My garden sits along a deer path. I don’t know whether to be happy or angry about this. So many times, in the evening especially, we can look outside and see deer in the front garden. Many times when we are driving home we will see them at our neighborhood’s front entrance.

I’ve always thought it a little strange finding a creature so large just standing next to my driveway. To me, it is exactly like coming home and finding a unicorn munching on your boxwoods, then turning and running into the forest. I never see deer in my yard without finding it a magical experience.

Every deer I see running through the garden always enters and exits by the same route. It’s puzzling. They must have a path with food along the way that they follow. I guess my house is just one stop along their merry little way.

Most gardeners that contend with a deer problem are always very angry about the issue. I’m lucky in the fact that a neighborhood designated dog area is next to my front garden. I think the doggy smells tend to hurry them along their way. So, I get the bonus of observing them, without too much of the “plant munching” heartache.

I do find it strange that what little damage I have tends to be only with certain shrubs or plants. A Oakleaf Hydrangea has gotten munched while 10 feet away the same type of shrub was not touched. A hosta, I’ve read, is one of their favorites and yet the hostas in my front garden have not been eaten. I don’t understand and at the same time I’m not complaining! I’m glad they are not decimating all of my plants, but I’m intrigued by their picky eating habits.

The picture I’ve included is not the best quality, but it was taken by my phone out of our dining room window. You have to be quick to snap the picture before they leave.

I’m happy that they leave my vegetables alone. I believe it’s because my veggies are in the back behind our 6 foot high fence. A friend told me, “Don’t kid yourself! They can jump your fence with the finesse of a ballerina. The reason they haven’t yet is that they can’t see where they will be landing.” So for now, I guess my veggies are safe.

For those of you who struggle with deer here are a few ideas to help shoo them away:

• Spray deer repellent on and around the plants that are being munched. The smelliest sprays tend to work the best. Reapply every week. I personally would not spray edibles.
• Put up deer fencing. This can be expensive, but it will be effective. Maybe put it up only in certain areas, like veggie beds, instead of spraying.
• Try putting dog or cat hair around the areas that are being visited by them. After you brush Spot, deposit the hair. Or, better yet, take a trip to the groomers and leave with a bag of dog hair. Crazy, but I bet it will work!
• I have heard a lot about Irish Spring soap being used as a deer repellent. Place it in a mesh bag and hang it from branches or attach it to the end of a stick placed in your flower beds. Many people swear by it!
• And of course, I couldn’t end this subject without mentioning the unmentionable. Although you will never see me spreading urine in my garden, by all means pee to your heart’s content. I won’t tell anyone. Let me know if it works.

Happy (and hopefully deer-free) gardening!