Homemade Deer Repellent

Lavender2's picture
Submitted by Lavender2 on Mon, 10/29/2007 - 08:11
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We are so fortunate to have many wild creatures visit our yard. It's a great pleasure to watch them. Unfortunately I have not been able to train the deer to only eat the weeds!

I found this recipe, developed by the Washington DNR. I have used it for two seasons now, and the deer have not eaten a single Hosta! I have finally won!!

6 Eggs, 1 Cup Milk, 1 tsp. Cooking Oil, 20 drops Clove Oil, (Blend in blender for 4 min),,,add 1 tsp. Liquid Dishsoap and blend 30 sec. Add water to this mixture, to make 1 gallon. Mist on plants every 3-4 weeks, and after heavy rains. Store in refrigerator,,,clearly labeled! **This should not be used on things you will eat,,,only ornamentals**

‹ Deer Resistant Plants
Lavender2's picture

Wild Iris,,,I don't think

Submitted by Lavender2 on Mon, 10/29/2007 - 09:10.

Wild Iris,,,I don't think it's the soap that's the problem with edibles,,,it's the egg and the clove. Any flavors, like spice or hot pepper can be obsorbed by the plant, posssibly changing the flavor of the produce. The egg in the spray creates a noxious taste the deer don't like. The DNR suggests not using any homemade odor or taste based repellents on edibles. However, there are several commercial sprays that can be used,,,Hinder, Deer Stopper, Plant Pro-Tech, Deer Buster, Millers' Hot Sauce,,,to name a few.

One thing I found to be true is,,,if you deter the deer right away in spring, they tend avoid the area better. Most deer set a grazing pattern and avoid going back to areas that aren't so tasty! The deer never seem to bother my Tomatoes, but they sure love Hostas and Turtlehead!
  

 ~ Connie      ~ Zone 5     ~ MN                                                                 

Thanks Lavender..my sister

Submitted by prettylady (not verified) on Mon, 10/29/2007 - 08:41.

Thanks Lavender..my sister in law is always having a fit with the deer eating all of here daylilies.. I will have to pass this on to her for sure...
Peggy

WildIris's picture

Thanks for posting this

Submitted by WildIris on Mon, 10/29/2007 - 08:16.

Thanks for posting this ....I have four Deer that visit my yard...I love to watch them...but am not real happy that they grazed on my tomato plants all season......Do you think the soap would be harmful to veggie plants?..

Gardening
Y'shua is My Boss
"So then neither is he that plants any thing, neither he that waters; but God that gives the increase."
1 Corinthians 3:7