Hi everyone. Today I want to talk about the nice animals called deer. At first sight, they seem to be calm creatures. But these big pests can become aggressive when they see the danger, in this case, it is you. And when they get to your garden, they easily destroy all your hard work. Yeah, many plants are tasty for deer. Don’t forget about the dangerous diseases they carry.
Well, it sounds scary, but not with nowadays repellents that are absolutely safe for humans and the environment. And I will provide the deer repellent reviews and tell more about the methods for deer control and how to apply them.
Top 5 Best Deer Repellents
- Bobbex Concentrated Deer Repellent Deer
- Enviro Pro 1006 Deer Scram Repellent Granular White Pail
- Orbit 62100 Yard Enforcer Motion-Activated Sprinkler
- Deer Out 32oz Concentrate Deer Repellent
- I Must Garden Deer Repellent
1. Bobbex Concentrated Deer Repellent – Best Deer Repellent
Specifications:
- Active Ingredients: All natural ingredients, exempt from registration with the federal Environmental Protection Agency under FIFRA Section 25(b) regulations
- Item Form: Spray
- Item Volume: 2.5 Gallons
- Item Weight: 23.05 Pounds
- Item Dimensions: 14.1 x 8.8 x 6.8 inches
The founder of the Bobbex company believed that it’s possible to create exclusive eco-friendly repellent that will stop the damage deer bring. A team of professionalists proved this statement. And now, after years of experimentations and many tests carried out, Bobbex is considered as a leader of the safe deer control products. “And it really works!” – say the company’s workers.
Two statements why the Bobbex repellent is the best possible deer control product: it lasts for long and includes only the natural chemicals. The long-lasting effects provide a waterproof formula. As the weather at your garden can be different, but it is still a risk to meet a deer, the repellent is manufactured all-weather.
Only one application allows you to feel secure about your plants. In the summer the repellent lasts for two weeks while in the winter – for more than four weeks.
Natural ingredients have an unpleasant smell and taste for animals. The repellent aroma spreads for a big area, which means deer won’t even come close to your garden. Even if a deer was able to steal your plants, they wouldn’t taste nice for it. I don’t think deer will come again. Don’t worry – the repellent is not dangerous for animals. The plus is that it also keeps away such creatures as elks and mice.
Bobbex product is not only harmless for wildlife but also safe for most of your plants! But not for all. It’s better not to apply a repellent on the edible leaves and herbs, and berries. But you can spray chemicals on the edible vegetables and, of course, on the ornamentals. If you want to protect your food from deer, you may easily cover the land around the plants with the repellent. It will work great even at a distance.
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2. Enviro Pro 1025 Deer Scram Repellent – Best Granular Deer Repellent
Specifications:
- No Synthetic Additives
- Non Toxic
- Biodegradable
- Item Form: Granules
- Item Weight: 6 pounds
- Item Dimensions: 8.25 x 8.25 x 10 inches
Enviro pro repellent prevents a deer attack on your plants. As most deer control products, this one has an unpleasant odor for animals. This smell remains the dead kin for deer, that is why they don’t want to return to your garden. Pest’s smell sensors are several times more sensitive than ours. So, the repellent odor is not unpleasant for humans.
Active ingredients include high nitrogen organic nutrients. No synthetic additives and no poison. I think it is important to use products that are safe for animals. They are a part of the supply chain, and, as we all know, it’s better not to break this system. Who knows what problems it can cause.
An easy-to-apply deer scram repellent lasts for 30 days or more depending on the weather conditions. The water doesn’t wash out the chemicals. But it’s effectiveness may decrease when it’s raining or snowing. In this case, you need to use a repellent more frequently than in other conditions.
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3. Orbit 62100 Yard Enforcer Motion-Activated Sprinkler – Best Motion Activated Deer Deterrent
Specifications:
- Uniquie Day And Night Detection
- Material: Plastic, Zinc
- Item Weight: 2 pounds
- Item Dimensions: 10 x 5 x 24.5 inches
- Target Species: Deer, Dogs, Cats, Large Birds, Skunks, Rabbits, Raccoons and more
Don’t want to use the chemicals? Yeah, I understand. That’s why I included an Orbit product in my deer repellent spray reviews. Its mode of action is plain and simple – the repellent sprays water when it detects moving. Don’t worry – it won’t turn on every time you pass by it.
