last year deer ate most of my spring flowering tulips and other bulbs.
should i use a deer spray that is use on roses?
Knowledgebase
deer and tulip bulbs #924519
Asked February 12, 2026, 3:56 PM EST
last year deer ate most of my spring flowering tulips and other bulbs.
should i use a deer spray that is use on roses?
Multnomah CountyOregon
Expert Response
You can use a surface spray like that, but remember you'll have to re-apply it often, especially after it rains, and it is best to switch between 2 or more products so that the smell/taste changes. A more deer-proof solution however, would be to place an actual barrier between the deer and the flowers. Consider making a cage with metal wire, and anchored pretty well, either to the ground itself or to posts. Deer will definitely attempt to crush or push over caging. "Chickenwire" might be ok, but it's pretty lightweight and particularly if you also have squirrels and other animals digging at or eating the tops of your bulbs, probably best to cage with "hardware cloth", or welded wire. Another alternative to consider once we're out of freezing season would be investing in a motion-detecting water "scarecrow" that blasts water within the protected area. Your situation (size of area needing protection, access to hose bib, proximity to public sidewalks, etc., etc.) will dictate whether that's something you want to consider.