Question
Oklahoma, I have too many deer, and I am going to be planting seedlings trees, how do I keep deer from eating them? Trees: Scotch Pine, Ponderosa Pine, Pecan, Black Walnut, Northern Red Oak, American Plum, Mulberry, thanks

Answer
There several repellents that wil work on deer. The trick is to repel until spring when the native vegetation has greened up. The deer come to the hgihly fertilized new planted seedlings to get the new fertilized growht. So a repellent will stop this eating until spring.


Several deer repellents are available to the home gardener, and function either as taste or odor repellents. Most commercially朼vailable repellents can be applied as a spray to ornamental shrubs and non朾earing fruit trees. Generally, repellents are only partially effective. There is nothing on the market that provides absolute protection. Repellents are most effective when applied on a regular 4杦eek schedule, before serious damage has begun. They work best on plants that are low on the deer's preference list, and especially when alternate natural foods are available. Recent studies indicate satisfactory protection of perennial flower beds and some vegetable gardens by alternating the use of more than one repellent. For example, thiram applied as a spray coupled with BGRTM or HinderTM on a cotton rope around the perimeter of the flower bed has provided good protection in a number of recent trials. Other useful combinations are still to be discovered as we seek even better ways to protect garden plantings.

Deer Away?Big Game Repellent?(37 % commercial putrescent egg solid)

This material is primarily an odor-based repellent, and has been used extensively in western conifer plantations. It is reported to be > 85 % effective in field studies, and is registered for use on fruit trees prior to flowering, and ornamental and Christmas trees. Apply it to all susceptible new growth and leaders. Applications weather well and are effective for a minimum of 5 weeks with heavy feeding pressure by deer. A one-gallon liquid kit costs about $26 and covers 15 to 18, 4-foot ornamental shrubs or 100-150 seedlings.

Deer-Off Repellent Spray (3.1 % egg solids, 0.0006 % capsaicin, and 0.0006 % garlic )

Deer-Off is a combination odor and taste-based product registered for use on flowers, grass, bulbs, ornamental shrubs, edible crops, plants, seedlings and trees. Deer-off is available as a spray and should be applied to all leaves, stems and branches at the beginning of each season. Treatment must be repeated after heavy rains or as new growth emerges, and if the effects of the previous treatment appear to be wearing off. A one-pint kit of deer-off costs about $28.00, makes about 1 gallon of spray, and treats up to 200 ornamental shrubs 4 feet in height, or approximately 2,000 square feet of plants depending on surface conditions and size of plantings.

Hinder?(ammonium soaps of higher fatty acids, 13.8%)

This odor-based product is one of the few repellents registered for use on edible crops. Hinder can be applied directly to home gardens, ornamentals, annual and perennial flowers, and fruit trees until 1 week before harvest. Its effectiveness is usually limited to 2 to 4 weeks but varies because of weather and application technique. Reapplication may be necessary after heavy rains. Apply at temperatures above 40癋. One gallon of liquid costs about $40, and when mixed with 100 gallons of water will cover one acre. Hinder can also be painted full strength on the bark of trees to prevent rabbits from chewing the bark. Hinder is compatible for use with most pesticides.

Miller抯 Hot Sauce?Animal Repellent (2.5 % capsaicin)

This taste-based repellent is registered for use on ornamentals, fruit and nut trees, bushes, vines and hay bales stored in the field. Apply it with a backpack or trigger sprayer to all susceptible plant parts, such as leaders and young leaves. Do not apply to fruit-bearing plants after fruit set. Vegetable crops also can be protected if sprayed prior to the development of edible parts. Weatherability can be improved by adding an anti-transpirant such as Nu-Film-17?or Vapor Gard? Hot Sauce and Vapor Gard?cost about $80 and $30 per gallon respectively. Eight ounces of Hot Sauce and 2 quarts of anti-transpirant mixed with 100 gallons of water will cover 1 acre. The 10x and 100x concentrations approved for ornamentals have effectively prevented both deer and elk damage to trees.

Nott's Chew-Not (20 % thiram)

Thiram, a fungicide that acts as a taste-based repellent, is registered for use on dormant trees and shrubs. A liquid formulation is sprayed or painted on individual trees. Although thiram itself does not weather well, adhesives such as Latex 202-A?or Vapor Gard?can be added to the mixture to increase its resistance to weathering. Thiram-based repellents also protect trees against rabbit and vole damage. Two gallons of 42 percent thiram cost about $50 and when mixed with 100 gallons of water will cover 1 acre.

Tree Guard (0.20 % dentonium benzoate)

Tree Guard is a taste-based repellent registered for use on shrubs, ornamental plants, conifers and non-bearing deciduous trees. Tree Guard is available as a ready-to-use spray and costs about $40. One gallon will treat 16 to 20 global arborvitae 20-24" high. This product is not intended for use on food or feed crops. A recent Cornell University study indicated that this material was not effective for protecting Japanese yews from deer damage during winter