Using a physical barrier for deer control is often not practical or possible due to the scope of what is necessary to keep them out. From a standing position, deer can clear a fence or object that is 10 feet tall or more.

Ironically though, deer are fearful of jumping over an object where they cannot see their landing zone, nor will they jump over wide barriers, such as a thick hedge or a fence that has a row of wires angled outward.

These methods make building or planting a deer-resistant physical barrier a bit more manageable. Still, the size of the garden or property can preclude physical barriers as an option.

Scare tactics can be more manageable. There are many commercial products and home remedies that can be somewhat effective. The biggest limitation, no matter how effective it is initially, is that the deer can become acclimated to the "scare device" and resume their normal feeding habits. It is only a matter of time before scare tactics alone will not be enough.

Using repellants to create an offensive taste or smell are the third popular method of keeping deer from devouring your plants. A common example of an offensive repellent is to use putrescent whole egg solids. It is the main ingredient of many commercially available deer and animal repellents, but it can also be homemade. (At my house it happens naturally ... leave the breakfast dishes in the sink for a few days and presto! No deer for miles.)

Other taste repellents, including mint oil, garlic oil and capsaicin, can be effective for limited periods. These products should be reapplied after rain or irrigation to maintain their effectiveness.

Some people place decoy plants around their property as a way to distract d
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