IN THE GARDEN

By Doreen Trudel

Garden Column November 2007

This year it seems that fall arrived early in Point Roberts. The color was deeper and richer than I have seen for several years. Our mild summer and cool September was followed by a spectacular display of reds, golds and greens of every shade.

Our still young apple, plum and cherry crops were bigger than ever but unfortunately we did not get to enjoy the bounty. For the first time since we started this garden we were visited by deer of all sizes. I think we were their dessert bar because they seemed to only be interested in the fruit trees and grape vines.

Not only did Bambi and friends eat the fruit, waiting until it was fully ripe, of course, they chewed a six foot high leaf, shoot and branch zone around the trees in my four year orchard. When they had finished everything within reach they even went after the last two apples at the top of one tree by knocking it down. My only consolation was that the deer was so surprised when it leaned against the trunk and the tree fell over the apples were left on attached to the tree, untouched. The prognosis on the tree is hopeful. The roots seemed intact so we propped up the tree with supporting stakes and now must wait until spring.

I quickly began researching about my new garden diners and since I doubt I am the only gardener in Point Roberts who have encountered these beautiful, charming but hungry creatures I thought I would share my findings.

Not to be pessimistic but I have come to the conclusion that I have to accept my losses or turn my garden into an armed camp. There are a few precautions we can take but every reference I could find said the only sure method of protecting my food supply is ringing our property with a fence higher than eight feet or building two fences side-by-side about two or three feet apart. Apparently deer do not like to jump thick fences. One source even suggested placing barbed wire along the ground to discourage the deer from trying to gain entry by pushing in the bottom of the fence.

Sifting through pages of suggestions and information I came to the following conclusion; barriers are the only reliable protection. A tall fence around the perimeter of the area you wish to protect or wire cages around smaller individual trees. My example of the downed apple tree warns that those cages will have to be quite strong and outside of the tree canopy.

None of my sources found the chemical products to be a deterrent which is probably better for a totally organic garden.

I found some other deer remedies which I will share with this precaution: none of them achieved 100 percent success. Because plant species, climate conditions and environmental stress levels vary solutions may not work in all areas at all times of year.

Motion-sensor sprinklers had reliable success but remember to turn them off when you wander around or you too will be chased out of the garden. Bars of Dial hand soap hung in mesh bags from tree branches had no effect in some instances but other gardeners claim success, especially when hung in early fall.

Hot pepper and garlic solutions were not reliable and anything topical needs to reapplied after it rains … that solution to me seemed like a no-brainer in this climate!

Ed Hume, the father of home remedies was once told that fishing-line strung horizontally around the garden at two foot intervals to a height of 6 feet kept the deer out. With my memory I would probably forget about the invisible fishing line in the orchard and snag myself.

I have noticed that the deer so far have not eaten anything in the beds close to the house. Most of the beds are full of shrubs that claim to be less appetizing to deer and when it comes to ornamental plantings this may be the best solution: use plants that are thought to be deer-resistant remembering that few plants are deer-proof.

The next meeting of the Point Roberts Garden Club is November 8, at 7 p.m. at the community center. This year I am particularly grateful to be living in such a beautiful, safe and peaceful part of our world. I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving.

Deer-resistant plant suggestions

Shrubs: Abelia, Acuba, Salvia greggii, Buxus microphylla (boxwood), Cotoneaster, Eleagnus, Rhus virens (evergreen sumac), Arelia sieboldii, Lavandula, Nandina, Cortaderia (pampas grass), Pyracantha, Berberis thunbergii, Rosemarinus offcinalis (rosemary), Choisya, Pieris japonica, Mahonia aquifolium, Potentilla, Camellia, Forsythia, Viburnum tinus, Escallonia, Ceanothus, Vaccinium corymbosum (highbush blueberry).
Perennials: Agapanthus, Yucca, Ageratum, Rudbeckia, Senecio cineraria (dusty miller), Iris, Verbena, Yarrow, Chrysanthemum, Zinnia
Bulbs: Hemerocallis (daylily), Tulipa (tulips), Lilium (lily), Artemisia, Echinops, Helleborus,
Vines: Trachelospermum jasminoides, (star jasmine)