Deer Repelent Spray

[Five Seasons]

I received 3 free fruit trees (pear, plum and peach) and bought an apple tree. They're 1 to 2 in range. They're free but I'd like to get them to produce fruit. I've had orchards in the past but they're mature. Fencing is really not an option because of where they are on the property, it would be an eyesore.

 

I live in the burbs on an acre... so anyone had any luck with the repellent sprays? these trees have been deer free for a month but the last 2 weeks have been rough. They're getting all the low branches and it pisses me off.

[Curmudgeon]

I use the rotten egg stuff. I find it works. Liquid Fence brand Deer and Rabbit Repellant.

[Two Track]

You will need to re-apply after rain.  It tends to wash it off.

 

Deer and ice seems to have killed off my apple tree in the yard over the winter.  Couldn't spray the tree in the winter, nozzle would freeze up, so deer chewed it up pretty well then and then ice on the upper branches caused it to snap off.  No buds so far.

 

Before that, the spray seemed to work for me.

 

Going to put in a new tree and a tall garden wire fence around it while it is small.

Had a support stake by the original treet that mysteriously pulls itself out and drops on the ground 2-3 feet away.

[Hock3y24]

A guy once told me put a bar of Irish spring soap in a sock and hang it up. I don't know it it actually works but may be worth a try.

Edited May 13, 2015 by Hock3y24

[moog5050]

Doesn't garlic repel everything but us Italians?  I used the rotten egg stuff and it works but needs to be reapplied regularly.

[thphm]

I use the spray also but as said above after it rains you have to reapply. Home remedy = Oil, vegi. or canola , an egg , cyan pepper ( the more the better ) garlic powder, red pepper that you put on pizza., regular pepper mix them together and dribble or use a squirt bottle to apply.Then watch them run for water.

[Curmudgeon]

The egg spray needs to dry for a full day. Yes, it needs to be reapplied. I have gotten more than a month out of it even with rain when applied properly. I have a couple of conifers in a sheep pasture that I want the sheep to avoid. It is easy to keep track of how long it lasts. It also works for rabbits and woodchucks.

 

Weather does affect it but trees I sprayed the first week of January were protected all winter.

 

I tried the soap. Once the deer get used to the smell they start munching again. It is like hanging shiny things. It's very temporary.

[Five Seasons]

Thanks for the advice guys. I guess it's worth a shot

[WNYBuckHunter]

A guy once told me put a bar of Irish spring soap in a sock and hang it up. I don't know it it actually works but may be worth a try.

 

It does. I use some old washcloths that get soaked in strong smelling body wash, then rolled up and hung with a string on my young fruit trees in the front yard where I dont want to fence them. It works perfectly.

[ATbuckhunter]

X2 on the Irish spring. I heard you can break it up into 4 pieces and lasts for about a month or two.

[ants]

An old Italian guy I knew, back in the day, use to make his own and pass it out for the neighborhood  people to use in their gardens. Deer weren't A problem, where I lived but rabbits and wood chucks were. His stuff worked. I don't know exactly what was in it but it reeked of garlic. Since then I have bought organic stuff at the farm store and it also had a strong garlic smell. It worked too.

[Nomad]

Hum I've used Irish Spring as my soap for idk 40 some years now, things are starting to makes sense as far as my deer hunting .......