How to Keep Deer from Eating Hydrangeas (10 Ways to Stop Them)

Hydrangeas are so beautiful and add a lot of color to any garden, but deer will eat them. Here is everything you need to know about how to stop the doe in her tracks.

Deer are known to eat flowers and plants, but they won’t stop until you do something about it. Here are 10 ways to keep deer from eating your hydrangeas.

Repellent for Deer

One of the easiest ways to keep them away is by using a Repellent for Deer . There are many types available at stores and online, from sprays to granules. Just make sure you get one that’s safe for use on edible plants!

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Early in the spring, when deer are most active, spray your garden with it, and reapply after it rains or when you water the plants down.

Dog Hair

Dog hair may also be used as a natural repellant. It seems to be equally as effective in keeping them at bay! Collect some of your pet’s hair during brushing time (or hire someone to do it for you!) and scatter it across your garden. They despise the scent and will avoid it for as long as possible!

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Strong Smells

Although it is a fallacy that deer are terrified of human hair, they do not like the fragrance! It’s the same with dog hair. So if you have a bush or tree near your garden where you can hang some old rags soaked in hair clippings and bar soap (deer despise both scents), it will keep them away. Other strong odor substances, such as cinnamon, spicy peppers, or citrus, may also be used.

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Fencing

Building a protective fence around your garden is the greatest approach to keep deer away for good.

Any fencing will work, but hardware cloth (wire mesh with smaller holes than Wire for chickens), works the best because it’s more durable and less likely to be pushed down or broken through.

We choose deer netting because it is more durable and less prone to rip.

You could notice some evidence that they’re attempting to get through after your deer netting is up and some of these “scary” components have been put to the fence.

If that’s the case, consider increasing the number of deterrents! Deer, like humans, are obstinate, so they’ll keep attempting to enter into your garden until you persuade them that it’s off limits.

Wire for chickens

If you don’t want a fence that will last forever around your garden bed, or can’t afford it right now, then Wire for chickens works just fine in the short-term.

Build a frame for the bottom of the Wire for chickens by nailing wooden stakes into the ground around your garden bed.

Then stretch out the Wire for chickens on top of this frame and staple it along all sides to keep deer from pushing through or digging under it.

Even young fawns shouldn’t be able to thrust their heads through the mesh since the holes are too tiny.

Sprinkler System with Motion Detection

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To keep them away, you may purchase a motion-detecting water sprinkler. The commotion and rapid spray of water will terrify the deer, and they will stay away from your garden after that.

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It will keep your garden properly hydrated while also keeping hungry wildlife away from your plants.

Just remember to turn it off when you arrive home in case you forget about it and return with damp clothing! If you’re experiencing problems with your sprinkler, make sure to read our article on how to adjust the sprinkler head.

Fencing made of wire

If you have a really small area where the hydrangeas are, then buy some cheap Fencing made of wire from your local hardware store. Cover the top of this fence with leaves and branches so that it blends in better with the environment.

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Make use of metal flashing.

Another method is to wrap a piece of metal flashing around the bottom of your plant so that deer can’t get their mouths or teeth around the stems but still want to eat them because they’re tasty!

These may be found at any hardware shop; just purchase the length you want and cut it using wire cutters. Then bend the flashing into a “L” shape to provide a flat surface for wrapping around the stem of your plant.

Deer can’t get their noses below this metal to feed at night when they’re more active, thus the bottom should be approximately 12 inches from the ground.

The easiest method to secure it is using U-shaped wire staples, which prevent deer from chewing through or ripping the flashing away.

Cover up your plant’s “front” by connecting some branches and leaves over the metal until they’re heavy enough to hang on by themselves if you don’t want it to seem like it’s wearing a diaper.

Use Lights that are Powered by the Sun

Using solar-powered lights or the kind of motion sensors that activate deer spray is another method to make it even more effective! These should be put around your garden at night when deer are most likely to come, and their brilliant flashing light or fragrance will deter them.

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If you already have a fence, all you have to do now is install these lights or sensors.

This is all about perception; deer are afraid of new things in their environment because they don’t know what those things will do to them! So by adding some “scary” elements at night — like bright flashing lights and Strong Smells — you’ll keep them away for good.

Physical Barriers

Use physical deterrents such as a scare crow or fake plastic snakes to keep deer away for the duration of their presence.

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If you just have a tiny space where the hydrangeas are flourishing and don’t want to (or can’t afford) to use fences or sprinklers, build up the soil around it by adding compost! Deer don’t like walking over loose dirt, so they’ll keep away from your plants.

Conclusion

Don’t give up no matter what you do! Because if you stay at it for a few weeks or months, your deer will ultimately quit coming back and leave you alone – even in the winter, when food supplies are sparse.

They’ll keep coming back as long as there are people in your region who have plants for them to consume. Other creatures you may wish to keep out of your yard include squirrels, so be sure to read our post on how to keep squirrels out of your yard!

The “do deer eat annabelle hydrangeas” is a common question that many people ask. The best way to stop deer from eating your plants is to plant different types of plants or use repellents.

Frequently Asked Questions

What smells repel deer?

A: One study was published in the journal Wilderness and Environmental Medicine that showed deer were more likely to avoid areas where human odor was present.

How do you keep animals from eating hydrangeas?

A: I cannot answer this question because you did not include the name of your hydrangea.

Does vinegar repel deer?

A: Vinegar does not repel deer.

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