Deer Repellent

Do you have problems with deer eating your beautiful foliage?  Well, I do!  It took me five years to realize that certain plants weren’t doing well, not because of some strange disease, but rather because the deer were chewing on them.  One year they completely mowed down my day lilies … to the ground!!!  I knew they ate flowers but never knew they loved Euonymus or Indian Hawthorne but they do.  Oh and I’m surprised I even have any Spider Wart left … it certainly hasn’t multiplied like it normally does.  I originally brought some from my house in Albany back in 1999 and then again moved some to this house from our last house here in Cobb County.  They are still relatively small.

I’ve tried quite a few ‘deer repellent’ products that you can get in Lowes or Home Depot to no avail … they just keep chomping away!  Oh don’t get me wrong I love the creatures … I’m always running to grab my camera when they stroll through the yard or stop and lay down for a nap … I’ve not yet caught them in the act of chomping on my beloved landscaping though.  I would prefer they eat the many weeds or baby pine trees that pop up like crazy but I suppose they aren’t very tasty lol.  

A couple years ago, a neighbor told me that she uses Ivory Soap.  I’m like, huh?  Soap?  Yep, what you do is shave it with a cheese grater all around the plants that the deer love and they hate it.  Not sure if only Ivory Soap works or if its just soap in general but since Ivory is pure soap that must be what deters them.

IT WORKS!

Now the only problem is you have to be diligent about reapplying the shavings after every rain storm (which I’ve not gotten too good at).  Other than that … IT WORKS!  And believe me we have deer in our yard every day, always doe and/or fawns, I’ve yet to see a buck.  I’m looking forward to seeing some babies this Spring!  But the Ivory Soap shavings will be out … sorry my deer friends!