Does Nite Guard Solar Predator Control Light repel deer? - Ask Extension
I've read several reviews about Nite Guard Solar Predator Control light that state if you have four of these they will repel deer. The recommendation...
Knowledgebase
Does Nite Guard Solar Predator Control Light repel deer? #879040
Asked July 27, 2024, 5:06 PM EDT
I've read several reviews about Nite Guard Solar Predator Control light that state if you have four of these they will repel deer. The recommendations came from This Old House and Bob Villa. I was just wondering if you thought that they really worked. We have several arborvitae trees and it is rather difficult to put fencing up around all of them every fall. We thought if this would work, it would be easier for us. We could put it up once and just leave it there, instead of putting it up and taking it down every year. However, we don't want to switch to that if it won't really work. What do you suggest?
Stark County Ohio
Expert Response
Hi there!
If those really worked, I'd be getting in line to buy several. ANY deer repellent may work for a short time -- until the surprise wears off. I live in an older urban neighborhood and we never saw deer here until about eight years ago. Our streets have street lights, neighbors have motion-activated outdoor lights, and one household a half mile away with an extensive half-acre hosta garden has motion-activated water sprays. We've all experienced gnawed and shredded landscape plants.
Two winters ago, I looked out to the backyard and realized several Japanese yews (Taxus) had their needles eaten from the ground up to five feet. At that point, we bought cheap black plastic netting and wrapped the shrubs with that. It remains in place year round, it's not too noticeable, and the plants have filled back out.
That spring I began using a concentrated powdered deer repellent that mixes with water to spray on plants. It's a mix of dried bovine and swine blood. Smells awful but several public gardens and Ohio State's Chadwick Arboretum and Learning Gardens uses it. I have since learned that it may help to alternate the types of spray one uses. You'll find several on the market.
This is what Cornell University Extension has to say about deer prevention: http://northeastipm-prod.cce.cornell.edu/about-us/publications/ipm-insights/deter-deer-from-devouring-your-landscape/
Colorado State also has a detailed fact sheet: https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/natural-resources/preventing-deer-damage-6-520/
Finally, you could do as some of my friends have done -- give up on growing tasty treats for deer, and move toward plants they do not like as much: https://guernsey.osu.edu/program-areas/master-gardener-volunteers/news-guernsey-county-master-gardeners/dourght-and-deer
But just remember that if deer are hungry enough, they do eat anything. And don't spend a lot of money on systems that won't work more than a few times.
My sympathies,
If those really worked, I'd be getting in line to buy several. ANY deer repellent may work for a short time -- until the surprise wears off. I live in an older urban neighborhood and we never saw deer here until about eight years ago. Our streets have street lights, neighbors have motion-activated outdoor lights, and one household a half mile away with an extensive half-acre hosta garden has motion-activated water sprays. We've all experienced gnawed and shredded landscape plants.
Two winters ago, I looked out to the backyard and realized several Japanese yews (Taxus) had their needles eaten from the ground up to five feet. At that point, we bought cheap black plastic netting and wrapped the shrubs with that. It remains in place year round, it's not too noticeable, and the plants have filled back out.
That spring I began using a concentrated powdered deer repellent that mixes with water to spray on plants. It's a mix of dried bovine and swine blood. Smells awful but several public gardens and Ohio State's Chadwick Arboretum and Learning Gardens uses it. I have since learned that it may help to alternate the types of spray one uses. You'll find several on the market.
This is what Cornell University Extension has to say about deer prevention: http://northeastipm-prod.cce.cornell.edu/about-us/publications/ipm-insights/deter-deer-from-devouring-your-landscape/
Colorado State also has a detailed fact sheet: https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/natural-resources/preventing-deer-damage-6-520/
Finally, you could do as some of my friends have done -- give up on growing tasty treats for deer, and move toward plants they do not like as much: https://guernsey.osu.edu/program-areas/master-gardener-volunteers/news-guernsey-county-master-gardeners/dourght-and-deer
But just remember that if deer are hungry enough, they do eat anything. And don't spend a lot of money on systems that won't work more than a few times.
My sympathies,
