Deer can be both a blessing and a curse. It’s so lovely to see a doe and fawn early on a Sunday morning, standing in the mist, nibbling on your garden. And that’s the problem. They can eat through a garden in no time.
Whether you love or hate deer, or have a more complicated relationship with them, there is one important question to answer: Can you use deer manure in gardens?
Fertilizing with Deer Manure
Using manure as a fertilizer is not a new practice. People long ago discovered that manure is full of nutrients. Deer droppings on plants or on your grass may provide some additional nutrients, depending on what those deer have eaten.
In the wild, the deer diet is pretty limited, meaning their droppings are not very nutrient-rich. But suburban deer and those feeding around farms may have more nutrients to offer in their waste.
Just letting droppings sit on your lawn may provide some nourishment, but it is hardly enough to replace a robust fertilizing program. To really get the benefits of the extra nutrients, you would need to collect piles of deer droppings and spread them more evenly around your lawn and in beds.
Safety Issues of Deer Poop in the Garden
Any type of manure that is raw poses a risk of contaminating crops with pathogens. You can potentially get sick from this kind of fertilizing. Those at highest risk are young children and the elderly, people with compromised immune systems, and pregnant women.
The recommendation from the National Organic Program is to allow 90 days from the time of application of a raw manure fertilizer to the harvest of any crop that doesn’t touch the soil. For crops that do touch the soil, the recommendation is 120 days.
For these safety reasons, you may want to reconsider using deer droppings as fertilizer in a vegetable garden. Or, if you do want to make use of it, run it through a hot composting system first. It needs to hit 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius) for at least five days and be composted for 40 days or longer in total to kill any pathogens.
If you do choose to handle deer droppings to use in your lawn or beds, always wear gloves. Wash and disinfect all tools you use to handle it, and wash your hands thoroughly when finished.
-
Want To Grow Four Season Containers? Try These 6 Best Plants For Pots All Year RoundAfter reliable container gardening options that serve you across all four seasons? You’ve come to the right place, as we present the best plants for pots all year round
-
6 Flower Seeds I’m Gifting Everyone I Know This Christmas – To Inspire Their Garden In 2025Give the most meaningful gift of growing this holiday season. Senior Editor Melanie shares her flower seed picks to delight both new and experienced gardeners.
-
Deter Deer And Prevent Ticks By Getting Rid Of HoneysuckleWe don’t usually think of sweet-smelling honeysuckle as being unsafe, but the deer love it. and where there are deer there are often ticks. Read on for more reasons to avoid non-native honeysuckles.
-
Deer Proof Shade Flowers: Choosing Deer Resistant Flowers For ShadeWatching deer move through your property can be a peaceful way to enjoy nature. However, they can become a nuisance if they start eating your flowers. If you have a shady garden bed, add flowers they will have no interest in. Click here to learn more.
-
Deer Proof Evergreens: Are There Evergreens Deer Won’t EatThe presence of deer in the garden can be troublesome. With some proven planting techniques, however, gardeners may be able to reduce the occurrence of damage caused by deer. Planting deer resistant evergreen plants, for example is one method. Learn more here.
-
Deer Proof Gardening: What Vegetables Are Deer ResistantThe best defense is a good offense. In deer proof gardening, plants that smell offensive to deer can deter them from their favorite edibles. Planting a garden with edible plants deer don't eat is also a defense. Click here for fruits and vegetables deer won't eat.
-
Deer Resistant Garden Plans – Creating A Deer Resistant GardenDeer are lovely to watch but not when they are stomping all over your vegetable garden or eating the tops off of your bulbs. Creating a deer resistant garden is a must for any gardener who suffers from these grazing marauders. Learn more here.
-
Roses And Deer – Do Deer Eat Rose Plants And How To Save ThemDeer do indeed love the beautiful, succulent growth they find in those meadows and valleys, but they cannot resist a rose garden if there is one close by. Learn how to fix deer damage and prevent more in this article. Click here for more info.
-
Deer Rubbing Tree Bark: Protecting Trees From Deer RubsDeer are majestic creatures when they're bounding through open fields and frolicking in someone else's woods. When they come into your yard and start damaging trees, they become something else entirely. Learn more in this article.
-
Deer Fencing Designs - How To Build A Deer Proof FenceDeer are elegant and graceful creatures but these attributes fall short when they have been in the garden eating your prize plants. If repellents aren't working, think about building a deer proof fence. This article will help.
