I live on the edge of the woods in the heart of the Midwest, so deer are a given. I see them tromping through my garden all year long, but especially in spring and summer when plants are fresh and green and irresistible to my furry neighbors.
I’ve struggled to keep deer out of the garden for years to little avail, until a former coworker recommended one particular spray. I was skeptical since I had tried making several different homemade deer repellent sprays that an internet full of bloggers said were foolproof. I ended up playing the fool, though, after mixing up the stinky concoctions and spraying them all over my plants just to have deer come through and chow my flowers down to stubs.
What I’ve learned about deer is that they don’t always act the way you’d think. That’s why trying to keep deer from eating your plants is such a challenge. I’ve tried almost every possible method to keep these pesky, though admittedly adorable, pests out of my garden and only one solution has worked. If you’re fighting against four-legged intruders in your garden, here’s the one spray you need to keep deer away. And lucky for you, it’s on sale for Amazon Prime Day so now is the perfect time to stock up!
Liquid Fence is my go-to deer spray. Apply it once, then again one week later, and then reapply once a month for the rest of the growing season to keep hungry deer away from your precious plants.
What Didn't Work
The voracious deer in my neighborhood happily eat deer-resistant perennials and annuals all the time, including the two pots of herbs I planted this summer. I tried the old trick of planting fragrant herbs in my flower pots in an attempt to keep the deer from eating my flowers. It sort of worked because the deer haven’t eaten my flowers—they’ve just eaten all the herbs instead. I guess it’s time to cross dill and cilantro off the deer-resistant plant list.
Deer also aren’t as skittish as you’d expect, or at least the deer in my neighborhood aren’t. There are plenty of times I’ve run out into my garden flapping my arms and clapping and shouting at them to “shoo!” They’re typically totally unfazed by this silly display.
That’s why I don’t put much credence in noisemakers that are meant to keep deer away. I once almost literally ran into an entire pack of seven deer and they just stood there, then slowly sauntered away. However, noisemakers are a completely organic way to repel deer. So if you’re interested in trying out this method for yourself, this solar-powered ultrasonic deer repellent device from Amazon has 4.9 out of 5 stars and tons of rave reviews.
The Only Deer Repellent Spray You Need
If you’re tired of deer eating all your precious plants, it’s time to invest in a bottle of Liquid Fence deer repellent spray, which you can get on sale now for $22.29 during Amazon Prime Day. This is the only thing that’s ever stopped deer from obliterating my garden.
Liquid Fence is easy to use, harmless to plants and animals, and after the first two applications you only have to reapply it once a month. This spray also repels rabbits, so if unwanted bunnies and deer abound in your yard then this will protect your ornamental plants.
Liquid Fence doesn’t harm the animals it keeps away, it repels using scents the animals don’t like. Unfortunately, that means it does have a scent that’s also unpleasant to humans. But the odor fades once the spray dries.
However, be careful if you apply the spray when it’s windy because it can blow back on you and leave a scent on your clothes. It’s also a good idea to wear gloves, like one of these colorful pairs from Amazon, when spraying Liquid Fence because the repellent smell can transfer to your hands.
Although Liquid Fence does hold up to rain and watering much better than any of the homemade pest sprays I’ve tried, it does help to reapply after a heavy shower. If you have an especially dense deer population where you live or particularly ravenous deer, it’s safe to apply the spray more often than the directions say. During bad deer years, I have used my Liquid Fence weekly to keep the animals away.
One word of caution, Liquid Fence is only intended for use on ornamental plants, trees, and shrubs. For protection in the vegetable garden, a deer-proof fence is the best option. One of the best vegetable garden fence ideas I’ve tried is a barrier made of T-posts and wire fencing. I used these 72-inch T-posts from Home Depot and 48-inch high wire fencing like this, which you can also get at Home Depot, to build a simple fence around my veggie plot that keeps the deer out all season so my plants can thrive.
