Suggestions for a deer fence/hedge

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CVette
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Suggestions for a deer fence/hedge

Post by CVette » November 15th, 2016, 1:35 pm

I am considering a fence or hedge to keep deer out of my backyard and am looking for some thoughts. It would be in an area that is currently lightly wooded with mature trees and naturally growing large bushes. It would run about 10-20 feet outside the perimeter I currently keep manicured. It would end up being 200-300 feet long depending on how far I extend it up the side yard. The terrain is uneven so I am wondering if a natural hedge would be better than a deer fence. No post holes to dig and much nicer to look at.

If it was a hedge, it would need to be fairly low maintenance and a minimum of 6ft tall mature height like a large Boxwood variety. Am I silly to think a large hedge would do the trick?

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1977212
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Re: Suggestions for a deer fence/hedge

Post by 1977212 » November 15th, 2016, 4:44 pm

I've seen deers jump a 10ft barb wire fence with no problem. If there hungry they will get in.

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andy10917
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Re: Suggestions for a deer fence/hedge

Post by andy10917 » November 15th, 2016, 9:29 pm

You will change their paths and trails, but if you can get your car into the property, they will learn the way in if they want to browse on tasty plants. It will take less time than you think.

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chrismar
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Re: Suggestions for a deer fence/hedge

Post by chrismar » November 15th, 2016, 10:09 pm

Agree with the others, if there's a way in, they will find it. Heck, even if there isn't a way in they will make one and it'll cost you $800 to repair their way in through your fence (not over it). I'm not bitter about it. Not even a little.

But if deer resistant trees and shrubs are what you're after, I've found this resource very helpful: https://njaes.rutgers.edu/deerresistance/

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1977212
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Re: Suggestions for a deer fence/hedge

Post by 1977212 » November 15th, 2016, 10:18 pm

You could try a motion sprinkler.


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andy10917
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Re: Suggestions for a deer fence/hedge

Post by andy10917 » November 15th, 2016, 10:28 pm

You could try a motion sprinkler.
Not so good a solution in the Winter. And > 50% of my deer damage is in the Winter. I rate the harshness of a particular Winter based partially on what the deer are willing to eat. If they eat a yew, it means nothing. As the winters are harsher, they will eat Rhododendron leaves and in the worst of Winters, even Wild Holly, which is slightly softer than granite.

CVette
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Re: Suggestions for a deer fence/hedge

Post by CVette » November 15th, 2016, 10:30 pm

Thanks everyone. The deer don't eat anything on my property. They come in a back corner, stroll through and either leave out the back or the other corner - I must be part of a scenic route along the forever wild that runs behind the neighborhood houses. I don't mind the deer but I despise the ticks they bring. Over the past two years we've spotted numerous ticks on our dog and several on myself and my wife from pruning the bushes at the perimeter of the lawn. The increase in ticks corresponds to the increase in deer sightings. We try to be vigilant but don't want to resign to tick checks every time we enjoy the yard. I spray chemicals along the perimeter in the spring and fall to kill the ticks.

I thought I'd be able to modify their path to go around my yard with a fence or hedge to keep them in the woods since they don't have a food source in my yard and probably no strong desire to walk through. Maybe I need to increase the frequency of spraying insect killer and forget about a way to keep them out.

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Re: Suggestions for a deer fence/hedge

Post by desirous » November 16th, 2016, 12:14 am

Spray monthly, and not just the perimeter. Bifentrin (Talstar) works for me.

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Re: Suggestions for a deer fence/hedge

Post by TimmyG » November 16th, 2016, 12:48 pm

Or free range a flock of chickens or guinea fowl.

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Re: Suggestions for a deer fence/hedge

Post by killerv » December 1st, 2016, 11:50 am

Get a dog

Irish springs soap bars around the area may help some

Or get some motion sensor machine guns like in the directors cut of Aliens they had setup outside the infirmary

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