KEEPING DEER AWAY FROM GARDENS with Chimes???

has anyone tried keeping the deer away with metal large chimes hanging all about the garden areas??

i was just wondering.......i have always loved chimes and my dh hates them so much i have never been able to hang them outside. so......yesterday he finds those old ones that i had hidden from him and as he was complaining about the noise he says he knows what's he's going to do with them. so, i'm thinking i'd be following him to the trash can, but instead he grabs some rope and he heads out towards the garden area. he takes this rope and with some type of navy or boy scout knot hoists it up into a big tree. now...at first i'm wondering if finally he's totally lost his mind. i'm asking what the heck are you doing? so he's explaining to me that he's thinking the sounds will scare off the deer and i'm instructed to get another 10 or 12 of them to put at different levels of the area. he says now this is an organic way to keep away the deer! (OMG)

ok....so you think he's crazy...(he's usually so level headed)...? i guess time will tell...but has anyone ever tried it?

tobee.....You know the old adage about living next to a rail road track....pretty soon you don't even hear the train coming anymore. I think that is what will happen here. I too love chimes, and have probably 6 different sizes hanging in my area. However, I do live on 200 acres, and we have deer coming out of the woods all the time.

I know you don't want to use chemicals but sometimes you just have to bow down to Mother Nature and her critters. I use a product called "LIQUID FENCE". Guess what? The deer no longer eat my flowers or veggies. In addition the small critters stay away too.

Deann

I use Liquid Fence, too, and have found it to be quite effective. It is nontoxic (I have a small child who puts everything in his mouth, nothing in my garden is poisonous) and I suppose you could consider it "organic", in that it does not contain synthetic chemicals. (However, since some of our most potent toxins come from all-natural plant sources, I'm not sure how useful the "organic" label sometimes is. I just try to be "low impact" instead. :) ) Just make sure you are UPWIND when you spray it, and reapply after rain. Humans can't smell it after it has dried, but when it is wet the smell could gag a maggot. :)

pam

thank you both....we have lived here 30 years now...borders near a national and state park so critters are forever about.

we really didn't have the problem until the new neighbor next door dressed up in army clothes and began feeding the deer, holding his bow and arrows. basically because the deer have plenty space of their own still in this area. but NOT when your feeding them!

most counties here have laws about feeding the deer, but not here.

we haven't had tons of damage happening, i think my dh would just like to discourage them. while deer usually run the same path over and over for a time, they do change up after a few years. so my feeling is they will find elsewhere in awhile. i guess we can call it IPM!!!...that is if we can wait that long!

liquid fense has been tried and fails in this area. when i man the phones at the county ag extention. ...deer are really tops on the list of problems and basically not much can be done...since we aren't allowed to shoot them!

deann....wow 200 acers....you are SO lucky! we only have an acer and 1/2....so the chimes are really LOUD.

and i shouldn't say this too loudly...but even as a master gardener......i will use chemicals if and when i have to. i know ipm is good in theory, however, my theory is...you touch my stuff.....you die. simple! so it's NOT that i don't want to use them....it's just IF there can be a choice that's effective other than chemicals that would be better. and of course my first choice. the "chimes" sound great in theory...i have never heard anyone try it...and because of our smaller area...just maybe it may discourage. your point about getting use to sounds is well taken...but if you hang them low and they hit them it's not just the sound, but the "feel" of something touching them????...i hope, i hope. darn deer! wouldn't it be great if it would just that simple!

phuggins....gag a maggot......Yikes!

One very simple trick that has helped me is strips of old VCR tape hung from the branches of trees. It is so light the slightest air movement will flutter it and it is somewhat reflective so it shines and twists in the moonlight. It appears to be just enough to startle the deer. Funny, I have spent untold $ throughout the years on Deer Off (which did work well for me) and this easy, free trick works as well.
I do move strips and add new ones 2 or 3 times a year. I tie them to a branch and let about 18" hang down. You can barely see them in the daytime but at night they shine.

tobee......a gal's gotta do what a gal's gotta do....Strange Liquid Fence did not work for you. Did you know it will not wash off in rain? I usually put it on my little sunflower seedlings as they are coming up. For some reason the deer and other critters love to munch on those tender plants and it works for me.

