In the twilight hours you might catch a glimpse of a gentle visitor amid the greenery in your garden. Scenic, bucolic, and… wait a minute? Is that deer eating your hydrangea like a salad bar!? The white-tailed deer, a common sight in many parts of the country, is both a delight to wildlife enthusiasts and a potential challenge for gardeners. These graceful creatures, known for their distinctive white underside and tail, can turn a lush garden into their buffet in mere moments.
Deterrence, while challenging, is not impossible. The most effective and surefire method is installing a fence. A sturdy barrier that stands at least 8 feet tall can discourage even the most acrobatic of deer, who are known to jump high but not wide. However, fences can be costly and may not blend seamlessly into every landscape aesthetic.
Gardeners employ a variety of methods to deter White-Tailed Deer from their gardens. Some hang shiny objects like tinsel or pie pans, which move in the wind and disorient the deer with their reflections. Some gardeners use motion controlled lights, noisemakers, or sprinklers. Others swear by the strong scent of soap bars strung around the garden perimeter or sprinkled with sulfurous material, or predator excretions and fur, which deer find off-putting. These sensory deterrents can be effective at keeping these curious creatures at bay without causing them harm.
An alternative strategy involves using the deer’s preferences to your advantage. Planting distraction plants, including native species that deer favor, around the edges of your property can draw them away from your cherished garden. This tactic mimics the way some hunters maintain food plots, deliberately providing deer with an area to feed, keeping them content and away from other plantings.
Living in harmony with deer, especially within city limits, requires patience and creativity. It’s important to acknowledge that deer are here to stay and that they adapt to nearly everything we do to deter them.
The history of deer in North Carolina is an interesting one. At the turn of the 20th century, deer in North Carolina were so scarce that their absence was palpable. In 1925, the Chief Forester of the Vanderbilt Estate in Western North Carolina successfully introduced a herd of 1,200 White-Tailed Deer sourced from Florida, New York, and wider ranging places, and those deer traveled to other reserves to increase their population. It wasn’t until the mid-1940s that the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission initiated the “Deer Restoration Project.” This project began with the relocation of 126 white-tailed deer from the Reynold’s Reserve to the Uwharrie Refuge right here where we live, setting the stage for the population we’re familiar with today. Today’ North Carolina’s deer population is over one million animals, so we can thank the them for the favor.
Whether you view deer as charming fauna, a potential steak dinner, or as competitors for your garden, the reality is the same: coexistence is necessary. With thoughtful planning, such as strategic fencing and the use of distraction plants, we can maintain our vibrant gardens and respect the deer that roam near our homes. After all, the white-tailed deer, once a rare sight in these parts, have become an integral part of North Carolina’s wildlife population.
Feel free to swing by The Gathering Garden in Mount Gilead at the corner of W Allenton St and School St, if you want to discuss gardening with us, you can find out more about or workdays on our facebook page.
In these weekly columns, I will share the science of gardening and so many more interesting tidbits. Check back here every week for tailored Montgomery County garden advice, sharing our garden updates, and more.
Let’s grow together!
This article was originally published in the Montgomery Herald and is reused here with permission by Mary Poplin.