Fencing is the sure thing but get some that won't reflect light to whirlys. They have some green chick-wire and chick netting too(Home Depot) these have worked better for me and the netting is much lighter to haul in too. Make certain to post it well and position in the range of the deers head positions, iow not too low. Stringing fishing line deters them too but you'll need fence to get a good nites sleep! For racoons they are pesky lil buggers you'll need to make a cage and since these critters love to wash first use combos of Liquid Fence with cayenne peppers plus predator urine.
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Protecting your plants from Deer
- Thread starter BACKCOUNTRY
- Start date
Dr.Know
Active member
Liquid Fence works very well just watch out for changes in wind direction when you are spraying that stuff Yukkkk. The best deer deterrent I've found is neem oil, the plants love it, plus keeps the bugs & other 4 legged critters away. The only down side is it needs to be applied weekly for maximum effectiveness.
G
Guest
Here is a copy and paste of a post I answered on natural repellents. These are a few that I have used and had good luck with!
I have used many deer/rabbit repellents over the years, and there are many good repellents out there. The big difference is the length of time they stay active. Things like capsaicin, hinder, cayenne, blood meal etc. do work well but need to be reapplied every 3-5 days or everytime it rains (even the hot pepper waxes, that claim to be rain resistant!). For most guerilla growers that is not acceptable. The best I have used are Plantskydd, Liquid Fence, and This "1" Works (also sold as Tree Guard). They work a little different, and they last different lengths of time.
Plantskydd- A dried blood spray. Lasts about 2.5 to 3 months during vegetative months and up to 6 months on dormant plant materials. This stuff is stinky (a smell repellent), so best used as a perimeter spray to avoid any problems with things like raccoons digging etc. This product has been used in the nursery industries for many years, and is now available (as of last year) for retail/homeowner sales.
Liquid Fence- Garlic, whole egg, potassium sorbat, xanthum gum, etc. Lasts up to 30 days if used as directed (spray once then 5-7 days later reapply). This is both a taste and a smell deterrent, so you can do perimeter or spray directly on the plant materials themselves. I recommend perimeter because it is stinky and you don't want to have any other animals (i.e. raccoons) from digging/disturbing plants.
This "1" works (Tree Guard- same product different packaging)- This is a latex based repellent that contains bitrex. This product is taste only, so it should only be used on the plants themselves. This is great stuff to use early in the year, and it shouldn't attract any other varmits. Because it is latex based you only want to use it before flowering has started!! It will not wash off, and lasts for 5-6 months. Bitrex is a safe chemical (they give it to people to stop them from chewing on fingernails, etc.), but the taste is extemely bitter.
Those are the ones that I have direct knowledge of! Great thread for some good alternatives to fencing! I also see a lot of people using fences that are too short for deer, they should be at least 6' high, and that can be a beacon for cops/rippers.
Kind regards,
mycall
I have used many deer/rabbit repellents over the years, and there are many good repellents out there. The big difference is the length of time they stay active. Things like capsaicin, hinder, cayenne, blood meal etc. do work well but need to be reapplied every 3-5 days or everytime it rains (even the hot pepper waxes, that claim to be rain resistant!). For most guerilla growers that is not acceptable. The best I have used are Plantskydd, Liquid Fence, and This "1" Works (also sold as Tree Guard). They work a little different, and they last different lengths of time.
Plantskydd- A dried blood spray. Lasts about 2.5 to 3 months during vegetative months and up to 6 months on dormant plant materials. This stuff is stinky (a smell repellent), so best used as a perimeter spray to avoid any problems with things like raccoons digging etc. This product has been used in the nursery industries for many years, and is now available (as of last year) for retail/homeowner sales.
Liquid Fence- Garlic, whole egg, potassium sorbat, xanthum gum, etc. Lasts up to 30 days if used as directed (spray once then 5-7 days later reapply). This is both a taste and a smell deterrent, so you can do perimeter or spray directly on the plant materials themselves. I recommend perimeter because it is stinky and you don't want to have any other animals (i.e. raccoons) from digging/disturbing plants.
This "1" works (Tree Guard- same product different packaging)- This is a latex based repellent that contains bitrex. This product is taste only, so it should only be used on the plants themselves. This is great stuff to use early in the year, and it shouldn't attract any other varmits. Because it is latex based you only want to use it before flowering has started!! It will not wash off, and lasts for 5-6 months. Bitrex is a safe chemical (they give it to people to stop them from chewing on fingernails, etc.), but the taste is extemely bitter.
Those are the ones that I have direct knowledge of! Great thread for some good alternatives to fencing! I also see a lot of people using fences that are too short for deer, they should be at least 6' high, and that can be a beacon for cops/rippers.
Kind regards,
mycall
G
Guest
i have no experience growing outdoors so take this with a grain of salt. What about tall FATASS CACTUSES around your plants? hahahahahah
Hey man! Thanks for posting that list!mycall said:
I'm happy you have had such a good experience with scent deterents, but you neglected to list your location, or at least region.
As I explained above, how effective scent derterents are depends on how hungry and desperate the Deer in your area are, here is a "math" problem to help explain it:
Lack of rain/dry summer climate = Lack of deer food
+ Hungry deer
= Eaten Cannabis plants
How effective a scent deterant is depends on how hungry the Deer in your area are.
A Deer that passes your grow stuffed with lush grazing will smell the dried blood on the plant, and pass on, disgusted.
A Deer that passes your plot during a summer drought will be thirsty and starving, and look what it found! A lush, well watered, well fed GREEN PLANT!, I'm sure they don't appreciate the blood taste, but when you're starving......
