Fences: For a large veggie garden, the most practical—and perhaps most expensive—answer is fencing. But what kind—electric, plastic, welded wire? And how high—4’, 6’, 8’, 12’, the sky?

Paul K. Checks His Solar Electric Fence

Many gardeners in deer country use electric fences—often baited with aluminum foil folded with peanut butter over the wire, so deer sniff, touch the foil, and receive a nonlethal electrical zap. Most are rapid learners. Newer models of electric fences are often reasonably priced and solar powered. Electric fences may not be practical, perhaps even prohibited by law, in urban settings and where children abound. And though electric fences are popular with many gardeners, deer sometimes are hungry enough to just barge through the fence, enduring the shock in order to get to a meal. Neil Soderstrom’s Deer-Resistant Landscaping,” the book I recommended in “Deer Country 3,” has 15 pages about various types of fencing.

"Soft" Fencing Doesn't Work

Hardware stores often stock plastic “deer fencing” or “deer netting.” I’ve tried several grades and brands, and our local bambits haven’t been impressed. Within weeks they learned that all fencing isn’t manufactured equally. Soft, plastic fencing, even metal chicken wire, “gives” when deer lean into it to grab a leaf or two, stretching the fence, and, if the leverage is right, even bending and destroying steel fence posts. The photo at left shows steel posts bent at right-angles by deer intent on leaning through one of my experimental steel post/chicken wire/plastic wire fences.


That leaves standard welded wire fencing—even chain-link fencing if you want to invest significantly. The heavier and taller the fencing the better. Deer have no problem standing next to a 4’ fence and leisurely hopping over. On the run and in the right circumstances, deer can clear an 8’ fence.


So what to do?


First, think smaller garden area rather than larger. Deer seem to like to know how they’re going to get into and out of an area, so many are reluctant to jump into relatively small spaces. A 10x10 garden generally will be more deer proof than a 20x20 garden.

"Fence Extenders" at Lake Elkhorn Community Garden

Second, think taller fencing rather than shorter. Many gardeners in our area install 6’ to 8’ fencing, which most deer respect. Other gardeners use 4-foot fencing with wooden or plastic post extensions to which they add strands of wire or rope and sometimes dangling plastic bottles or other distractions.


One Master Gardener has an 8-foot wooden fence with narrow slits that deer never have jumped. Her theory is that they cannot see what’s on the other side and decide not to venture into the unknown.


Our veggie gardens are protected by a split rail fence faced with 4-foot high, 2”x3” welded wire fencing, which I believe no deer has jumped in the 14 years we’ve lived here.


Doesn’t that break all the rules?


Well, no, deer don’t read the rules. I believe there are specific reasons deer haven’t jumped our fence. Our garden is on the side of a hill, higher on the garden side, lower on the deer side. Since our garden is on the slope, I’ve terraced it into relatively small beds with concrete stacking blocks, which add uncertainty to “what’s over there” when the deer see it. Just beyond the narrow veggie gardens is a concrete sidewalk and then another level of terraced flower gardens—and then our house—more uncertainties.


If you have a severe deer problem like we do—not just one or two browsers from time to time—read up on the subject and consider alternatives that will help you grow veggies sanely in Deer Country.


To link to “Deer Country 3,” which contains more information about Soderstrom’s book, CLICK HERE.


To link to “Deer Country 4,” which discusses repellents, CLICK HERE.

Irene’s Family Treasure: El Pesebre

You’ve stored your Christmas things until next year, but Irene MacDonald hasn’t even thought of taking down her family treasure, El Pesebre (The Manger), that takes up a large part of their living room.


El Pesebre is a handmade depiction of the Nativity Scene and the town of Bethlehem. Irene’s hands—with the help of those of Jim, her husband—assemble the tableau in mid-December every year. They’re carrying on a tradition that dates back to Irene’s Catalan (Barcelona, Spain) family living in Colombia, South America, and subsequently in the United States.


“My father started El Pesebre about 60 years ago,” Irene explained, pointing to a bridge that her dad made of cardboard, small stones, and glue. “My mother set up the first one in the U.S. on the top of our piano about 30 years ago. The town has grown over the years—from the piano to a small table to its current base, a 4x6-foot piece of plywood.”

Irene pointed out that she and Jim collect raw materials for the village all year in her yard and neighborhood—moss, sand, rocks and stones, bark, clippings of boxwood, yew, and arborvitae and small flowers, which she dries, to incorporate into the town as greenery—fields, trees, even a small garden. The walls and roof of the stable of the Nativity Scene is cork bought in Spain more than 40 years ago. Sycamore and birch bark serve as waterless waterways. An unusual feature is several small “villages” carved out of the tops of fungi from Germany.


In a way, some of the yearly additions from the yard—the greenery—the moss and the shrub and tree clippings—limit how long Irene keeps El Pesebre on exhibit. “They’ve been up for more than three weeks,” Irene said, “and still are quite green, but come back in a week or two and you’ll see how much they have dried out. I’ll take it down then, probably late in January.”


Taking things down is the easy part, I thought. How long did it take to put up?


“Oh, about five days, more or less” Irene replied. “A lot depends on what fresh things are available—and how much time I have. There are so many variables. El Pesebre is different in some way every year.”


“Our daughter, Anastasia, spent a semester in Barcelona and was there at the time of the annual Christmas market in the square by the cathedral and bought us something we never had before, resting sheep,” Irene said. “That’s where people in Spain get figurines for their exhibits. I want original pieces, not plastic. It’s hard to find additions that are to scale.”

Irene gave Ellen and me a “guided tour” of El Pesebre on January 6, the day Irene added the last three figures to the manger scene for this Christmas season. “I follow the traditional date for the Feast of the Epiphany, January 6, which celebrates the arrival of the Magi—the three kings—in Bethlehem.”


Anyone seeing El Pesebre before January 6 would have seen the Magi on camels en route and mostly out of sight. But on January 6 the scene was complete. The Magi had arrived at the manger.

Hmmm, so much for taking down decorations on January 1.