You can still be organic. Most of the deer repellents are based on hot pepper. Just read the ingredients. I have had good luck with Liquid Fence but other people use various things. And of course, fences are quite organic.

Ginny... tell me about your hot pepper repellent, which I'm guessing must be reapplied often.

We do have a fence on one side and a deep wall at the river's edge. The deer come up from our neighbor's yard, which slopes down to the river.

This is the first year we've seen deer in our yard, so we'll need a plan. Thanks,
Molie

Deer aren't a problem for me (it might have something to do with the coyotes that I heard even in the afternoon today!), however I have heard that my favorite all-around garden do-gooder, Coast of Maine's fermented salmon, keeps deer at bay. I do know that it works well as a fungicide and helps the plants resist heat stress. Check it out at the Coast of Maine website.

Patty

Liquid Fence lasts several months--I don't know how. It stinks to high heaven and it's a good idea to wear a mask while spraying it.

Honestly if you are beginning to notice deer devastation IMHO it is time to start educating your self with your neighbors regarding their experiences. Landscaping with deer is a level of gardening equal to color, texture, disease, ect., that can not be ignored. When you dive into the topic you will find that there are some rhododendron varieties that they ignore while feasting on others. The same has been true for me with hydrangea, blueberry, azalea, and arborvitae. kt

Sorry about your roses and day lilys.

They eat my spud blossoms the other night and chomped off the heads of my maltese crosses and I'm sick of them!

If any of you have a bow permit and want to hunt in my back yard this fall LMK--I'd love to eat them!

Leasa
Eastport, ME

Sorry to here about your loss to the deer. We also experienced our first visit from a deer this spring. In our case, he munched several H. 'Blue Angel' and snacked on a few L. 'Star Gazer'. Our deer either had to swim our salt-water cove or come through the Mystic Train Station to reach our gardens...I think he swam the cove & DH is convinced he came via train! In any event, the hosta are sendng out new replacement leaves and the lily..well, it's just gone for this year..sigh. We're a Certified Wildlife Habitat & it seems our planting scheme has worked too well!

Hopefully, your deer was just passing through but I wouldn't count on it.

Triciae,

The deer that visited us also had to cross through salted water as we live along a tidal pool/river right along the coastline. Our riner is too small to support any kind of power boating, so the deer must have felt very secure. Sadly, all the dogs in our neighborhood are gettig older and just don't care anymore.

I agree with everyone's assessment that the deer invasion is probably not over and I wondered why I only saw one of them.... I know there are more lurking nearby.

Thanks everyone for your ideas. I most definitely will check out Liquid Fence and the Coast of Maine website for that smelly salmon. Unfortunatrly, though, our neighbor to the left whose yard slopes down to the river isn't at all interested in landscaping and we can't afford another fence right now. But I'm not giving up!

Molie

This came from an article in Backyard Magazine, in their letters from readers. It worked for me in 2005, and an early spraying in 2006 has kept them away so far.
DEER OFF RECIPE>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Beat/Blend together in an electric blender 1 egg and 1/2 cup of milk, add 1 tablespoonful of cooking oil and 1 tablespoonful of dish soap.(NOTE: I also added a healthy dose of garlic powder, and 3 tablespoons of cayenne pepper powder.I have heard of a suggestion to add mint leaves.) When blended add to 1 gallon of water, and shake or stil well.
Spray plants every two weeks or after rain. DO NOT SPRAY ON EDIBLES. Store left over spray in a covered container.

I have been using the salmon stuff and so far it work... I re applied every 2-3 weeks with all the rain we're getting this year...

It does not draw skunks??

This morning I was on my way out the door at 5:15 to do a little weeding and caught movement out of the corner of my eye-more movement and not the right color for say, a squirrel. Much to my surprise it was a young deer-a buck- cutting through the field next to my house. I startled him and he startled me. The commotion set my dogs into bark mode. Now the husband is up. The deer retreats but gets trapped in my neighbor's yard and can't find it's way around the fence and back into the field. Good grief! Go back where you came from and forget you ever saw me or my garden. I've lived here almost 11 years and have never seen a deer in the neighborhood before but I know they occasionally cut through because last year I saw hoofprints.

Best I keep my fingers crossed that it doesn't come back hungry and with friends.

Sue