How to Prevent Deer from Eating Your Trees This Winter
We received a phone call from a homeowner in Amherst, NH
She was upset because last winter the deer were eating her sapling trees, from bark to leaves. She wanted to know if there was any way that she could prevent this and protect her trees. It isn’t unusual in rural areas for the deer to frequent backyards during the winter months as they forage for food. However, this can be particularly detrimental to young trees when the deer take to eating the bark and twigs directly off of the tree, oftentimes stripping it bare.
Amherst Homeowner Finds a Solution
One of the easiest and most practical solution to prevent deer from damaging your landscaping is with a spray deer repellent. Applying this spray during late fall directly to the plants and trees where the deer like to feed can make a difference. There are many homemade versions available online, but the most effective can be purchased at hardware stores.
Another option for preventing tree damage from deer is to place fencing around the trees. The challenge with this is that a deer can jump up to eight feet. The trick is to strategically place the fencing around the tree to not allow room for the deer to jump inside the area, while still keeping them back far enough to prevent those tasty nibbles.
A simpler option than fencing, and the one this homeowner in Amherst chose, is to wrap the trunks of your smaller trees and shrubbery with burlap. This will protect the delicate bark on her young trees so that they come through the winter unscathed.
