9 Deer-Proofing Garden Solutions to DIY in February

If you’re like me, you live in a place where wild deer run the show. For many of us, having a garden means watching our favorite vegetables become food for wildlife. In an instant, our precious crops are gone. 

Deer live in almost every corner of the US, from the hills of California to the coasts of Florida. The species in my area love eating young shrubs, berries, broccoli, and lettuce. Even some flowers wind up on their menu. 

Fortunately, you can make your yard deer-proof while giving them a safe place to coexist outside of your garden. From installing fencing to planting edible shrubs for them, you can do a lot to save your plants and keep the herbivores happy. Below are the nine best DIY solutions to deer-proofing your garden this February. 

Fence in Your Beds

The first and most obvious way to deer-proof your garden is by building DIY fences around your beds. These wild animals are agile and large, so your fence has to be built securely. The best fences are tall and full of strong metal wiring or wood. 

To build a fence, figure out what your budget is. Fences don’t have to be expensive, but building them out of high-quality and aesthetically pleasing materials can be quite costly. For fences, in general, I always find that spending a little more money is worth it in the end. 

Next, you’ll have to decide on the materials you want to use to build your fence. The best materials include aluminum, PVC, and steel. You can also use high-quality wood. Most importantly, your fence must be secure and tall enough to keep deer out. 

Build a Larger Fence

Instead of fencing in your beds, try building a fence around your entire garden. This can be a little more time-consuming and require more materials. However, if you have the budget and time, it can look amazing and be very effective. 

As mentioned above, deer are incredibly agile and can easily leap over many objects. If you’re fencing in your entire garden space to keep deer out, your DIY fence should be over 6 feet high. Make your fence out of heavy-duty materials such as wooden posts and metal T-posts with wire mesh. 

Save materials by using trees as natural posts and barriers. Attach your fence to your home or shed for a fully enclosed space around your plants. Some people choose to electrify their fences, but a simple, high-quality structure should be all you need. 

Grow Natural Fences

Living fences are some of the most effective ways to keep out wildlife. These natural barriers also provide food for the pests you’re trying to keep out. It’s a win-win situation if you still get to enjoy their presence without sacrificing your plants. 

This February, plant shrubs with thorns or dense foliage. Plants such as blackberries and roses work well with their natural defenses and edible foliage. Choose species that flower to attract beneficial pollinators to your yard. 

Try planting diverse species around the perimeter of your yard or plot. Use a mixture of evergreens and flowering deciduous plants to make an attractive living barrier. Below are some of the best plants you can use to keep these animals out. 

Forsythia

Forsythia plants have attractive yellow flowers that bloom in spring and attract tons of pollinators. They also have dense clusters of branches that are easy to train into a dense natural fence. 

Juniper

Juniper bushes are easy to grow and keep deer away with their prickly foliage and strong scents. They’re easy to grow and will thrive in any soil type. Use their branches in your home for scented potpourri and decorations. 

Spruce Trees

Spruce trees make fantastic deer-resistant fencing that you can plant in February. In my region of northern Michigan, many growers use blue spruce to enclose their yards. Spruce trees have sharp and aromatic needles that keep wild animals away. 

Blackberries

Blackberries are some of my favorite herbivore-repellant plants. They’re often not high enough on their own, but growing them near other shrubs or fences is highly effective. When they’re mature, they’ll keep most critters away with their dense foliage and sharp thorns. 

Another plus to planting blackberries as your deer-resistant fencing is their delicious berries. You’ll harvest tons of nutritious berries while keeping predators away from your plants. 

Plant Deer Resistant Garden Plants

Besides fencing, some plants repulse these animals away naturally with their oils and strong fragrances. These natural defenses are not harmful to the animals. By planting them in your garden, animals will naturally avoid other edibles and search for more abundant food sources. 

Some of the most deer-resistant garden plants include horseradish, garden sage, anise, and rosemary. Some popular perennials include thyme, tarragon, yucca, and lavender. 

In February, start these plants indoors and plant them throughout your garden in spring. Mix in other edible species with them. Along with natural fencing, these plants offer simple solutions to creating a deer-proof DIY garden. 

Use Homemade Repellants

You can make homemade deer repellants from several household substances. These DIY solutions are easy, cost-effective, and harmless to animals. These animals are picky, and what works for some growers may not work for you. Try out several recipes and see which ones your local individuals respond to the most. 

Strong scents repel animals that rely on their sense of smell to locate food. Areas covered in these abrasive sprays overpower their sense of smell and send them looking for food elsewhere. 

Once you make them, spray them around your yard when you see unwanted herbivores visiting. Below are a few DIY repellants that may work to deer-proof your garden.

Hang Reflectors

Reflectors such as large mirrors or reflective surfaces hanging from trees can work as repellants. Deer are skittish animals that flee with any sense of danger. Sudden bright lights and reflections will send them scattering into the woods. 

Use old mirrors, CDs, or metal and string them together around your plants. Put them in trees surrounding your property and around your home. When the sun hits the reflectors, it will reflect and startle animals. 

This method works during the day, but at night when there’s no light, your crops are left undefended. This method is good to use in addition to fencing and natural repellants. 

Eliminate Hiding Places

When these animals get scared or need to rest, they like to hide in densely wooded areas or tall grass. Keep your yard maintained, and don’t let grasses, shrubs, and plants overgrow. Plant deer-resistant shrubs and thorny plants. 

Walk through your property and try to spot areas where they lay down to rest. Trim the area or use natural repellents. By making your area feel less inviting, the animals will probably stay away and hide somewhere else. 

Hang Wind Chimes

Wind chimes have worked for me in the past, although they need wind to make noise. Hang them in the trees around your yard to expose them to as much wind as possible. 

Hang a variety of chimes that make different noises. The animals will get accustomed to the sounds easily. Use this method together with the others as an extra deterrent. Wind chimes alone may not be completely effective. 

Incorporate All These Solutions Simultaneously 

According to Sun Tzu’s ‘The Art of War,’ “The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.” This February, put all these methods into place while you set up your garden for spring. By doing so, you’ll make your yard the last place these animals want to be. 

Build fencing around your beds and plant deer-resistant plants and shrubs. Grow thorny vines of blackberries and roses and hang up wind chimes and colorful reflectors. 

Not only will they avoid your property, but you’ll also have extra food and decorations to beautify your space. If they do approach to get a taste of your garden, spray the areas with natural repellant as a final scare tactic.