Spring has sprung in Grand Haven; the tulips and magnolias are in bloom. As our yards begin to come back to life our thumbs begin to turn a little greener as thoughts of fresh flowers and homegrown gardens become a reality. Welcoming the warm weather allows are trees and plants to bloom, but deer living in the city will begin to view our growing landscaping as a plentiful buffet. The deer, which are both majestic and beautiful, are often habitualized in suburban areas. Our best tactics at combating the damage urban deer create on landscaping are repellents and selective planting.
Repellents: Many local vendors sell a variety of manufactured deer repellents, but we suggest also trying:
Fragrant soaps
Dog fur
Mothballs (in a net) *Caution these are poisonous to children and pets*
Hot pepper sauce
Rotten eggs
Fragrant soaps
Dog fur
Mothballs (in a net) *Caution these are poisonous to children and pets*
Hot pepper sauce
Rotten eggs
Selective Planting: According to Master Gardeners there are a host of plants that deer find less delicious during their browsing of our yards. See pages 10 thru 18 for an exhaustive list of plants that are recommended to combat deer damage.
Welcome spring and happy planting!
Welcome spring and happy planting!