This point is one of the main purposes of this thread, lots of people don't consider differences in climate between us when we evaluate Deer behavior. A Deer deterant that works well in moist parts of the East US may not work well in drier areas in the West US.
My homesteding family determined long ago thet scent deterants were ineffective for protecting many usefull plants in our gardens, the Deer were just too damn hungry.
I am actually a big supporter of using fences, its the only deterant that I would recemend for folks who grow in dry summer climates like mine.
Fences and cages can be used in such ways that they are no more visable than the plants behind them.
How tall your fences need to be may be dependant on the Deer pressure in your area, sometimes Deer will eat the Cannabis buds but often they may loose interest as the buds form. Some growers only build their fences tall enough to protect them until blooming season.
Generally I only put in wire tall enough to protect the plants through late July, I only put more wire up if the plants get nibbled a bit, but I have lost plants to Deer late in bloom.
Dr.Know-Where do you grow?
Last edited:
Why not? I use Blackberry bushes as natural fences here and there, they also provide great cover.reefermadness69 said:
Dr.Know
Active member
BACKCOUNTRY said:
I grow in a very hot arid corner of Mendoicino county where there are many starving deer in the summer time. The neem oil has pretty much been effective against all critters excpet wood rats, & you know how much of pain in the ass those things can be :wink: ,thats when my cheapo air rifle becomes my best friend lol
Is Neem oil safe to use on budding plants? I'm assuming it is non-toxic to humans?
what worked better for you? the neem oil or the Liquid Fence. if I dont have to order thiss stuff off their site and just get away with neem oil them im set. a whole lot cheaper tooDr.Know said:
G
Guest
liquid fence
PHL8T ME
Member
I'm at about 45 deg N, in the middle of deer country. Here the DNR gives hunters up to 6 kill tags aper year. For veggies and fruit trees, the only thing iI have found to work to deter the deer is the fence.
I buy 4' tall 2"x4"hole wire fencing. I cut the top ring off and bend the vert "spikes" slightly outward. This keep the deer from reaching in to the trees or plants. The only other real problem I'v encountered other that deer and a few bugs (which are no real threat) are gophers. In set aside, or un-farmed fields these little bastards will eat the whole root system and the plant will fall over. A simple solution to this is to bury the fencing at least 12" underground around your plant. I have had to do this for apple, cherry, and plumb trees and bushes.
As far as sprays go---I put several tablespoons of cyanne pepper, garlic powder, and some ground habbenero peppers into a cofee filter. put two or three of these into a quart glass container with a few "glugs" of amonia. Allow this to steep, like tea, for about a week. You should end up with a nice reddish "brew". Remove the filter-bags and store in the fridge for up to 6 months, this stuff does not go bad!! when you spray, add 3-4 ounces to your spray bottle and fill with clear water, dilluting is a must. If you want to add any folier foods go ahead. When spraying stand up-wind, you don't want to get this shit in your eyes.
Have a safe and productive year all!!! Remember, "if it's worth doing, it's worth over doing"
p.s. don't use spray during flowering, let the rain wash this stuff off. Can anyone imagine what smoking habbenero, or cyanne would do to your throat or lungs?
I buy 4' tall 2"x4"hole wire fencing. I cut the top ring off and bend the vert "spikes" slightly outward. This keep the deer from reaching in to the trees or plants. The only other real problem I'v encountered other that deer and a few bugs (which are no real threat) are gophers. In set aside, or un-farmed fields these little bastards will eat the whole root system and the plant will fall over. A simple solution to this is to bury the fencing at least 12" underground around your plant. I have had to do this for apple, cherry, and plumb trees and bushes.
As far as sprays go---I put several tablespoons of cyanne pepper, garlic powder, and some ground habbenero peppers into a cofee filter. put two or three of these into a quart glass container with a few "glugs" of amonia. Allow this to steep, like tea, for about a week. You should end up with a nice reddish "brew". Remove the filter-bags and store in the fridge for up to 6 months, this stuff does not go bad!! when you spray, add 3-4 ounces to your spray bottle and fill with clear water, dilluting is a must. If you want to add any folier foods go ahead. When spraying stand up-wind, you don't want to get this shit in your eyes.
Have a safe and productive year all!!! Remember, "if it's worth doing, it's worth over doing"
p.s. don't use spray during flowering, let the rain wash this stuff off. Can anyone imagine what smoking habbenero, or cyanne would do to your throat or lungs?
G
Guest
to the top
A old thread that may be of interest..........
G
Guest
Hey BC,
Its nice to have you back! We were concerned for a while but kept the faith. Youre one of the most important contributors in the outdoor and the site just wouldnt be the same without your input.
There's probably not a grower here that hasnt benefited from your knowledge.
Salute BC!!!
(Deer: we fight the same old problems year after year)
Its nice to have you back! We were concerned for a while but kept the faith. Youre one of the most important contributors in the outdoor and the site just wouldnt be the same without your input.
There's probably not a grower here that hasnt benefited from your knowledge.
Salute BC!!!
(Deer: we fight the same old problems year after year)
S
SevenSeeds
Man, thats when you know you havn't been in the outdoor thread, I didn't even know you left BC...too much indoor fuck, I gotta get out to the bueatiful peaceful forest....the post above damn what truth, everyone has learned mucho from BC...what a champ
dkmonk
Member
My experience in my area is that the deer just love cannabis, It has been plentiful in rain this year but for some reason my plants keep getting hammered by them.
I am going to put up tommato fences w/ fishing line tied around everywere to prevent it along w/ some tobacco, onion, pepper spray concoction.
I am going to put up tommato fences w/ fishing line tied around everywere to prevent it along w/ some tobacco, onion, pepper spray concoction.
