Q's?
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posted by wwgreen @ 10:06 AM
4 Comments
W.W. Greenhouses, Inc.
Dedicated to W.W. Greenhouses, Inc., a popular garden center in western lower Michigan, specializing in perennials and flowering plants. Post your comments, questions, or anything you'd like...
4 Comments:
How can I keep the deer/rabbits from eating my perennials? Things like columbine seem to be a big treat for the deer. They even at my tulips when they bloomed. Does anyone have any suggestions.
n. vandenberg - Deer and rabbits can be annoying pests, but as development grows, their environment shrinks... and it will likely get worse.
Unfortunately, there isn't any way to snap your fingers and resolve the issue. However, there are a few things we have found from our customers and our own experience:
Choosing coarse, woody, especially hairy, or grass-like plants will help. Deer and rabbits will usually pass on these types of plants. Things like Echinacea, Hemerocallis, grasses, roses, Rodgersia, Buddleia, and many others. Tender, leafy greens and new buds are usually their first choice.
Keeping them out of your garden (or troublesome areas) by way of a fence is another way, but obviously not as aesthetically pleasing. Still, it works.
Interestingly, some have also set up a motion-activated sprinkler. A motion sensor activating a valve on a sprinkler hose will detect any activity, cause the sprinkler to turn on, and deter the animals. Once they learn this, they reportedly tend to stay away.
Finally, we have good reports from those who have used spray deterrents like Liquid Fence or various pepper sprays. These products work, but they need to be re-applied to be effective, usually after every heavy rain or sprinkling.
As for the time-honored solutions like marigolds, dried blood, human hair, etc. all results are mixed, with as many failures as successes.
Hope this helps a little, anyone else?
We used human hair with some success for rabbits, not sure about deer. Got the hair from my stylist. Shirley
a quiet BB gun works well, but only if you can actually hit the fast little buggers! :)
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