Gardeners and farmers know, winter deer activity can cause major damage to trees. Tolerant of alkaline, compacted or salty soils. I recommend protecting all trees, deciduous and evergreen, under 6 to 8 inches in trunk diameter. During the winter months, when snow covers low-growing shrubs and grasses, deer will munch on the tender branches, twigs and foliage of resinous evergreen trees. If you are not a hunter, you can establish relationships with archery or firearm deer hunters in your area and grant them access to your property. Try several different strategies to find out what works best. Tying flags to the wires will make the fence more visible to deer and human visitors. Short-lived, but self-seeds; showy flowers. Most mammal damage to trees is from either: Browsing - feeding on buds, shoots and foliage ; Bark stripping from main stems or branches - gnawing or rubbing. Deer are naturally adapted to survive the winter without human aid. This is a good question - insects eat plants too, so it's important to understand what deer chewing looks like vs. insect chewing. 2011-04-05 16:17:45 2011-04-05 16:17:45. Sometimes when damage occurs in the landscape, there’s little homeowners can do to prevent it. Asked March 1, 2017, 1:32 PM EST. Deer damage by browsing will look random and ragged due to the tearing that occurs as they eat, leaving ragged leaf and stem edges and often leaving only the stems behind. Deer are creatures of habit and often return to the same area. And in most cases, the damage is so severe, the trees either die or never fully recover. Deer are creatures of habit. When I first noticed the damage, I tried a deer deterrent recommended by Adams County Nursery. Deer Fence. They are one of the few species that has a bigger population today than it did before European settlement. Fortunately, hardwoods can be coppiced (cutting the tree at the ground). White-tailed deer are a popular species of wildlife in Minnesota. Deer have benefited from changes humans have made to the environment, especially the conversion of forests to agricultural fields. Most hazing methods frighten deer with sudden, loud noises such as firearm blanks or gas exploders set to irregular intervals. Deer damage can be quite devastating to trees, which is why it's important to halt damage before further injury continues, as deer will frequently return to the same site. Do deer damage trees? They will often use specific paths for areas they visit often. Deer eat pine tree foliage when grasses and other foods of choice are not available. Take care during installation as these structures can damage plants if improperly installed. Deer are also common visitors in agricultural fields. Shelters and tubes are structures that surround plants and are staked into the ground. Tree protectors may be left on year-round, providing that they allow for normal tree development. Deer damage by browsing will look random and ragged due to the tearing that occurs as they eat, leaving ragged leaf and stem edges and often leaving only the stems behind. In the northern U.S. and Canada, deer experience lots of stress in winter. Deer are one of nature’s creatures that roam through most of our neighborhoods. Watching Bambi play in the backyard or prance through the woods might be enjoyable to watch, but once this cute, furry little creature crosses the line there is going to be trouble. Costs to consider include planting, pruning and shearing; which are often more complicated than typical pruning and take more time. Arborvitae (Thuja spp.) Deer droppings are a clear sign that deer were present. One way to try to keep deer off your property entirely is to install … Learn how to prevent winter deer from eating your plants and shrubs. There’s also the added cost of keeping a crop in the field longer. This is a territory marking technique used during mating season to show dominance. Protecting trees from damage is essential in areas populated with deer. Deer love to munch on the leaves of any trees that they can find. White-tailed deer damage is a result of deer browsing on or trampling plants. Silver foliage good for edging and front of border; drought tolerant. During these times of high stress, hungry deer will seek food of higher nutritional value in gardens, agricultural fields and orchards. Most mammal damage to trees is from either: Browsing - feeding on buds, shoots and foliage ; Bark stripping from main stems or branches - gnawing or rubbing. High-test (30 lb or more) monofilament fishing line is tightly strung around the garden bed, 30 to 36 inches above the ground, and about 2 feet beyond the outside edge of the garden. Depending on the type, the trees grow from 10 to 200 feet tall … And in most cases, the damage is so severe, the trees either die or … In areas where crops like corn, soybeans, alfalfa or grain are grown, crops can be up to 78 percent of a deer’s diet. There are many repellants formulated for deer (be sure to read and follow the label directions as well as match the repellent with your application situation). A hungry deer will find almost any plant palatable, so no plant is deer proof. Fences need to be at least 8 feet tall to protect larger areas. Deer can cause serious damage to newly planted seedlings and established trees. Cattle panels are constructed from heavy weight galvanized wire rods. Replace plants that attract deer with less desirable plants, or surround palatable plants with plants that are less attractive to deer. Beautiful blue, pink or white flowers; easy to grow. Cemetery plant; tough and drought resistant. Deer seem to pick out a few trees + rub their horns against those same trees. Deer damage is a common problem in many area backyards during the winter months. Johnson County11811 S. Sunset DriveSuite 1500Olathe, KS 66061. