Deerproofing strategies vary, grab this book to increase your options for protecting your crops.

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Product Description

Since it was first published in 1997, homeowners, serious gardeners, and professional nursery owners have responded enthusiastically to Deer Proofing Your Yard & Garden: 66,000 copies are in print. In the last seven years, as the deer problem in towns and suburbs has gotten worse, new solutions have presented themselves. To cope with the situation and keep up with the latest in deer control, Rhonda Hart has revised her original book, adding more than 60 pages of new material on how anyone can protect their yard and garden from deer.

As in her first edition, Hart takes a straightforward, just-the-facts approach. She tells homeowners exactly what they want to know: which commercial repellents are effective, how to make homemade deterrents, and how to create a landscape designed to repel deer.

Since the first edition was published, virtually invisible polyethylene deer netting is now widely available and almost 100 percent effective in keeping deer out of the yard. Hart has updated her chapter on fencing to include this and other new products.

Hart has also refined her plant lists to spotlight those that deer rarely touch and also to identify those plants that are less likely to be tasty targets, depending on the time of year and where you live.

The chapter on deer repellents has also been revised to rank commercial and homemade products in terms of their effectiveness and how often a new application is necessary.

This new edition provides anyone who gardens with a wide variety of deer-proofing alternatives so that at the edge of your garden, you really can say, "the buck stops here."

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #177100 in Books
• Published on: 2005-04-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 208 pages

From Library Journal
As deer populations increase, property owners are looking for ways to combat damage from them. Master gardener Hart (Dirt-Cheap Gardening, Storey, 1995) offers environmentally responsible methods for deterring deer from the yard and garden. Besides information on historical deer populations, the roots and extent of the current problem, deer species, subspecies in the United States, and the life cycle and behavior of deer, she provides extensive tips on "deer-o-scaping" (avoiding plants deer prefer, taking advantage of those they dislike, and incorporating designs and structures to discourage them). Hart includes plant lists and specifications for fences and offers an extensive discussion of the products and home remedies used for deterrence. Though other publications on the topic abound, Hart's compilation of research, product information, and source lists is sure to be valued by those dealing with this problem. Highly recommended for public libraries, particularly in suburban and rural locations.?Bonnie Poquette, Appleton P.L., Wis.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

“…a practical…paperback that offers beleaguered homeowners advice on designing a garden that deer will find unappealing.” ¾Country Living

 

“This paperback book tells you…how to confuse deer and how to design a landscape that deer won’t like.” ¾Austin American-Statesman

 

“The book teaches you how to create a landscape to deter deer, which deer products work, and which ones don’t.” ¾Des Moines Register

 

“This handy guide offers steps to make gardens less appetizing using effective, environmentally responsible techniques.” ¾Indianapolis Star

 

“Hart…not only gives deer-proofing ideas, but she explains deer behavior and preferences so readers can better under what attracts and deters the animals.”

¾Akron Beacon Journal

 

“…Hart helps homeowners develop a strategy to discourage uninvited diners…”

¾Akron Beacon Journal

 

 “…Hart’s compilation of research, product information, and source lists is sure to be valued by those dealing with this problem . . . highly recommended for public libraries, particularly in suburban and rural locations.”  ¾Library Journal

 

“If deer raids on the garden are a problem, here is the solution.”¾Booklist

 

From the Back Cover
Protect your landscape and garden investments from the ravages of deer.

The bestselling author of Bugs, Slugs & Other Thugs: Controlling Garden Pests Organically offers environmentally responsible deer-control techniques that really work.

With Deer Proofing Your Yard & Garden, you'll learn how to:
-- Identify deer damage
-- Make your own homemade deterrents
-- Select commercial repellents that work
-- Design a landscape that literally repels deer
-- Join your neighbors in developing community deer management strategies

You'll also find comprehensive lists of the plants deer most like and dislike, as well as information about deer behavior throughout the year.

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Customer Reviews

Advice for coping with 'deer' neighbors
Being new property & house owners in a suburban area adjacent to a deer wintering yard, this book provided us excellent advice on coping with our local deer population. We are planning a garden from scratch, and the information is very practical. It should help any gardener with deer in their area reduce their cost of resultant damage. The book deals with deer behavioural characteristics, and the likelihood of deer frequenting the property, as well as how to plan a deerproof garden. From plants that are detested by deer, to plants that will guarantee deer company: annual, perennial, shrub & tree choices are listed, including hardiness zone information. A range of strategies for keeping deer out of the garden is also included. The strategies go from fences to foul smelling substances to noise makers, and advice is given on the likelihood of success for each. An excellent tailorable reference book.

Information laden and downright funny
This book is concise, well-structured and highly informative. It begins with an analysis of how deer think (if you can call it that!), and how they use their senses. The author then uses these insights to derive numerous strategies for avoiding attracting deer and deterring them if they do find your garden. These vary from what I would call defensive (avoid planting things that deer like to eat, using the exhaustive list provided as a guide - there are even some roses that deer apparently dislike!) to highly combative (electric fences, self-activated noises or sprinklers). She also offers numerous ideas for upsetting deers' reliance on their sense of smell, including stringing up highly scented soap bars, and spraying plants with homemade pepper spray or stinky egg mix! There is an edgy humor to the book that makes for a fun read. A very intelligent approach to a very exasperating problem. Buy it.

The bible of deer resistant gardening
This book has become the bible of deer resistant gardening for good reason. I have yet to find a more thorough text regarding deer behavior, deer deterrents and, deer resistant fences. If you have a deer problem you should defiantly read this book.

The one chapter that could be improved is the one entitled "Deer-o-Scaping", which discusses landscaping with deer resistant plants. The list of deer resistant plants provided in this chapter is divided into plant categories (i.e., annuals, perennials, etc...) and delineates the zones where each plant grows, as well as the plant's soil and light requirements. While this is certainly more information than I have seen provided in most deer resistant plant lists, it nevertheless assumes the reader knows what the plant looks like and is familiar with its' habit. The novice gardener will need to reference other publications to learn more about the plants in this list before he/she can plan an attractive deer resistant garden. The experienced gardener will undoubtedly wish the deer resistance of more unusual and exotic plants were discussed.