Deer can be skittish around something new like your hoop structure, but you can bet that they will be back if they're hungry enough! In central Texas, we also have a problem with an overpopulation of deer. A few years back a fellow who lived near an exotic game ranch found a unique solution (at least temporarily)to the depredations of the deer on his tender vegetation. After trying all of the usual deterrents, he spread some lion manure around his place at strategic locations. The deer, after getting a whiff of the lion scat, made themselves exceedingly scarce. Their instinct told them that they didn't want to be anywhere close to whatever left that scent! A more available deterrent may also work temporarily. Socks filled with human hair (obtainable at barber shops or salons) can sometimes repel deer.

Some commercially available deer repellents use rotted egg whites. They are expensive but have worked for me in the past. I was told that some local farmers have made their own using egg whites but have no idea of the procedure, or what they do to prevent the mix from clogging their sprayers.

Nice fig house, love to do that to my whole backyard, its only about 50Â by 35Â. I really enjoy the fig pics, canÂt wait till people start posting them.

The best deer repellent I have found is "milk." During warm weather I cut the milk 50 50 with water. During the winter I spray the milk on 100% strength. I don't know what scientific properties of the milk that repels the deer but rain doesn't seem to wash it off. I repeat the application about 4 to 5 times and don't have a deer problem while neighbors do.

Very cool compound figfarmer!
I'm glad your figs are resproutin'.

I'm not so sure johnsvmf, about spraying milk- does it stink at all? Just when I'm gettin' used to, and actually likin' the smell of my cat-pee-smellin' figs; the thought of overtones of sour milk may be too much for me to tolerate!
:O)
Christy

>>>christyfiglover I'm not so sure johnsvmf, about spraying milk

Good for more than 1 thing.

Here is a link that might be useful: Got Milk?

If you are hungry, you will eat something more pleasing before eating something rank. However, if there is nothing good, eventually you are going to eat whatever is around... regardless of how it taste. If you spray your trees with eggs and/or milk or any other repellent, make sure the deer have something else to eat.

There are many recipes online for milk/egg combos.

~james

I was skeptical about using milk when my Master Gardener friend first told me about it. After I exhausted the traditional solutions with mixed results(no pun intended) I used the milk with great success. I haven't tried sour milk but my kids will not drink milk after the "sell by date" so I use that. I usually spray before dusk and I have never experienced a foul smell. It is one potential solution that works where I live. Maybe it will work for you as well. What do you have to lose?

That compound is really beautiful! It seems like it could be adapted to offer protection from the climate as well (although you probably don't need it there)

Do those figs ever get direct sun?

I have a small suburban plot, so deer haven't been an issue. For me its the damned neighbor kids. I have sprayed milk for powdery mildew and was very pleased with the results. Either it worked quite well, or the mildew got better on its own.

The best repellant I've found is a shotgun.
Works every time!

What shot do you use or do you use slugs:) Either way let me know and I will come by for a steak.

James is correct; if food is short deer will eat about anything available, but some things they normally prefer. I've got apples, peaches, and chinkapins and they really love all of them. Deterrents help somewhat there. I've never had a problem with deer eating my figs, but they did gnaw down my loquat trees a few years back.

I read that deer will not eat squash leaves because they are prickly....don't believe it! I planted some outside my fenced garden and they ate right down to the stalks.

Peg

The sun follows the length of the compound. Unfortunately, the 4 giant ponerosa pine trees ( 80 - 110 feet each)block most of the sun out. The fig trees each get a few hours of direct sun a day. By next summer, they will, indoubtably, grow out of the compound. I quess the "Fig trees for sale" sign will have to be put out on the road at that time. The compound is very versatile. I can cover it with tarps during the rainy season and winter season and uncover it in the summer. Too shady in there for the long haul but a great protection for young trees, until I move them into a second compound that I will be building this autumn in a sunnier spot. FF

Man, you nailed exactly what Ive been wanting to build in my backyard but also for winter protection. Im just not sure how tall I should make it when I get around to it.

Also anyone know of a reasonably priced supply house for this kind of project?

My hoop frame is 9' tall at the center. The sides are about 3' tall. Do a search for hoop frames on the net. They aren't cheap. You can make them out of 1" electrical EMT conduit. Buy a bender at H.D. and make your own. Buy the couplings at H.D. , Also. They are in the fencing supply section. FF