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities may be requested by contacting Johnson County Extension at (913)715-7000. Long lasting perennial; may need staking; prefers full sun. Select the largest and straightest stem and remove the others. Dependable flowers; shade and drought tolerant. Deer are extremely persistent when foraging for food. Tree Bark damage from deer. Human-fed deer become used to foraging near homes and in gardens and are more likely to cause damage to plants. Humans also have removed or reduced many natural predators of white-tailed deer, including gray wolves, black bears and bobcats. You want to create a pointed oval with the top and bottom being narrower than the middle. Take action early to discourage their visits and reduce damage. An adult deer can eat about six pounds of plant material daily – that’s a lot of plants! Reapply repellents often, as new growth will not be protected. Multiple stems will emerge at ground level. Fortunately, hardwoods can be coppiced (cutting the tree at the ground). For deciduous trees, put them 2 feet or more from the trunk. Deer are very persistent once they are used to feeding in an area. If you have spruce trees in your back yard, they are susceptible to becoming a deer's dinner. Deer damage, especially during the winter months, is severe and expensive. Many forms and species; tough and may self-seed. Antler rubbing can be a bigger problem than browsing and can occur even if you do not see browsing. Contact your local government officials to urge them to manage the deer herd. How do you tell it was a deer? Installation, maintenance and removal are too time and labor intensive for larger areas. Make an appointment, before coming into the office. Cylinders should be at least 6 feet taller than the snow depth to afford full protection. Asked by Wiki User. Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service. They quickly become used to strange sights, smells and sounds, including many deterrents. Wrapping chicken wire around your tree trunks can prevent damage, although it won’t keep deer off … Many deer in these regions will migrate to winter “yards,” or areas that continue to provide forage in winter and offer some shelter from the elements. Deer Rubbing Protection for trees. Cons. DEER CULLING OR BIRTH CONTROL Proponents of controlling deer populations have concerns about damage to garden plants, as well as the risks involved with hitting deer with their vehicles. Protecting customers’ landscapes from winter deer damage has become big business and deer damage prevention is a great way to attract and keep satisfied customers. How Do Deer Damage Trees? They can feed on gardens, landscaping and agricultural crops. They may or may not damage your trees and shrubs. Most mature trees can shrug off this damage, but younger trees may not be so lucky. There’s also the added cost of keeping a crop in the field longer. That’s the layer between the inner bark and the outer wood that helps nutrients move throughout the tree. Costs to consider include planting, pruning and shearing; which are often more complicated than typical pruning and take more time. Deer usually browse branches less than one inch in diameter. Annual estimates of deer damage are reported to exceed $250 million in damage to metropolitan households (e.g., landscape plantings). A deer approaching a garden after dark will encounter an unseen force pressing against its body, causing it anxiety and discomfort. Rabbits and rodents also are frequent visitors in gardens and landscapes. Arborvitae Deer Damage. Cherry-pie fragrance; tough, long lasting flowers. Protecting trees from damage is essential in areas populated with deer. Protect Plants, Shrubs & Trees From Winter Deer Damage. Deer damage to trees is the result of bucks rubbing and scraping their antlers against trees which causes significant damage to the tree’s vascular system. Deer Damage to Plants and What it Looks Like. Place less desirable plants closer to areas deer feel secure in, such as a nearby woodlot. Repellents should be applied on dry days with temperatures above freezing. Other stressful conditions for deer include drought, flood, overpopulation and competition with other browsing animals, such as rabbits. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer. USING PLANTSKYDD DEER REPELLENT. Unfortunately, once the damage is done, there is little that can be done to repair the tree. The problem encountered is damage characterized by vertical scrapes and shredded bark on the saplings, exposing Deer can cause serious damage to newly planted seedlings and established trees. Some damage is not well seen, while others are very noticeable. The damage can be found as high as 6 feet up a plant. During the fall mating season, male deer rub their antlers on tree … Contact repellents are applied directly to plants and make them taste unpleasant to deer. If the bark is shredded (most common) it will open the trunk of the tree to disease organisms which will lead to heart rot, poor healing and low value trees.