How to Keep Deer from Tomato Plants

While gardening can be a relaxing and rewarding hobby, it can also be frustrating when deer discover your beloved tomato plants. Fortunately, there are several effective ways to keep deer from eating your tomato plants, and here are some ideas:

1. Use Fences

One common way to keep deer from your plants is by putting up a fence around your garden. Deer can easily leap over most fences, but you can use a deer fence, which can be 8 to10 feet tall, to prevent them from entering your garden. An alternative is to build a shorter fence around your tomato plants that is at least 6 feet tall. Make sure to bury the fence at least a foot underground, to keep deer from digging under it.

2. Use Deer-Resistant Plants

Another way is to plant deer-resistant plants around your tomato plants, since deer have preferences for specific types of plants. You can plant herbs, onions, garlic, and chives between the rows of tomatoes to discourage deer from browsing. Another deer-resistant plant is marigold, which also attracts beneficial insects to your garden.

3. Use Repellents

Repellents can be another easy solution to keep deer away from your precious tomato plants. There are many commercial repellents available that you can spray directly onto the foliage of your tomato plants. The scent or taste will discourage deer from taking a bite. You can also make your own natural repellent by mixing water with hot sauce, garlic, and soap, then spraying it onto your plants.

4. Use Motion-Activated Devices

Deer get spooked easily, and you can use that to your advantage by using motion-activated devices. When a deer approaches, the device will emit a sound or a blast of water, startling the deer and driving it away. This can also be effective for other animals, such as rabbits and squirrels, that may also threaten your tomato plants.

5. Use Other Tricks

There are other tricks you can try to keep deer away from your tomato plants. For instance, you can spray your plants with a solution of garlic and water, as deer dislike the smell of garlic. You can also hang shiny objects, like CDs or aluminum foil, around your garden to distract and confuse deer. Some people even hang human hair or dog hair around their gardens, which can give off a predator scent and deter animals from approaching.

In conclusion, keeping deer away from your tomato plants can be a challenging task, but it's not impossible. Try a combination of the above methods to see what works best for you. Whether it's building a fence, planting deer-resistant plants, using repellents, motion-activated devices or other tricks, you can enjoy your tomato harvest, deer-free!