You can choose an option for day only or night only detection and 24 hours protection. Now the only thing is not to forget about this device when returning home from a party at night.
The best thing is that water is harmless for your plants and animals. It allows deer to get close but reacts very quickly. I’m sure the pests more than likely won’t return to get another one shower. Deer are not stupid, so they won’t forget how they got afraid in your garden.
The design is ideal. First of all, it is very stable, and no weather conditions will stop the repellent’s work. And no deer can break a device, because it is made of strong materials. Sensing technology saves water and battery. When it is set to a full circle, it covers 3840 square feet. A big plus is that you can regulate an angle of water spray. You may set the device higher to affect deer, or lower – to affect rabbits or mice.
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4. Deer Out 32oz Concentrate Deer Repellent – Best Repellent for Deer Prevention
Specifications:
- Rain Resistant
- Scent: Minty Fresh
- Item Volume: 32 Fluid Ounces
- Item Weight: 2.42 pounds
- Item Dimensions: 10.87 x 4.69 x 3.07 inches
A repellent with a nice smell is a pleasure. Deer Out product has a minty fresh odor that you will like. But deer do not share your likes and dislikes, for them, this aroma is highly unpleasant. Well, that’s exactly what you need. The most important thing is that all the ingredients are harmless.
Two stickers help the repellent to stay active for long. No matter what the weather conditions are, your garden still will be protected.
When I said it lasts for long, I mean that it really lasts for long. Deer Out repellent works great for 3 months or even 4. You can easily spray it on your plants. If you have pets at home, they won’t get harmed while walking around. The uniqueness of this repellent is its strong smell that keeps deer far away. They don’t need to try your plants to know – your garden is closed for them.
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5. I Must Garden Deer Repellent – Best Natural Deer Repellent
Specifications:
- Scent: Mint, Peppermint, Cinnamon
- Item Form: Spray
- Item Volume: 32 Fluid Ounces
- Item Weight: 2.25 pounds
- Item Dimensions: 4.5 x 2.9 x 11.2 inches
A lot of people were unhappy with the repellents on the market a few years ago. The founder of I Must Garden was one of those people. And that makes sense. Only two decades ago, the line of products included mostly poison that was dangerous not only for animals but for humans too.
I Must Garden has fixed a situation. They offer all-natural deer repellent for plants made of ingredients that are completely safe for pets and children. That the products we deserve, I believe.
This repellent is used by a lot of professional gardeners. And that makes sense because the I Must Garden formula contains botanic oils that are highly unpleasant for deer and also natural ingredients that make your plants inedible. The number of active ingredients is bigger than in other repellents. It provides a 100% effectiveness guarantee for the longer effect.
Your plants won’t get any harm. Repellent is perfect for ornamentals and edible vegetables. It’s not that simple to wash out the chemicals from the plant’s leaves because the product contains strong sticking agents. They make repellent adhere to the foliage. You don’t need to cover the land with chemicals after the rain or snow. But after a season that brought a lot of rainfall, it is better to use a repellent more often.
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How do Deer Repellents Work?
Most of the deer repellents use an unpleasant smell or taste. There are two reasons for doing this. First of all, the smell sensors of the animals, not only deer, are very sensitive. So, this is their weak point. Another reason is the desire to make a safe repellent that won’t kill animals. The chemicals only scare away pests but don’t harm them. Active ingredients are also harmless for pets, children, and don’t affect plant growth.
When you cover the garden land with a repellent, it starts to release chemicals into the air. Deer come to have breakfast and suddenly find out that it can’t come close because of the awful smell. That’s how the most effective deer repellent works.
There are also repellents that scare deer using the ultrasonic sound or water spray. They are also effective, but the deer can come too close to your garden.
Related Post: Best Deer Fences Reviewed
How to Apply Deer Repellent?
When you have read the reviews, you may ask: “Well, and what to do with the repellent I bought?” The biggest plus of the deer repellents for gardens is their simplicity in the application. But there are some recommendations for the proper usage, which you won’t find on the product label. There are three types of repellents in the reviews I have provided: chemical spray, granules, and water spray device. And I will explain to you how to use them all.
We start with the chemical spray because most of the products on a list are of this type. Repellents in a spray formula are very popular. That’s because they are the easiest in the application. At the beginning of repellent usage, you need to wear gloves if it is possible. Then shake a little a bottle with the chemicals. It will provide smooth land covering.
