How to Protect Your Ornamental Plants from Deer
This week, I’m going to show you how to protect your ornamental plants from vicious deer attacks. The plan is simple and easy to implement, the products are effective, your flowers will be safe, and not one single doe, buck, or fawn will ever be harmed. It’s a win-win-win-win, the way I see it. So keep it right here to learn how to safely and humanely keep Bambi and company the hell away from your plants without you personally ever breaking a sweat.
Welcome back, gang. Today’s feature brings us squarely into gardening territory. And deer territory. It’s all about how to protect ornamental plants from deer. The whole feature is essentially a product recommendation. This is so because it’s the products that do 99% of the work. All you’ve got to do is spray ’em on and/or lay ’em down. I’ll be showing you two particularly effective types of product today, with two brand recommendations for one type, and one brand recommendation for the other type. Any one of these products is perfectly capable of doing its job when used on its own. But when applied in combination, they’re beyond bullet-proof.
I’ll start this show with a topographical and situational layout of my own land and gardens here in hardiness zone 5B/6A, because they’re the proving grounds for the effectiveness of these products. Specifically, the unfenced part of my land is the part that’s in question. More specifically, it’s the unfenced front part of my land that we’ll be looking at here. That’s the spot where the plants that I don’t want the deer to eat are found.
Protecting Your Ornamental Plants from Deer: Fenced vs. Unfenced
A fence, assuming it’s high enough (Newsflash: deer can jump.), is definitely a 100% guaranteed way to keep deer from engulfing your plants, ornamental or otherwise. My main garden is located to the south and west of my house, and it’s entirely enclosed by a high wooden stockade fence. Most of the things that grow within the fence’s perimeter are high on every deer’s list of favorite snacks. Hostas, hydrangeas, hibiscus… they’re all on the menu. But they’re all safe behind that fence.
The eastern (front), northern, and far southern sections of my land, however, are unfenced, and anything that grows there is fair game for deer. The land in front of my house features some highly delectable deer menu items: in addition to various native trees, bushes, and wildflowers (and unappetizing ornamentals like lilac and bamboo), I’ve got dwarf cherry trees*, hydrangea bushes, blueberry bushes, and sedum growing there. It is the cherries, hydrangeas, and sedum that I seek to protect. (I do offer the deer a mulligan: they can eat the blueberries.)
*Note: I list my dwarf cherry as an ornamental, only because I never eat the fruit itself. This tree is grown for its appearance and landscape value. Which is a good thing, because once any one of the products I’m recommending here is applied, any fruit these trees produce (as well as the stems and foliage) becomes completely inedible.
So, what’s the solution? How do I protect my ornamental plants that lie beyond the confines of the stockade fence from deer? The answer: By using either one of two very specific types of products, or both of those types of products together.
The Goods
It’s just like I said. Two types of products. Use one type, or the other type, or both types. (To be on the safe side, I now use both types together, but I’ve used each of them independently on my deer-accessible ornamentals to my complete satisfaction.) It’s critical that I make two things clear right here and right now: 1) These products are intended for use on ORNAMENTAL plants only. They are NOT intended for use on plants meant for human consumption. 2) When using any of these products, FOLLOW ALL MANUFACTURER’S DIRECTIONS, AND READ ALL MANUFACTURER’S CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS.
Now that we’ve got that straightened out, we’re on to the products. Here you go…
Product Type 1: Topical Repellents – Spray It On to Protect Your Ornamental Plants from Deer
I’m recommending two brands of topical repellent. Each is excellent in its own right – I can’t say one is better than the other because they’ve both proven to be incredibly effective. They both work the same way: by coating the plant’s foliage with stuff that makes it smell and taste terrible to deer. The products’ respective odors, however, are entirely different. They both are stinky to deer, but only one is stinky to humans. The other, not so much. Sometimes knowing how to protect ornamental plants from deer means stocking up on some choices. Here are my two topical deer repellent picks, in no particular order of preference:
1) Topical Repellent Brand One: Angry Deer Deer Repellent
This stuff is incredible. You can definitely use it by itself to great effect – it’ll definitely protect your ornamental plants from deer consumption. Why? Because it stinks, and it stays stuck to the plants. As long as you follow all the directions (like thoroughly spraying this stuff on the entire plant – including the undersides of leaves, and doing it when no rain is in the forecast for at least 6 hours after application, and shaking it up before each use, etc, etc, etc), this stuff is going to work for you. And just how bad does it stink? Like a cool breeze off a camel’s ass. I can only imagine what it tastes like. Jesus. Who cares? The deer do, that’s who. How long does it stay stuck to your plants? 10-14 days in the spring and summer. Plus, the one-gallon jug of the stuff comes with a handy-dandy hose and sprayer. No mixing. Just shake it up and spray it on. If you use only this product, and you use it exactly like the manufacturer tells you to, you’re good to go, your ornamentals are protected, and Bambi finds something else to chow down on. Like I said, incredible.
