Question
I have a bambi that keeps comin by to eat away at all my garden plants.How can i keep them out!, also, I have leafrust or some kind of disease(again) on my tomatoes.Part of the problem may be their a little close together but theyve been thriving til now and i dont want to lose them.  can u help, please

Answer
To control deer, there are many chemical repellents sold in local nurseries such as Ropel. Although most are effective, they need to be reapplied after a rain. Other repellents which have proved effective are cayenne pepper, coyote urine (also available at most garden centers), and Irish Spring soap hung in silk stockings. This is very effective on fruit trees and bushes.

To be completely honest, when deer are hungry, not much can be done to deter them from the garden. The only fool proof aversion is a 6-8 foot fence or an electric fence.  Certainly not cheap, but effective.

I would first try the soap, either hung or in shavings. Your next alternative should be one of the repellents mentioned above. If all else fails, the fence is your only solution.

Your tomatoes have most likely contracted a fungus disease. The one that would match your description is septoria spot, but it could also be verticillium or fusarium wilt. If the disease progresses, and you
notice the leaves beginning to curl, it is most likely one of the latter two.

To prevent these diseases, only plant varieties that are listed as resistant to fungus dieases. They will have a code on their label such as VFNT. Each letter stands for a particular disease.

You should also rotate your crops on a three year schedule. Planting the same vegetable in the same spot every year makes them more vulnerable to soilborne diseases such as the ones I've mentioned.

Finally, avoid watering tomato plants overhead. Instead, either water at the base of the plants or with soaker hoses. Water left on the foliage, especially in the evening, can result in the plants contracting any number
of fungus related diseases.

In the meantime, you need to spray your infected plants with a copper-based fungicide. You can purchase these products at any reputable garden center or through on-line catalogs such as Gardens Alive. Attached is their website with the product I use to both prevent and treat fungus diseases.

http://www.gardensalive.com/product.asp?pn=8066&ss=Soap%20Shield

I hope this answered your question. Please write again if I can ever be of assistance.

Regards,

Mike