Sprays are not harmful to most of the plants, but it is much better to cover only the land around flowers. Deer do not get close because of the strong smell. Even if you cover with chemicals only the perimeter of your garden, it still will be effective. You may spray exactly on the plants in case deer has already started eating them, and you know the animal will come back.
Granules work similarly to the deer deterrent spray. They use unpleasant taste and smell to scare away deer and other pests. Chemicals have a granular formula, and you need to put them on the land around the plants. My recommendation is to apply granules after the rainy day.
They need to release an active ingredient into the soil, and the water will help them to do it quickly. As the granular repellents get exactly into the land, their action lasts longer. But because of their formula, they are slow-acting.
A device that has no chemicals uses a water spray to frighten off the tiresome animals. The yard enforcer is the best deer control product for you if you have a lot of edible plants. There are three steps to apply it. Firstly, set the spike into the soil or turf. The construction of the spike is strong and stable enough to prevent technical problems with the repellent.
The next step is to set settings. You may regulate the angle of the water conveying and the day or night mode. This device also has a timed sprinkle. You can turn it on for 30 minutes, and it will water your lawn. The last step is to enjoy the repellent work.
How to Choose the Best Deer Repellent?
It is hard to say what repellent will be ideal for your situation. But I have some tips for you on how not to choose a bad repellent. A good product usually has more than one active ingredient. This feature provides a longer effect and stronger smell to scare away animals on the big distance. All the repellents may work worse after rain or snow.
Try to choose the product that is waterproof, but remember to use it more frequently during the rainy season. Some of the repellents may be dangerous to your plants or pets, so read the description carefully. Most of them won’t harm deer and include only natural ingredients.
A lot of repellents are sold in a bottle without a spray nozzle. It is not comfortable to search for a separate container to spread the chemicals. My recommendation is to choose a ready-to-use spray. It is not that important, what smell repellent has, it won’t be unpleasant for you. But the odor should be strong.
If you want a repellent without the chemicals, you better search for the innovative machinery. The Orbit product I have offered is perfect in all cases. You can set all the settings by yourself and control the process of your garden protection. And it will surely last for long and work even when you are away for a long time. Truly the best deer deterrent.
FAQ
What Scares Deer Away?
The best way to scare a deer is to use a strong smell. Animals have several times more sensitive smell sensors than humans have. The odor that is pleasant for us may easily frighten off deer and other pests like rabbits, mice, groundhogs. Sound and the water spray also work effectively on deer.
What Smells Repel Deer?
A lot of repellents use the strong mint, lemon, or garlic smells. Some of them apply the odor of the deer’s dead kin. The type of smell is not so important. It just needs to be strong enough to prevent the deer attacks. Two or more active ingredients will create a more powerful odor for the long-lasting effect.
Do Deer Repellents Work?
Top-rated deer repellents work perfectly. Their innovative formula is mostly waterproof and has a lot of active ingredients. In comparison to the homemade repellent, the professional one will last longer and provide a guaranteed effect with a little effort. The devices that use ultrasonic sound or water spray are also reliable. Most of the deer control products are tested more than once.
Are Deer Repellents Safe?
Deer repellents can only harm some types of edible plants. And it is always noted in the instruction. Chemicals are harmless for humans, pets, wildlife, and the environment. If vegetables, berries, or fruit don’t grow in your garden, you don’t need to worry.
Final Statement
The best way to avoid deer attacks is to get ready for them. I have described a lot of methods to fight these dangerous animals. The thing I like in today’s repellents – is that they are safe for wildlife. You don’t know what danger you can cause, not only to deer but also to the environment when using poison.
Devices with no chemicals are also a good choice. They work: and this is the most important thing. Have you ever met a deer in your garden? What did you do? It will be interesting to read your stories, share your experience in the comments below!
References:
- White-Tailed Deer (Sanford S. Smith, PH. D. & Gary San Julian, PH.D. Pennsylvania State University):
https://extension.psu.edu/white-tailed-deer - Eastern Cottontail Rabbit (The Pennsylvania State University):
https://www.dept.psu.edu/nkbiology/naturetrail/speciespages/cottontail.htm? - Essential leaf oils of juniperus communis as a repellent of attractant of ornithodoros tartakovskyi (Hughes, Chelsea):
https://minds.wisconsin.edu/handle/1793/78727
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