What’s in it? Good question. Its active ingredients are 100% natural and organic (rotten eggs, cloves, and garlic oil… you get the picture – stinky stuff) and its inactive ingredients are entirely organic with one very minor exception: magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt). The product is harmless to deer, it’s safe, and it’s 100% biodegradable. But don’t take my word for it. If you’ve got questions, please feel free to contact the manufacturer for a guaranteed analysis. What I can tell you is that I’ve been using it for a few years now and it’s totally environmentally friendly and totally safe (assuming you don’t try to eat the stuff you just hosed down with it).
As of right now, there’s no need to wonder about how you’re going to protect your ornamental plants from deer. Douse ’em with this stuff. That’s how. I wholeheartedly recommend it.
Angry Deer Deer Repellent. Angry Deer Deer Repellent packs some serious deer-repelling power into its one-gallon jug of wonders. It’s incredibly effective, and it’s simple to apply. Use it as a stand-alone product or in tandem with my systemic granular rec. Wondering how to protect your ornamental plants from deer predation? Look no further than Angry Deer. Order this product right here, conveniently and directly from Amazon, by clicking this #advertisement link.
2) Topical Repellent Brand Two: Deer Out Deer Repellent
Your efforts to protect your ornamental plants from deer will be simplified to no-brainer levels by the use of this incredible product. Man, this stuff is the goods. Why? Like the Angry Deer product, it stinks. But unlike Angry Deer, deer are the only ones who think so. Fortunately for us humans, deer hate the smell of peppermint, and that’s what this stuff mostly smells like. Not so bad, right? But plenty bad for the deer. Deer Out is applied in the same manner as the Angry Deer product. Make sure to hit the whole plant – including the tops and undersides of all the leaves – with a good solid blast. The manufacturer states that this product will stick to plant foliage for 30 – 90 days, and does not easily come off, but may require more frequent applications as circumstances and weather conditions dictate. Deer Out comes in either ready-to-use or concentrate form. As in the case with Angry Deer, I’ve used this product for years, and it’s been completely effective.
What’s in it? If you want to protect your ornamental plants from deer, you’ll want to definitely know what deer don’t like to eat or smell. Peppermint oil is right at the top of the list, and it’s the primary active ingredient in Deer Out. The other active ingredients are garlic oil, white pepper, and putrescent whole egg solids: all also at the very top of a deer’s most-hated list. The inert ingredients, like the product as a whole, are all 100% natural and completely environmentally friendly. And, of course, Deer Out is non-toxic to deer and totally safe for plants and, again, the environment.
Arm yourself with Deer Out and know that its fresh pepermint-ish scent, shitty taste (to deer), and ability to cling tenaciously to foliage and stems are going to combine to protect your ornamental plants from deer. No doubt about it.
Deer Out Deer Repellent. This topical, spray-on repellent has proven to be 100% effective at keeping deer from feasting on my ornamental plants. Its peppermint-like scent is abhorrent to deer, but entirely tolerable to people, and its formulation ensures its preventative effects are extremely long-lasting. The product comes in ready-to-use or concentrated solutions, and can be applied during any season. It can be used as a stand-alone product, or in combination with my systemic granular recommendation. Want to protect your ornamental plants from deer? Here’s your stuff. To learn more about this excellent product, or to order it here, directly from Amazon, please click the #advertisement link.
