deer repulsion and soil amendments - Ask Extension
I put chunks of Irish Spring soap under my vegetable plants to repel deer. Does this really work? Also one night it disappeared (not dissolved by ra...
Knowledgebase
deer repulsion and soil amendments #791832
Asked May 20, 2022, 2:30 PM EDT
I put chunks of Irish Spring soap under my vegetable plants to repel deer. Does this really work? Also one night it disappeared (not dissolved by rain). What critter likely took it?
Are coffee grounds good for soil amendment or deer repulsion? Thanks.
Montgomery County Maryland
Expert Response
Anecdotally, Irish Spring soap can work, but as with most repellent odors, deer can get used to them and learn to ignore them, especially when hungry and desperate. We don't know why an animal may have carried-off the soap piece that disappeared.
Coffee grounds can be used for composting, but ideally should not be used fresh on garden beds nor relied upon as a repellent. Here are a couple of resources where you can learn about coffee grounds uses and caveats: More reliable deer repellent substances are those processed and packaged/sold as commercial repellents. They have been tested not only for efficacy, but also to ensure they pose a low risk for plant damage from the ingredients themselves when applied as directed. Most contain a combination of foul-smelling (like rotten eggs) and bad-tasting (like hot pepper) ingredients to reinforce the message of "this is not food" for foraging deer exploring their options. Generally, these offensive odors are not detectable at a distance by human noses once the spray dries. It's easier to prevent a deer's browsing habit from forming in the first place (by teaching them that certain plants are repulsive before they learn to like them and remember they're there) than to try to break a well-established browsing pattern, since they are creatures of habit.
If you would prefer to not spray repeatedly as plants grow or after heavy rains, or if some repellent products are not labeled for use on edible plants, your best solution is a physical barrier instead. Various styles of fencing can exclude deer, though creating a wire-mesh cage around the entire bed(s) of vegetables will also exclude groundhogs, rabbits, and other wildlife that may consume foliage or fruits. A link to a couple of fencing-related videos for vegetable gardens can be found at the bottom of our Deer Damage page.
Miri
Coffee grounds can be used for composting, but ideally should not be used fresh on garden beds nor relied upon as a repellent. Here are a couple of resources where you can learn about coffee grounds uses and caveats: More reliable deer repellent substances are those processed and packaged/sold as commercial repellents. They have been tested not only for efficacy, but also to ensure they pose a low risk for plant damage from the ingredients themselves when applied as directed. Most contain a combination of foul-smelling (like rotten eggs) and bad-tasting (like hot pepper) ingredients to reinforce the message of "this is not food" for foraging deer exploring their options. Generally, these offensive odors are not detectable at a distance by human noses once the spray dries. It's easier to prevent a deer's browsing habit from forming in the first place (by teaching them that certain plants are repulsive before they learn to like them and remember they're there) than to try to break a well-established browsing pattern, since they are creatures of habit.
If you would prefer to not spray repeatedly as plants grow or after heavy rains, or if some repellent products are not labeled for use on edible plants, your best solution is a physical barrier instead. Various styles of fencing can exclude deer, though creating a wire-mesh cage around the entire bed(s) of vegetables will also exclude groundhogs, rabbits, and other wildlife that may consume foliage or fruits. A link to a couple of fencing-related videos for vegetable gardens can be found at the bottom of our Deer Damage page.
Miri
