Grapes and Deer

For the first time in the eight years I have been living at my residence here in Central Maryland, I have spotted Deer - Momma and Fawn eating roses and other plants on or near my property. I do not live in the country but am only a short distance from woods and farm fields.

I have a 112 vine backyard vineyard that I am now concerned about. I have been told that one beaten egg per gallon of waterand stirred in the water and sprayed on the vines will deter deer - I have been told this by a commercial grower. They seem to hate the albumen in egg. It is not practical for commercial growers but may work for my 0.06 acre vineyard.

Anyone have any experience with this problem and have other possible solutions? I usually put up my netting around the first of August but may speed up the schedule this year. Of course, if the deer has a real taste for grapes the netting may not stop them.

The animals may be seeking revenge this year. Also for the first time I spotted a fox in the vineyard and the groundhogs are getting brave and even coming onto the deck and eating potted plants. As if the 13 inches of rain in less than a week wasn't bad enough, now I have critter problems.

Well, deer haven't gotten to my vines yet (the 54 vines were just planted this year, and their shoots are still a long ways from teh top of the growth tubes), but...

I've been using a product called "liquid fence" for a year on my roses and new fruit trees. It really seems to work. Probably find it at a good garden store, or farm store. It's made of rotten egg solids and garlic, and you don't want to stand downwind when you spray!

I've had friends use soap (another traditional repellent), but they only got soapy wine, and little of that as well, since the birds or deer took care of all their grapes. I've also heard of blood meal working, as well as the scat of big animals (dogs/cats/bear). I don't know how you convince them to dump in the vineyard, but there you are.

I've also hit on another possibility for the future - there are 3-D hunting targets out there, of cougar, bear, bobcat, and coyote. Thought I'd try that one day if I can save up the money.

I've really decided with the deer, the real answer is just encourage them to eat something else. They'll eat anything, so just make the grapes (and roses) the least palatable food sourse around.

Good luck. To both of us!

Rob

For the first time in the eight years I have been living at my residence here in Central Maryland, I have spotted Deer - Momma and Fawn eating roses and other plants on or near my property. I do not live in the country but am only a short distance from woods and farm fields.

I have a 112 vine backyard vineyard that I am now concerned about. I have been told that one beaten egg per gallon of waterand stirred in the water and sprayed on the vines will deter deer - I have been told this by a commercial grower. They seem to hate the albumen in egg. It is not practical for commercial growers but may work for my 0.06 acre vineyard.

Anyone have any experience with this problem and have other possible solutions? I usually put up my netting around the first of August but may speed up the schedule this year. Of course, if the deer has a real taste for grapes the netting may not stop them.

The animals may be seeking revenge this year. Also for the first time I spotted a fox in the vineyard and the groundhogs are getting brave and even coming onto the deck and eating potted plants. As if the 13 inches of rain in less than a week wasn't bad enough, now I have critter problems.

For the first time in the eight years I have been living at my residence here in Central Maryland, I have spotted Deer - Momma and Fawn eating roses and other plants on or near my property. I do not live in the country but am only a short distance from woods and farm fields.

I have a 112 vine backyard vineyard that I am now concerned about. I have been told that one beaten egg per gallon of waterand stirred in the water and sprayed on the vines will deter deer - I have been told this by a commercial grower. They seem to hate the albumen in egg. It is not practical for commercial growers but may work for my 0.06 acre vineyard.

Anyone have any experience with this problem and have other possible solutions? I usually put up my netting around the first of August but may speed up the schedule this year. Of course, if the deer has a real taste for grapes the netting may not stop them.

The animals may be seeking revenge this year. Also for the first time I spotted a fox in the vineyard and the groundhogs are getting brave and even coming onto the deck and eating potted plants. As if the 13 inches of rain in less than a week wasn't bad enough, now I have critter problems.

Hello all, My parents live up in the northern part of Wisconsin. They have had problems with deers for years in their garden. Before you spend the money on a fence - consider this, my dad saw a deer jump his 8 foot garden fence from a standing position. They still have the fence, but they also try other things to keep the deer away (which have all been mentioned). Darlene

Strange, an 8 foot fence is supposed to prevent deer from getting in.

another option might be 2 6 fott fences spaced 5-6 feet apart.

another tastier option, for commercial growers at least would be a depridation permit and a 30.06.

Dar V wrote:

Might be - my Dad has lived up there for 50 years and he just couldn't believe it until he saw it a couple of years ago. You'd be surprised by the way they fence in their veggie gardens up there. Darlene

wow, maybe he needs to add some barbed wire or some attack dogs.

Dar V wrote:

One of the most impressive vineyards I ever saw was in Texas - not for the grapes, but for the deer fences. Looked like little prison yards.

Interestingly, in a recent magazine article, raccoons were the biggest grape-eating threat after birds.

Yeah, it's crazy, but they take their gardening seriously up there. My parents won't get another dog, but I think the deer are way to comfortable around there. My parents told me they saw a mother deer nursing her baby on their road so close to the house that they could see it from the patio door.

I was at my brother's house this weekend, he uses a motion detection sprinkler system to keep the deer from his garden and is very satisified with the result. However, when working in the garden, you have to turn it off. AND, when done working...you have to turn it back on, as he sadly learned.

Paul

Dar V wrote:

A repellent sometimes used in Missouri is human hair. Sounds a little weird I know, but it does seem to work. Do you know anyone with a barber shop?

Greg G.