Gardening was once not only a way of life but a means of survival. Long before grocery stores with extensive produce sections became widely available, people simply grew their own fruits, veggies, and herbs. Society veered away from this longstanding practice for quite some time, but gardening is making a comeback. On last official count, 33 percent of Americans had returned to the old ways, and the number continues to grow. Though gardening is practical, affordable, and highly rewarding, it's not without certain hurdles.

Typical Difficulties with Gardening

Simply getting started can be a major challenge all its own for newcomers. No matter how well you prepare or much research you conduct beforehand, actually digging in is a completely different matter. Aside from that, pests often run amok. Deterrents are readily available, but many people just don't want potentially harmful chemicals on the foods eat. Of all the nuisances out there, few can destroy a garden quite as majestically and expertly as deer.

How to Keep Deer out of Picture

Deer are notorious for slipping into gardens, nipping certain tender shoots at ground level, and trampling others in the process. What plants do happen to survive the initial onslaught are attacked later on after they mature a bit more. Squash and cucumber blossoms, beans, peas, and other victims do eventually make tasty treats, though. Plenty of deer discouragement methods have evolved over the decades, but some are more effective than others.

Fences. Deer are unbelievably resourceful, and their gracefulness only adds to the problem. They simply giggle at most barriers before leaping straight over them and feasting on what lies on the other side. Few barriers other than solid walls with roofs or electrically charged options can truly keep them at bay. Still, certain specific versions of deer fencing are both effective and humane without forcing you to sacrifice the sunlight and fresh air your garden so desperately needs.

Human Scent. Placing stakes and string around the perimeter of the garden may not be enough to keep deer out, but adding a little something to the mix may prove more advantageous. Consider spraying strips of cloth with perfume or cologne and tying those around the outer edges of your veggie patch. Deer are extremely sensitive to synthetic smells, so this may help deter them. You'll need to reapply the scent every few days and following rainstorms, but the effort may very well pay off.

Sound. If it sounds like someone is working in the garden, deer will generally steer clear. Hang metal pie tins here and there so they'll clatter with every little breeze or place a battery-powered radio in the garden. These human-like sounds could go a long way toward protecting your precious veggies.

Some deer are unbelievably fearless and others have simply become savvy to human trickery. This means even some tried-and-true methods may not work. Benner's Gardens offers a wide selection of deer fences and other products known to help solve the problem.