I used to live in a place that had deer everywhere. In fact it was more deer habitat than human. I don't really know how to advise you. I got lots of advice and flyers on how to grow stuff that deer that didn't eat. The only problem was the deer didn't read the same dang pamphlets. If they are hungry enough they'll eat everything. If you can't fence, (& it's got to be a high fence) you just have to experiment. I had a lot of luck with salvias. If you can fence keep in mind if there is a hillside they will easily jump a six foot fence. The fencing can be done relatively inexpensively, with deer netting & posts. You have my sympathies. I lived with deer problems for over 15 years. My reward was seeing the little babies with their spots on who had just barely learned to walk right in my front yard. It was really kind of worth it.

You should have seen the deer the time I charged it with my wheel barrow. Sproing sproing sproing all over the yard. Fences around a whole yard have to be high but not fences around small areas or gardening beds. Apparently they don't want to jump into a place where they will land on shrubs or stakes. I have circles around individual plants of 4' welded wire fence that work, and larger areas planted in 3' wide beds that don't get deer jumping in. I even have corner posts with 4 strands of wire between them spaced a foot apart that seem to get no damage, just what they can reach through the wire or over the top. They find a sprinkling of blood meal really repellent, and also an egg mixed with cayenne pepper in water and sprinkled on plants, better after a day or so when it really smells bad.

I too struggle with Bambis all over the place and use the same things already mentioned. I also have a couple of "Scarecrows" the motion activated sprinkler, very useful. We had a doe and her spotted twins on our patio the other day. No fear is right! btw, we deer fenced our veggie garden but missed a hole in a wooden gate that was only a foot square. Guess what we found in the garden one day? Right, Bambi...

I've had very good success with Deer Out and it doesn't stink like some do, unless you consider peppermint to be smelly. This is the 3rd or 4th year I've used it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Deer Repellent

I, too, live in deer and ELK country and have an extensive landscaped lot. When we first moved in, about 3 years ago, after planting literally several hundred trees, ground covers, shrubs, etc., one morning I got up and it was all GONE!!! I cried.

Now, I use Plantskydd. It is primarily blood meal, but it is mixed with some sort of oil base and does not wash off in the rain. IT DOES WORK!!! Since it rains so much here, I found it is the best product for the pacific northwest. And, also, you only have to apply it every few months, except touching up the new growth in the spring and early summer. I highly recommend it. Now, I rarely see deer/elk browsing signs in my landscape. The main thing is not to slack off because things are going good and the deer have not been around. THEY WILL COME BACK! Also, be sure to also apply it during the fall and winter because that's when they will come in and eat whatever they can find. Good luck!

Here is a link that might be useful: Plantskydd

I'm in Issaquah also (on Squak Peak). We have a rural lot that's on a deer path. I've found that Deer Off works well to repel them from eating my roses and daylillies. I also have a lot of oregano, lavender, thyme, salvia, allium, pieris, berberis, and other plants that deer won't usually go after. They'll occasionally nibble at something that they don't really like, but for the most part they leave most of my plants alone.

I think the key is being diligent with the repellent spray, and trying to plant as many things as possible that they don't really like. We plan on starting a vegetable garden next spring, but we plan on fencing it in 8' high to a foot below the soil line and also to line the bottom of the beds with wire mesh. This should keep out deer, rabbits, raccoons, and moles. I'm willing to share a few rose buds, but not strawberries!

Deer - part of the reason I want to move back to north Oregon.

The deer in Jackson county limit landscape design plans too much, since only a few yards have fences and gates.

It seems to limit designs to 20% of what Oregon offers for sale in nurseries.

I don't like living in a gated yard, and want more variety in our own landscaping - aside from blueprints for others.

Okay. I tried everything available. In the last 4 yrs I have installed a hot wire (electric fence). Mine is high above hog and field wire, but I have heard if you use one single strand with the hot wire, and peanut butter painted on aluminum foil, attached to the hot wire. The deer will not be able to resist the peanut butter, and take only one little taste and they have not come back, even though we have a multitude in our pasture. One man told me that you do not need it high or with a combo fence. 2 to 3 ' high did it for him. And he only put up one wire. It was heartbreaking every year for a long time. Now my roses are a sea of blossoms. Good Luck

I don't know if this will work, but Cougar Mtn Zoo sells a product made from the cougar waste. Suppose to keep the deer, cayotes and the smaller animals away. Have to call the zoo for availability. its like $#10 to $15 for a 4lb bag.

Bill