by Connie Oswald Stofko
When it comes to dealing with pests such as deer and rabbits, the bad news is that there is no single techniquethat works all the time. The good news is that there are lots and lots of things you can try.
When I speak to gardening groups, I get a chance to talk with gardeners, and they’re happy to share what works for them. I’m always coming across new ideas on how to deal with pests.
Dryer sheets
The main thing I’ve learned is that dryer sheets seem to deter all kinds of pests. We told you before that you can use twist ties to attach dryer sheetsto bamboo sticks to keep deer and rabbits out of your garden.
A gardener suggested slipping dryer sheets under the straps of a tank top to keep bees away.Along the same line, recently anothergardener suggested putting dryer sheetsunder your hat to keep black flies away.
Still another gardenerhad a problem withmice in his garage. They made a nestin his tillerand were gnawing at the equipment.He put dryer sheets in the housing and that kept the mice away.
Marigolds
Another tip suggested by a gardener was to plant marigolds to stop bugs. According to Cornell Cooperative Extension, the roots ofsome French marigolds and African marigolds contain a substance that is toxic to certain types of nematodes. Nematodes are soil-inhabiting microscopic roundworms that damage many species of plants. Certain nematodes can be eliminated from a site by growing a thick crop of marigolds for one season prior to planting the vegetable or fruit crop, or by interplanting marigolds between crop rows.
According to folklore, marigolds (as well as mint, thyme and chamomile) may repel cabbage moths, according to Cornell.
I’ve had problems with carpenter ants at my house and the exterminator suggests planting marigolds to help keep the carpenter ants away. I haven’t been diligent enough about planting marigolds to tell you whether it works or whether it doesn’t, but I think they’re pretty and I love how they smell, so I’m planning on planting them this year.
CD’s and DVD’s to repel deer
Pictured is a technique to keep deer away. This technique also gives you a way to reuse old CD’s and DVD’s. You can also use aluminum foil pie plates in the same way.
Hang them from a fence and let them rotate freely in the breeze. The sun glinting off the disc or aluminum foil is supposed to make the deer uneasy. If you don’t have a fence, you could try hanging them in a tree or from a shepherd’s hook.
I used colored ribbon to make it look pretty. If you just drape the loop of ribbon over the fence, they might blow off. Try tying them to a nail.
More tips to discourage deer
Here are some more tips that that gardeners shared with me to help prevent deer from eating your garden plants.
- Rope off your garden or yard with pink surveyor’s tape. This stuff is florescent pink and quivers in the breeze. Again, the deer don’t seem to like the movement.
- Use clear fishing line around areas that are bothered by deer. They don’t see the line and don’t like brushing up against it.
FAQs
Use obsolete CD-type disks and hang them with heavy fishing line around the perimeter of my yard and strawberry garden. The reflections from the spinning CDs seem to scare away the deer, birds, and other critters.
What is the best deterrent for rabbits and deer? ›
Plant onions and garlic around the perimeter of your garden to discourage rabbits and deer from entering.
How do you hang CDs in the garden? ›
They can save plants and trees, fruits and vegetables. Instead of tossing out the CDs, drill a hole in the edge of each and thread thin wire, twine or dental floss through the hole. Then hang them on your fruit trees. The flashy silver surface will scare birds away.
Will CDs keep squirrels away? ›
The Old Farmer's Almanac says sheets of aluminum foil can be stretched over the top of container plants to keep the creatures at bay. Old CDs placed in the garden can also drive squirrels away. A burst of water from a sprinkler can give squirrels an unpleasant surprise if they venture too close to your plants.
Why hang CDs in garden? ›
Why it Works. Many people have heard that birds and other pests are drawn to shiny objects. While a single object can be an attractive item to an animal, many shiny objects together appear threatening. CDs and other shiny objects, like flashing tape or aluminum foil, blow in the wind and reflect the sun.
Why do people hang CDs in their backyard? ›
food garden, you'll startle birds with the reflecting. light and keep them away from your vegetables and. herbs.
What is number one deer repellent? ›
What smells work best at deterring deer? Some smells that deer react negatively to include eggs, garlic, cloves, and mint. The scent of danger is also effective at driving deer off, so applying predator-related scents, such as wolf urine, may work.
Do coffee grounds repel deer and rabbits? ›
Using Coffee Grounds in the Garden
Sprinkling coffee grounds among your plants may help to ward off rabbits and other small mammals due to coffee's powerful scent. Plus, it composts naturally over time, giving your plants some extra nutrients!
What do deer hate the most? ›
If you want to avoid using a chemical-based deer repellent, here's a recipe for a natural mixture that combines the top smells that deer hate. Mix 10-20 drops each of cinnamon, clove, and mint essential oils in a water bottle with one cup of vinegar, a tablespoon of light cooking oil, and a teaspoon of dish detergent.
Where is the best place to store CDs? ›
Keep the discs away from heat and out of direct sunlight. Store discs in a cool, dark place if possible.
DVDs and CDs and plastic cases can be disposed of in your local council's kerbside residual bin or at your local Household Waste Recycling Centre.
Where should CDs be stored? ›
Store and use CDs at 10-20°C (50-68°F) and 40-50% RH, away from sudden changes in temperature and relative humidity. Poor temperature and humidity in CD storage and usage spaces may lead to warpage of the substrace and a resulting lack of CD flatness.
What do squirrels hate the most? ›
Squirrels have a strong sense of smell, which they use to find food sources and shelter. You can repel squirrels using scents they hate such as, capsaicin, white vinegar, peppermint oil, coffee grounds, cinnamon, predator urine, garlic, dryer sheets, Irish Spring bar soap, and rosemary.
Does WD-40 keep squirrels away? ›
Use WD-40 to protect a bird feeder.
To keep squirrels from taking over a bird feeder, spray a generous amount of WD-40 on top of the feeder. The pesky squirrels will slide right off.
Why do people hang CDs on their roof? ›
They work fairly well to startle birds and rabbits and may even put off a woodchuck (groundhog) from entering your vegetable patch. If deer come out after the sun is well up or before dusk settles in, the disks also keep deer away from browsing near the place where they hang.
Will music keep deer away? ›
Sounds are not the best repellent. Scents are. Plants with a strong scent often overpower other scents nearby, making deer very uncomfortable since they cannot smell their predators as easily. The best natural plant deer repellents include marigolds, lavender, mint, oregano, thyme, sage, rosemary, and tansy.
What scares deer the most? ›
Auditory deterrents can repel deer with their noise, and include noisemakers like gas or propane exploders, whistles, and ultrasonic devices. Gas or propane exploders produce loud, banging noises, which frighten deer away, and have been used to help protect orchards, row crops and truck crops.
