Deer, Oh Dear

» LadyB - Hi Diana, I've passed this tip on before, but this is a good pla

Hi Diana, I've passed this tip on before, but this is a good place to put it out again. I didn't believe it until I saw my friend enjoy RED TULIPS for the third year in a row in spite of the deer walking right through her yard. It does involve soap, but it is used a little differently.

This friend would cut plain old ivory soap into cubes (about six from each large bar) and skewer them on a plant stake and put the stake in the ground right at 'nibble' height. The only 'replenishing' that has to be done is to raise the stake as the plant grows up. A cube to each hosta or placed approximately every three feet down the row of tulips really does seem to work.

I started a gardening job a few years ago and when I came for the first visit in April, every iris, daylily and perennial had been eaten right to the ground. I immediately installed the soap cubes (explaining to the puzzled customer that it WOULD look a little like we're growing marshmallows for awhile, but just hang on......) The deer stopped eating and I know they didn't leave because later in the season one of the huge golden hostas grew well above the soap cube and sure enough, Bambi came and feasted. I installed another cube and that was the last bite taken. Pretty amazing....

Lady B, Weeds and Wild Things Cold Spring, New York

-- posted by LadyB

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