Protecting Your Garden From Deer and Rabbits

What has a gardener seeing red? Discovering that certain creatures made a stop in their yard that night, and helped themselves to what was growing there. Whether rabbits raided the veggie garden or deer nibbled on the flowers, shrubs and young trees, the damage they can do in a short time — after your hours of hard work — can leave your yard an absolute mess.

The good news is there are safe and effective ways to discourage the deer and rabbits from making a return visit to your yard. We’ll look at a few.

Barricades

Many gardeners will tell you that despite your best efforts, putting up a fence to guard against deer is a fruitless endeavor. Wires, planks, bamboo and chain links can help, but are not a fail-safe way to keep out deer and rabbits. This is one of the reasons these critters are so frustrating to deal with. Luckily, you have other options.

Animal repellent

Where physical fencing fails, repellents can do the trick.

Thousands of homeowners, professional landscapers and even professional growers rely on Liquid Fence's Deer & Rabbit Repellent as a “fenceless” solution to the persistent problem of hungry rabbits and deer. The unique formulation targets the animal’s scent, so they don’t need to take a bite from your plants or even get up close to your garden for it to be effective. While this formula sends a message to deer and rabbits to stay away, it’s harmless to plants and animals.

Give the plants shelter

Here’s something to consider for the next planting season. If you know that deer and rabbits are a problem in your area, you want to avoid putting seedlings directly into the ground. The reason is it’s that much easier for these critters to take out an entire garden if everything is little and bite-sized.

Ideally, your plants should be a little larger before you plant them. This makes them more resilient and easier to protect.

The easy way to do this is to purchase larger plants that have already grown to a good size.

A more rewarding way is to get an early start on the growing season. For example, planting the seeds inside and growing them under a grow light.

Another great idea is to use a Backyard Greenhouse, which, when paired with a small heater (if it’s still early in the season), creates greenhouse-like conditions that plants thrive in.

Deer and rabbits will always try to get into your garden. It’s in their nature. And though sometimes it can seem like they will overrun your efforts, with some fencing and repellent, it’s entirely possible to keep them out of your garden.