The hosta *will* be back. Much sooner than you think. We've had hosta eaten to the ground several times a year because they grow back, and the deer return.

Thanks so much. I'll pick up some Liquid Fence tomorrow. I'm leaving the porch lights on tonight...hopefully it will deter them. I might put a radio out there on low overnight as well. I don't think that would work long-term, but since it will be new it might work for one night.

Last year we have 2 doe and 5 fawns (one had twins, the other triplets) frequently in our yard last year and they did little damage. This year there is just one doe and fawn. She is obviously not as afraid as the others (we know it is a different one because this doe has a distinctive scar on her). I was watering the other day and she was within 15 feet of me and didn't run.

I don't think it helps that all our neighbors have dogs and invisible fences...so out yard is a safe haven (as well as a salad bar).

Things like the radio and lights will work for a short time--did that myself--so hope they work for you tonight.

Friends with dogs do not report them effective.

A thread from a couple of years ago gave all sorts of methods of deer deterrence and this was compiled into an FAQ How do I keep deer and moose from eating up my garden?.

I just took a look at this FAQ and one of the iVillage reorganizations has changed the format so it reads a little weird, but you might be able to get some ideas here. I'll clean it up later.

I was just admiring my hostas today and I can just imagine how I'd feel if they were eaten! You have my heartfelt sympathy.

Claire

Thanks.

The Bruins game had just started, DH and I were eating dinner, and I looked out and she was eating again! I scared her away. The outside lights are on and I opened the windows so the TV can be heard outside. I'm going to put the radio out before I got to bed.

I've always enjoyed the deer that frequent the yard. We have almost 4 acres and they have only rarely nibbled. I really like watching them, but they are worn out their welcome.

The deer pass through my yard regularly and nibble here and there somewhat randomly it seems, but generally don't eat much. Occasionally they eat a choice plant and I get irritated. Also I've heard that young deer will sample odd things just to see what they taste like. I don't generally mind if they nibble on a plant that does well when it's pinched anyway, like Aster or Phlox.

The deer used to love one of my Hostas - Royal Standard. I think Hosta is like a gourmet salad for them! They would eat all the foliage, but it would still flower (lovely fragrant white flowers) and looked very weird with flowers and sticks. I bought a similar product called Deer Out and it worked well and broke them of the habit of eating that hosta, which they haven't touched for the past few years. It doesn't wash off in rain and only has to be reapplied every 90-120 days.

We bought a phantom wildlife deterrent a few years back. And have had pretty good luck with it. I really bought it to deter the coyotes - after a coyote walked thru my backyard in broad day light - between me sitting in a lawn chair and my 2 year old playing in her sandbox about 20 feet away.

The phantom deters coyote, deer and bears. We've had pretty good luck with it. Though I do have to replace the batteries every 2 months in winter. If the batteries die, I end up with deer in my yard within a week and coyotes within a month. (So those of you who follow the mobile features thread - you will now know when it is time for me to replace batteries). And recently there were a lot of bear sightings in town, some less than 1/4 mile from my house - but we never saw a bear in our yard - not sure if the phantom worked, or if we just were not on the travel route!

Overall I feel like I should live in harmony with nature and wildlife. However, with the dangers posed by coyote and deer, I'm happy that I've found a non-invasive, harmless way to deter the wildlife from my backyard.

I Googled Phantom Wildlife Deterrent and found it. I don't think that would work for me because they eat in broad daylight (most of yesterday's damage was between 9 and 3). From their website: "They automatically turn on in the evening and off in the morning."

From my understanding, the deer/coyote/bear hear the noises at night, but cannot see the "cougar", so they change their habits and do not come in the daylight. The literature even tells you - if you see the animals during the day, your gut reaction is to run and get your phantom and start playing the noises. But that just teaches the deer that it is you making the noise, and not a cougar. And thus the phantom won't work.

I had only seen the coyotes and deer during the day before, but don't see them anymore since using the phantom. And the animal damage at night is minimal.

I think I have an easier problem right now, at least far as gardening is concerned. Our area is having a "hungry" (more accurately a lazy) bear problem. This week he invaded the bird feeders of our neighbor across the street, cleaned out the birdseed and bent the iron support poles all the way to the ground. I'm concerned because the birdfeeders were 5 feet from the house, but at least he doesn't eat from the garden! He seems to make nocturnal visits, thankfully. As long as he stays away from the kids...

(And it would be nice if he left the chickens alone, too.)

We don't have deer problem mainly (I think) because the bountiful woods around us keep them well-fed enough that they don't need to venture near houses. (Hence the hungry bear is really a lazy bear.) Would feeding deer in an area away from the garden help, or would it result in hundreds of deer coming over for a meal?

This is so awful. I too would be so very upset if my hostas were eaten as yours were. And I have small, newly planted hostas. Can't imagine how painful it would be to find huge, well-established plants devastated. I hope you find a way of discouraging this doe. She's much too comfortable near your house.

Try using Milorganite, a fertilizer product. You need to replenish it about every 4-6 weeks. The deer seem to stay away when you sprinkle it around the hostas.

Deer took down part of my fence this winter, necessitating that I don swamp waders and trudge out to repair the damage, so deer are on my hit list too at the moment. In my case I think I need to create openings in the fence at periodic intervals, deer gates as it were. In my mind I'm thinking 'venison' though! Good luck with your deer battle. I hope you find a deterrent that works.

Plant a bunch of Spring (Summer blooming) bulbs and annuals. Some lavender, some lilies, some gladiolus.

When the hosta return sprinkle hot pepper all over the leaves. Make them unappetizing. Or get a fence...

After the deer destroyed my hosta; An old timer told me to dig up the with plenty of soil and freeze for 24 hours an then replant. This tricks the hosta in the thinking it was through a winter and they will sprout up again in a 7-10 days. Never tried tried this: what are some thoughts.

Hostas will regrow regardless. since this is an old thread, hopefully by now Sue36 has found a method that works for her to discourage deer. .;>)

I also just discovered deer damage this morning six hostas on far side of spruce, hostas here and there throughout boarder garden and tips off many of my roses!!! I spray with deer out, which works but hadn’t done it in last couple weeks. I just went around our very large yard and sprayed everything again! so frustrating after all the work put into the gardens!

HU 74 - I've been told Liquid Fence works well for deer. I have rabbits not deer, but thought I'd pass that along. Not sure what the difference is between Deer Out and Liquid Fence.

The rabbits eat my hosta too, but I find I'm in and out of the garden during the day so it's at night they do the most damage. I will put a milk crate over some of my hostas and then take them off in the morning. That seemed to work pretty well.

Yes always at night! we have rabbits also but this was definitely deer!😩

I know EXACTLY how you feel. After so much work and care on my hostas, they are now ruined.

Liquid Fence really is the answer, in my experience. You do have to keep up with it, with regular reapplications, especially after a heavy rain. But it's worth it to save my garden. And you have my sympathies about your beautiful hostas. I have many myself. And your hostas aren't dead tho you have unfortunately lost their beauty for this season. They will be back as good as ever next year.

Liquid Fence says it works for rabbits too but I can't provide experience there as I don't have much of a rabbit problem--too many predators to let rabbits increase much. Worth a try.