by Connie Oswald Stofko
When it comes to dealing with pests such as deer and rabbits, the bad news is that there is no single techniquethat works all the time. The good news is that there are lots and lots of things you can try.
When I speak to gardening groups, I get a chance to talk with gardeners, and they’re happy to share what works for them. I’m always coming across new ideas on how to deal with pests.
Dryer sheets
The main thing I’ve learned is that dryer sheets seem to deter all kinds of pests. We told you before that you can use twist ties to attach dryer sheetsto bamboo sticks to keep deer and rabbits out of your garden.
A gardener suggested slipping dryer sheets under the straps of a tank top to keep bees away.Along the same line, recently anothergardener suggested putting dryer sheetsunder your hat to keep black flies away.
Still another gardenerhad a problem withmice in his garage. They made a nestin his tillerand were gnawing at the equipment.He put dryer sheets in the housing and that kept the mice away.
Marigolds
Another tip suggested by a gardener was to plant marigolds to stop bugs. According to Cornell Cooperative Extension, the roots ofsome French marigolds and African marigolds contain a substance that is toxic to certain types of nematodes. Nematodes are soil-inhabiting microscopic roundworms that damage many species of plants. Certain nematodes can be eliminated from a site by growing a thick crop of marigolds for one season prior to planting the vegetable or fruit crop, or by interplanting marigolds between crop rows.
According to folklore, marigolds (as well as mint, thyme and chamomile) may repel cabbage moths, according to Cornell.
I’ve had problems with carpenter ants at my house and the exterminator suggests planting marigolds to help keep the carpenter ants away. I haven’t been diligent enough about planting marigolds to tell you whether it works or whether it doesn’t, but I think they’re pretty and I love how they smell, so I’m planning on planting them this year.
CD’s and DVD’s to repel deer
Pictured is a technique to keep deer away. This technique also gives you a way to reuse old CD’s and DVD’s. You can also use aluminum foil pie plates in the same way.
Hang them from a fence and let them rotate freely in the breeze. The sun glinting off the disc or aluminum foil is supposed to make the deer uneasy. If you don’t have a fence, you could try hanging them in a tree or from a shepherd’s hook.
I used colored ribbon to make it look pretty. If you just drape the loop of ribbon over the fence, they might blow off. Try tying them to a nail.
More tips to discourage deer
Here are some more tips that that gardeners shared with me to help prevent deer from eating your garden plants.
- Rope off your garden or yard with pink surveyor’s tape. This stuff is florescent pink and quivers in the breeze. Again, the deer don’t seem to like the movement.
- Use clear fishing line around areas that are bothered by deer. They don’t see the line and don’t like brushing up against it.