Product Type 2: Systemic Repellent – It Works from the Inside Out to Protect Your Ornamental Plants from Deer
The One, the Only… Repellex Systemic Granular
Yep. You read it right. This is the same Repellex Systemic Granular that regular RGG readers and subscribers learned all about in my gripping feature of last year, “Protect Your Plants from Voles and Chipmunks.” This product, as its name suggests, works in an entirely different way than the spray-on, topical Angry Deer and Deer out products. As a systemic granular, the Repellex product is absorbed through the treated plant’s roots and, from there, it permeates the entire tissue structure of the plant. It works from the inside out, protecting all parts of the plant – roots, stems, foliage, and flowers – from those who’d otherwise devour it. Like grazing deer. This stuff, like the spray-on products, is also simple to use. For existing plants, the granular is distributed around the plant out to the drip line, and worked/watered into the soil. If you’re bedding a new plant, the methodology, per the manuacturer, is basically the same (although you might remember, from my article of last year, that I personally take a few liberties with the manufacturer’s directions as they pertain to bedding new plants). In any case, Repellex Systemic Granular is easy to apply. And once you do apply it, it’ll protect your plants for up to a year.
What’s in it? The folks at Repellex advertise this product as natural and organic. And of course, it will not harm deer. Its active ingredient, as you regular readers/subscribers might remember, is none other than capsaicin, which is the stuff that puts the “hot” into hot peppers. This product essentially turns a treated plant into one giant hot pepper. And deer don’t like hot peppers. How do you protect your ornamental plants from deer? Applying Repellex Systemic Granular is another great way to do it.
I’ll take a second right now to remind you to read and follow all manufacturer’s directions and cautionary statements before using Repellex Systemic Granular, Angry Deer Deer Repellent, and Deer Out Deer Repellent.
Helpful hint: DO NOT get Repellex Systemic Granular in your eyes, nose, or mouth, and WASH YOUR HANDS after handling this stuff. Even the slightest residual amount on your hands will sting the hell out of your eyes, nose, and mouth. Trust me on this one. I’ve been there.
Repellex Systemic Granular. Repellex Systemic Granular works on treated plants from the inside out to protect them from deer and other foraging herbivores. Its active ingredient, capsaicin, is an inflammatory agent that makes the plant impossible for would-be diners to ingest. I highly recommend this product. Click this #advertisement link to learn more, or to order it right here, directly and conveniently from Amazon.
Want to Really Protect Your Ornamental Plants from Deer (and Sleep Well at Night)? Double Up!
I’ve used both types of these products – the topical spray-ons and the systemic granular – over the last few years both independently of one another and together. Any single one of them is an excellent stand-alone product that’s capable of effectively protecting ornamental plants from deer. I’ve applied each one at various times – by itself – to all of my vulnerable, unfenced ornamental plants, and the results have been perfect. This year, however, I doubled up the protection by treating all of my plants with both types of product. In this case, the fact that each plant is treated with not only either the Angry Deer or Deer Out product (I use either Angry Deer or Deer Out in a single season, and never together at the same time), but with Repellex (which is effective for up to one year) as well, allows me to not worry so much if I wait more than 14 days (in the case of Angry Deer) or more than 30-90 days (in the case of Deer Out) to re-spray the plants with the topical products. I’ve had zero incidents of deer assault on any of my plants treated in this way, and I’m confident that I never will. But to be fair, when I’ve used any of these products in stand-alone fashion, the results have been just as good: zero deer damage. But damning the torpedoes and using Angry Deer Deer Repellent or Deer Out Deer Repellent, and Repellex Systemic Granular simultaneously, adds a substantial peace of mind variable to the equation. It’s good knowing that there’s an overlap of protection – a redundancy – in place, keeping those plants safe.
But what about the deer? How will they ever get enough to eat? Relax, gang. There’s always plenty of awesome snacking on tap for the deer (and every other kind of creature that either lives here, or comes to visit) on the RGG’s land. Deer, birds, squirrels, raccoons, possums… they’re all well-provisioned here. In the winter, I take extra steps to make sure everyone gets enough to eat: Fruit and veggies for the deer, seed for the birds, and a wide-ranging menu for the squirrels, ‘coons, and possums (they’re all really into hot dogs, peanut butter, and whole wheat bread, incidentally). Hard-liners are always telling me that I shouldn’t be coddling the wildlife. Hey, screw the hard-liners. I love all of these critters and it wouldn’t do to let them starve.
