Are you looking for an easy way to keep deer from eating your hydrangeas? Deer are a common problem for gardeners in many parts of North America. They’ll eat just about anything, and they’re especially fond of hydrangeas.
But the good news is that there are lots of ways to keep them away from your plants so you can enjoy their beautiful blooms without having to worry about whether or not they’ll be around next week!
In this article, we’ll walk you through the 11 things you can do to keep deer from eating at your hydrangeas.
Deer Repellent
One of the easiest ways to keep them away is by using a deer repellent . There are many types available at stores and online, from sprays to granules. Just make sure you get one that’s safe for use on edible plants!
Spray your garden with it early in the spring when deer are most active, and reapply after it rains or when you hose the plants down.
Dog Hair
You can also use dog hair as a natural repellent . It seems to work just as well for keeping them away! Just collect some of your pet’s fur from brushing time (or pay someone else to!) then spread it around in your garden. They hate the smell, and will stay away from it as long as they can!
Strong Odors
It’s a myth that deer are afraid of human hair, but they definitely don’t like the smell of it! Just like with dog hair. So if there’s a bush or tree near your garden where you can hang some old rags soaked in hair clippings and bar soap (deer hate both smells), then it will help keep them away. You can also choose to spread other strong odor items like cinnamon, hot peppers, or citrus.
Fencing
The best way to keep deer away for good is by building a protective fence around your garden.
Any fencing will work, but hardware cloth (wire mesh with smaller holes than chicken wire), works the best because it’s more durable and less likely to be pushed down or broken through.
We recommend that you use deer netting, which is stronger and less likely to tear.
Once your deer netting is up and some of these “scary” elements have been added to the fence, you might still see a few signs that they’re trying to get through.
If so, then try adding more deterrents! Deer are very stubborn (just like people), so they’ll keep trying to get in until you convince them that your garden is off limits.
Chicken Wire
If you don’t want a fence that will last forever around your garden bed, or can’t afford it right now, then chicken wire works just fine in the short-term.
Build a frame for the bottom of the chicken wire by nailing wooden stakes into the ground around your garden bed.
Then stretch out the chicken wire on top of this frame and staple it along all sides to keep deer from pushing through or digging under it.
The holes in the mesh should be small enough that even young fawns can’t poke their heads through.
Motion-Sensing Sprinkler System
You can also buy a motion-detecting water sprinkler to keep them away. The deer will be frightened by the noise and sudden spray of water, so they’ll stay far away from your garden after that.
It will keep your garden perfectly watered while protecting the plants from hungry deer.
Just make sure you turn it off when you get home in case you forget about it and come back later with wet clothes on! If you’re having any trouble with your sprinkler, be sure to check out are article to learn how you can adjust the sprinkler head.
Wire Fencing
If you have a really small area where the hydrangeas are, then buy some cheap wire fencing from your local hardware store. Cover the top of this fence with leaves and branches so that it blends in better with the environment.
Use Metal Flashing
Another option is to put a piece of metal flashing around the bottom of your plant so that deer can’t get their mouth or teeth around its stems, but they still want to eat them because they think it tastes good!
You’ll find these at any hardware store; just buy whatever length you need and cut it with wire cutters. Then bend the flashing into an “L” shape to create a flat surface for attaching it around your plant’s stem.
The bottom of this metal should be about 12 inches off the ground so that deer can’t push their noses underneath to eat at night when they’re more active.
The best way to attach this is with U-shaped wire staples, which will prevent deer from biting through or tearing the flashing away.
If you don’t want your plant looking like it’s wearing a diaper, then cover up its “front” by attaching some branches and leaves over the metal until they’re heavy enough to stay on by themselves.
Use Solar Powered Lights
Another way that’s even more effective is by using solar-powered lights or the kind of motion sensors that trigger deer spray! These should be placed around your garden at night when deer are most likely to visit it, and they’ll repel them with their bright flashing light or scent.
If you already have a fence, then just add these lights or sensors to it.
This is all about perception; deer are afraid of new things in their environment because they don’t know what those things will do to them! So by adding some “scary” elements at night — like bright flashing lights and strong odors — you’ll keep them away for good.
Physical Deterrents
Use physical items like a scare crow or fake plastic snakes, which will keep deer away as long as they’re in place.
If you have a small area where the hydrangeas are growing and don’t want to use any kind of fencing or sprinklers (or just can’t afford them), then build up your soil around it by adding some compost! Deer hate walking on loose soil, so they’ll stay away and leave your plants alone.
Conclusion
Whatever you do, don’t give up! Because if you keep going at it for a few weeks or Months, then your deer will eventually stop coming around and leave you alone — even in winter when they normally migrate elsewhere because of scarce food sources.
But as long as there are people in your area who still have plants for them to eat, then they’ll keep coming back. There are other animals you may want to keep out of your backyard, so be sure to check out our article on how you can keep squirrels from running around your backyard!
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