I too am an Advanced Master Gardener, and living up north where I live, this is hunting country and fishing so the deer believe it or not present more of a problem to the folks who live in town. The deer are so bold, its unreal....Its almost like they know they are protected.

Deann

in all my years of gardening i have found only two thngs discourage deer. one is a dog and the other is a 7 ft. high fence.

Deann, we have the same problem here...this is big hunting country, but because you can't discharge a firearm within city limits, the people who actually live in town have the worst problems with the deer. They walk right down the middle of the street here. *sigh*

OT...how does one become a Master Gardener? Do you take classes? Log a certain number of hours in the garden? Earn a certificate? (Just curious...I'm a newbie...sounds like something I'd like to try eventually if I ever get the time! :) )

pam

deann, we also live in a hunting and fishing area. we also have problems with bears, however THEY don't eat the plants...just the fruit off the trees!



phuggins...my program was via rutgers university. it is over 1 year class room time and 2 year field and volenteer time. our program was designed exactly as the master degree program in horticulture from cornell university. many programs i have heard were 11 weeks, no exams...we had mid term and finals (30 pages). it was more difficult than any college couse i ever had in ungrad school. we started with 45 in the class and by the end we had 10 left. however, apparently all programs are not the same.

contact your local extention and they should be able to tell you if a program is available in your area.

deann, i'm curious as to how your program was done. some of them i truly can't believe! we have to know everything under the sun...(other than the fact NO one has the "deer" problem licked!)

we have no such title as "advanced" because after completion there's no place else to go. i have a small plantscaping business and although the horticutorist i work with insisted i would not benefit from the program, i did. perhaps not direcly effecting the work i do, but just in general. plus finally meeting after living here 30 plus years the best people ever!

phuggins........To become a master gardener, you need to contact your local county extension office. Here are the requirements in Michigan.

County Master Gardener programs will offer the following core training classes:
Orientation to MSUE and Master Gardener program Plant Science Soils for Plant Growth Herbaceous Ornamental Plant Culture Lawn Establishment, Care and Maintenance Vegetable Culture Small Fruit Culture Tree Fruit Culture Woody Ornamental Plant Culture Integrated Pest Management Indoor Plant Culture Household Pests

The formal training program is provided by MSU Extension. Instructors are Extension staff members, experienced Master Gardeners and other experts.

The training program provides a balanced, integrated, practical course in plant science. Special topics, based on local needs, may be added. Core training is held during a two to three month period, with follow-up training or in-service provided during the year according to local needs and resources.

Attendance: Each Master Gardener trainee is expected to attend every classroom session. If a participant misses more than one session and does not make provisions to make up the session, he or she cannot become a Master Gardener.

Examination and quizzes: To become a Master Gardener, every trainee will take weekly quizzes and pass a final examination with a score of 70% or better. The final examination is a take-home test and emphasizes an individual's ability to gather accurate information from class notes and other reference material. This emphasis on problem solving techniques and resources will help Master Gardeners as they give horticulture assistance to others.

Then the hard part.....volunteering your time. In order to keep activated, you must volunteer a number of hours in a year, and you must keep up with educational hours. Once you become a Master Gardener, here in Michigan you must volunteer 40 hours to an approved area and 5 hours of education.

Here is a link for you. You may want to check it out.
http://www.wvu.edu/~agexten/hortcult/master/index.htm

Deann

tobee........to become an advanced master gardener here in Michigan it just means you have volunteered more hours and it requires that you take more educational hours in a given year.

Deann

herbie........LOL @ you.....you know what, you have a very valid point there.....I do have two German Shephards here each over 100 lbs....so that is probably why the deer don't wonder into my garden during the day time hours....

