Oh, it’s on like Donkey Kong. Last weekend we had nearly 400 people up for the Garden Walk for the local Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art. One of the greatest comments was how the deer didn’t come in and devour the lilies and the other lovely plants. Although we’ve battled the deer at different times of the year to keep them away from the young trees, I really haven’t had issues with them touching the garden. Until today.

The little darlings nipped the strawberries, ate some of the raspberries, and snipped the beans.

Keeping Deer Out of the Garden

Although the strawberries are done bearing for the year (the robins devoured every last berry when I pulled the floating row cover off for the Garden Walk), I’m not about to have the deer ruin the plants. This is when I have to prep them for the winter and an amazing harvest next summer. And I’m not about to let them knock the beans and raspberries back without having any of them, yet.

Floating Row Cover

Since I don’t have to be pretty anymore, the floating row cover is coming back out again to protect the strawberries and raspberries. It’s going to look like a fluffy white quilt out there, but oh well. Ive really never had luck with the typically remedies of human hair in bags, soap placed among the plants, moth balls (plus, I wouldnt have them around kids) or other scent deterrents. Putting up a barrier is best.

Scarecrow Motion Sensor Sprinkler

But my big concern is the lilies. The Asiatic lilies are stunning this year, and I’m not about to have Bambi and Co. come in and destroy what Ive looked forward to all year. (Especially after the 8 months of winter we had this year.) I dont want to cover them with the floating row cover since it would defeat the purpose. They’re only going to be around a couple of more weeks so I want to enjoy them.

So we brought out the Scarecrow tonight. It’s the entertaining contraption that is a motion sensor sprinkler. The concept is once the deer walk into the zone itll shoot a quick spray of water. It works very well. The boys went running when we brought it out. Yep, they’re conditioned. I want my husband to set up the game camera in the area, too, so we can see who dares to step over the line.

Liquid Fence and Plant Skydd

Another option in the extremely remote chance (because the Scarecrow does work smashingly well) I can use Liquid Fence (oh boy, putrescent eggs!) or Plant Skydd, a bonemeal concoction that also does a fantastic job of keeping the deer away.

The drawbacks of both of these are they stink. I love the fragrant plants, particularly those that are only fragrant at night, around the patio and porch areas so the last thing I want to spritz on the flowers are products that smell awful. I’ll do it if I have to, but I truly think the Scarecrow is going to do the trick.