As far as the deer are concerned, with all of the good stuff to eat on my land, it’s not likely that they’ll miss a few stinky, hot pepper-flavored ornamental plants.
Well, gang, that just about wraps this one up. I hope it was helpful and at least a little bit interesting. And if you are currently dealing with a deer-grazing issue, I do seriously recommend giving any or all of these products a try. I’ve been 100% satisfied with their performance. Thanks for sticking around. And, as always, I thank you for your kind interest and your readership.
Cheers, and Happy Gardening!
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I took your advice and used both of these products in the spring. Last year, before I started using the products, the deer feasted on some of my plants, especially the hostas. This year, since applying the Repellex and Angry Deer, there has not been a single nibble. Thank you for bringing them to my attention. I highly recommend them!
I’m glad these two excellent products kept your deer away this year, Kevin. Those amazing hostas of yours deserve a better fate than ending up on the all-you-can-eat deer salad bar. The products have worked beautifully for me since I started using them several years back. I won’t let a spring or summer go by without applying them to my vulnerable ornamentals. Thanks for tuning in, Kevin, and thank you for taking my advice. I’m glad it all worked out.
Hi John;
I don’t have any deer at my house in Phoenix. I do have coyotes and foxes. A lot of the neighbors put out repellent for them. They don’t eat our plants, especially mine, since most are metal. They can take the awful heat and not wilt. We do it to keep them from eating our pets. The repellent does work quite well.
I can see where coyote and fox predation of pets would be a serious concern in your part of the world. Even here in my location in the Midwest, a fox or coyote will get someone’s cat periodically. It’s tragic. I’m glad that the products that your neighbors and you are using work well to deter those very capable predators. Thanks for reading the article, Scott – it’s much appreciated!
Thank you for another amazing, informative article.
Gorgeous images…. Sadly, I don’t have any deer in my backyard – not even close…, I would prefer having a deer rather than neighbors LOL…, But I did very much enjoy reading it.🙏🌺💖
Thank you for giving this one a read, Roxxy. I’m grateful to you for your interest and limitless kindness. Thank you. I do know exactly what you mean about deer/human cohabitation. I’d much rather have deer (or any other animal) than humans for neighbors. Thanks again, Roxxy!
Thanks for the always enjoyable and informative article.
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Rick. Thank you for reading it, and thank you for the kind thoughts – always much appreciated!
Deer regularly ate my gardens. Even knelt to eat my lily pads in a pond. Tried everything. Didn’t try the above repellents. Asked an old farmer once how to keep deer from eating everything. He said you have to plant more than they can eat?
Well, the Law of Averages would definitely seem to be on the old farmer’s side! I love it! Thanks for sharing that particular pearl of wisdom. It makes perfect sense! For those with less planting capability, these two products used independently or in tandem have proven incredibly effective out here on my grounds. Once treated, the target plants are not bothered. Incidentally, I’ll never be able to un-see the image of your deer raiding your pond’s lily pads. Voracious critters, weren’t they? Wow! Thanks so much, Everly, for having a read of this one, and for the excellent comments. I’m sure RGG readers will appreciate the farmer’s sagacity, and the determination of those pond-raiding deer!
Thank you for this information John and beautiful photos of your deer! After reading a previous article of yours I bought Repellex, so far so good for my roses outside the fence. And yes, “screw the hardliners.” 😂🦌🐿️🦝🦊
Thank you for reading the article, Jill, and thanks for the kind words – much appreciated! I’m glad that the Repellex is working for you. It really is potent stuff. Thank you for putting your faith in my recommendation. I’m so happy with the way it works on my own plants, I feel that it would be wrong to not recommend it. And I’m very glad you share my views with respect to the “hard-liners.” How could we not help out our fellow creatures whenever the need arises? Thanks once again, Jill!