Deann

Deann and tobee...thanks for the info! :)

Deann, what beautiful dogs! At some point we will probably acquire a dog...however, right now our four cats would no doubt object strenuously. (Too bad they can't scare away the deer. :) )

pam

Pam, a neighbor swears "used" cat litter spread around the perimeter of her garden keeps the deer away.

I've heard that one too...haven't tried it yet, but I might give it a whirl...goodness knows I've got enough of the used stuff produced on a daily basis! :)

pam

You might find this deer fencing interesting
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/606794/

deann,

i was at the rutgers extention today. i have completed all my hours but they were short on the hotline so i worked it for 4 hours. we have no such thing as an "advanced" master garden since i was asking the professor today about it. (frankly if we had to put more than 150 hours in i don't think anyone would be in the program, it takes people usually at least 2 years as it is!) he was saying ever state was different. we have the longest classroom requirements that any other county in nation. (that is according to what he said NOT me). just MY luck..i'll have to show you my list...tomorrow i'll get it. it's about twice what yours was. it was SUCH a pain. don't get me wrong we all loved it, it was just so much work. but even in a year i felt we just skim the surface of each subject.

TAKE HOME test!!!!!!!! NO FAIR!!!

pass the puppies please!!!

tobee........was looking at your homepage and the picture of your trellis and Morning glories.......How many morning glories did it take to get that effect...I just got a trellis for Christmas....and want to get that effect...Actually I will be planting some Zephrine Drouhin climbing roses but i know realistcally it will take at least 3 years for them to climb to cover it.......Picture of my Trellis enclosed.....I do have some Grandpa Otis and other blue morning glory growing in my greenhouse that I am about ready to put out........

Also I find it interesting that you can be in two zones.........mmmmmmmm.....can you explain that to me......

good morning deann,

well actually what i do is plant the morning glory's seeds directly into pots. i use about 1/2 package in each container. you can't see them because they are covered. the pots are placed on the outside of the trellis. this year i'm so excited i have some brilliant "yellow" morning glory from reunion island. only about 1/3 of the seeds took, but i'm so excited i can't stand it! i put some japeness blues in with the yellows. (you know they stay open ALL day!) and this is NOT the pale yellow...so i can't wait. anyway i put them in about 2 gallon nice looking pots and put 3 bamboo sticks to help them start climbing them put them out by the trellis and they take off from there. they are heavy feeders to i just keep feeding them weekly. i only have 12 weeks to get things going to max.

roses to me are considered "annuals" because of my zoning (which i will explain in a sec), i use chocolate vine, trumpet vines and wisteria on other trellis'. you can't see them in that pic but we have over 1/2 acer of walking path gardens and we have trellis' thru out.

i'm a sub micro-climate . while my area is consider a 6a i live in the mountains but in a gully. while everyone is enjoying the first blooms of the season i'm almost 3 weeks behind them. you can look across the way see sun, flowers and blooms and then look over to my area and you would not believe your in the same place when your looking at frost! i could NEVER grown anything on my property for zoning 6a, it would never make it. sub micro -climates are not really that rare, just not recognized by many. mine is so substantial it hits your smack in the face!

this year the arts and heritage council for our county chose our gardens as one of the six most beautiful really because of it's unique quality in respect to the sub zone and what i have been able to establish here. it hasn't been easy...i can say that!

i thought you may like to see this. i have been working with a horticultorist for the past 5 years doing horticulture therapy...this was our gardens last year...they made the ny times! how COOL was that!


oh!! forgot to add......my dh has being using the cat liter thing for a few years now......IT WORKS....our problem is OUR cat doesn't use the cat box! so he has to go around asking people for their used kitty liter......ahhhhhhh nice!



This message was edited May 25, 2006 8:27 AM

This message was edited May 25, 2006 1:41 PM

Tobee, that is too funny about your husband and the neighbor's cat litter. I know some people who would hire him to do that. LOL

Your gardens are truly lovely; no wonder the Times featured them.

I am a long time Master Gardener (since the mid eighties) and your instructor was correct, every state has different requirements. I've taken the course in 2 different states and noted many differences. 150 hours sounds like a lot but with that much experience you will be far more prepared to know how to answer questions .

ardesia...thanks about the gardens they are truly a labor of love for everyone involved.

well, i'm not exactly sure if the program really has helped me about answering questions. we have a plantscaping business (which i should be in the greenhouses right now working!) specializing in integrating tropical designs into northern scapes. as i had mentioned i have worked with a very wonderful horticultorist for approx 5 years now, and he was opposed to me taking the classes as he felt i just "knew it all". well, little did he or i know what i was in for! while i may not have learned one thing extremely well, i learned a little of a whole lot of things!! he was impressed by the time i was done!

tobee............your gardens are drop dead gorgeous.....looks like a tropical paradise.....and you should be very proud to have made the NY papers.....

Thank you so much for the tips on the MG...Who would have thought they were big time feeders.....I usually do the time released stuff...but now will feed them weekly. I also bought some Messenger. Have you ever used that??? First time for me. I also have some yellow MG that I got from a gal on Dave's from Texas. They came from Madagascar.....Not sure how they will work.....Keeping fingers crossed. I would never thought to put MG in pots around arbor....will keep you posted with pictures on how it will work....i am so excited.....

Have a wonderful memorial weekend......

Deann

deann,

well i only worked that garden and john my friend (the horticultorist designed it). he's been in ton's of books and magazines because he is sooooooo good.

i got some of that messenger at springfest this year and i was going to try it. everyone that uses it raves about it! i also use the time release but i use it almost every 7-10 days!! but remember i'm forcing here because of the short season. when i plant them in potting soil i add the time release and then i keep adding weekly thereafter. you may be able to do a bit less or maybe not..in a 5a. we get 80-90 degree days that just pop the time release stuff open everyday! so i just keep putting it back in. and they grow and grow and grow.

madagascar and reunion island!!!!!! just how cool are, our gardens going to be this year girlfriend!! ok....now who's ever does best save seeds and we'll trade!!! and you better keep me posted with pics!!!


have a great weekend also :)

tobee - they say a picture is worth a thousand words but in your case i would say a milion. its beautiful.

thanks so much herbie.....appreciate that!

tobee,

naturewalk (love that name!)...you may be correct on that one! although, i think something a little louder that packs a better punch may be more effective!

Now, now... play it cool & use the wind chimes only. After a while they'll drive them batty. Wind chimes are after all... soothing, calming & nice (in a small quantity.) Of course 12 or more would create an undesirable racket.

Blaring music at any hour would be breaking the law... "noise abatement" at a certain decible level.
You don't want to be doing that!

Right?

~* Robin

naturewalker...oh..we know your so right. my dh is a retired state police officer and believe me...it's been difficult! i know why he was the cop and not me...i probably would have used my gun a thousand times in my career while he's so cool, calm always...guess that's why he carries a gun and NOT me! (in this state retired police still carry).


oh....and by the by...he now wants a gong, one of those large one's that he is going to gong the animals away....oh my!

tobee.......Now that I gotta see and hear....A Gong....that is too funny......

Deann

deann...me too!! big tall..hairy ex state police guy gonging away the deer!!! he's so funny and cute sometimes.

We have a hugh deer problem around our place since the 180 acres in back of us was clear cut. My hubby came up with a spray on solution that keeps deer and bugs away. He chops up 3 - 3 oz packages of Chile Guajillo hot peppers, 1 - 4.5 oz jar chopped garlic, 1 - 4.5 oz bar of Irish Spring soap, into approx. 2 gals. of water (bring to a boil, simmer until soap melts, strain thru a cloth into a five gal. bucket adding enough water to make 5 gals.) put this into a sprayer, and spray away. We have used it on day lilies, azalea, hollyhocks, etc. Seems to do the trick. Try this and see if it works.

LC2sGarden...........Yummy....I am sure that works with all that garlic in it and hot peppers........I use a product called LIquid Fence....you spray on plants also. I am not as ambitious as your DH to make that brew up.

Deann