Raised garden beds are a great way to grow vegetables, herbs, and flowers. But hungry deer can quickly destroy your hard work. Deer proofing is essential for protecting your plants. This comprehensive guide will explore tips, tricks, and design solutions to make raised beds deer resistant.
Why Deer Love Raised Beds
Raised beds offer deer an irresistible, convenient feast. The elevated design makes vegetation easy to access compared to at ground level. Deer don’t have to forage through underbrush or dig. And raised beds concentrate delicious edibles all in one spot. A smorgasbord a deer can’t pass up!
Physical Barriers For Excluding Deer
The most direct approach to deter deer is excluding them physically from raised beds. Fencing and walls create an impassable barrier.popular options include
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Tall Mesh Fencing – Install wire or plastic deer netting at least 6-7 feet high around the bed perimeter. Use sturdy wooden or metal posts.
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Wire Grids – Crisscross steel or fishing line in a grid pattern over the bed. Deer dislike brushing against the wires.
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Wood Walls – Build wooden privacy walls or planks around beds to block access, Leave a gate for entry
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Bed Covers – Use hoops, framing and netting to create screened cages that cover beds fully.
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Elevated Height – Elevate the soil level in a raised bed to 48 inches high or more using a foundation. Deer can’t easily jump in.
Repellents to Deter Deer
Applying tactics that startle deer or smell/taste unpleasant will dissuade them from nibbling too. Ideas include:
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Liquid organic repellents sprayed on plants
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Strong scent sachets like hair clippings or soap around the perimeter
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Sprinklers triggered by motion sensors
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Noisemakers activated by movement
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Milorganite fertilizer’s scent
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DIY sprays using hot pepper, eggs, garlic, etc.
Repellents must be reapplied often before rain or every 2-4 weeks as effects wear off. Use multiples together for best results.
Careful Raised Bed Design
How you construct the raised bed itself can build in deer resistance:
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Line beneath soil with wire mesh to block burrowing entry
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Add mesh netting to vertical sides of the raised bed frame
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Incorporate overhang lips that angle outward to deter jumping in
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Opt for enclosed wooden planter box style beds over open designs
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Include motion activated sprinkler heads in the raised bed corners
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Elevate on concrete blocks or wooden legs to get planting surface at least 3 feet high
Choosing Deer Resistant Plants
When selecting plants, choose varieties that deer tend to avoid:
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Ornamentals like lavender, salvia, iris, snapdragons, bee balm, barberry
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Edibles like onions, garlic chives, rhubarb, asparagus, mint, sage
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Scented herbs like thyme, rosemary, oregano, dill, curry
See lists online of other deer resistant annuals, perennials, vegetables, and herbs to pick.
Key Tips For Success
Follow these tips to get the most protection from your deer proofing efforts:
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Use layers of multiple deterrents like repellents and barriers together
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Elevate beds above typical deer reaching height
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Check for and patch any gaps or holes in fencing
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Reapply repellents routinely, especially after rain
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Move scare tactics like lights and decoys periodically to prevent deer acclimating
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Choose deer resistant edibles and ornamentals when possible
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Ensure enclosures have adequate ventilation and entry access
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Don’t forget to safeguard gates and doors with latches
Sample Deer Resistant Raised Bed Designs
Here are a few deer proof raised bed design ideas to inspire your protection plan:
Simple Wire Mesh Cage – Build a basic raised bed frame using rot resistant cedar or redwood. Then use tall garden fencing to create a cage that encloses the bed on all sides,including the top. Add wire mesh beneath the soil to prevent burrowing. Include a securable gate panel.
Elevated Planter On Legs – Construct an attractive wooden planter box with slatted sides and a hardware cloth bottom. Elevate the planter atop sturdy 4×4 posts or stacked cinder blocks. The soil surface should be at least 4 feet off the ground to deter deer from jumping in.
Stone Wall Barrier – Use concrete blocks, bricks, or natural stones to build dry stack perimeter walls around raised beds at least 5 feet tall. Line the bottom with wire mesh. Add a maintenance entry archway with a latching gate door.
A raised garden bed smorgasbord is no match for persistent deer. With some clever planning and strategic use of fencing, elevation, repellents, and deterrents, you can successfully deer proof your beds. Using multiple protection methods together and diligently reapplying will fend off those bothersome ungulates. Soon your raised garden bounty will be safe to thrive while adding beauty to your landscape. Let us know your best tips for keeping deer away from your plants in the comments!
Step 5: Flip the Whole Thing Over and Repeat
- Carefully turn the whole thing over so that the long side you just put together is now on the ground.
- Put down three 8 5/4″ pieces of decking across the bottom and one 8 1/4″ piece across the top. DO IT AGAIN. Pre-drill holes and screw into place.
This step starts at 1:47 in the video.
Step 15: Attach the Gate Latch
Screw the gate latch into place on the center 4×4 post. Follow the directions on the package to make sure you get the two pieces lined up correctly.
If you aren’t sure where you want to put the garden bed, you might want to wait to do this until it is there. The entire frame is pretty weak in torsion. So, if you put the gate latches on while it’s sitting on a flat surface and then move it to a less flat surface, they might not line up anymore. I learned that the hard way the first time around.
This step starts at 5:48 in the video.
Garden in a Box with Deer Fence 8×12 Assembly
FAQ
How to protect a raised garden bed from deer?
What should you not put in a raised garden bed?
How do I make my garden deer resistant?
How do I keep animals out of my raised garden bed?
How big is a cedar raised garden bed with a deer fence?
Read Return Policy The 8 ft. x 8 ft. Cedar Raised Garden Bed with Deer Fence is easy to assemble and easy to use. The 63 in. inner walkway and 30 in. wide door allow easy access to all the beds for easy cultivating and harvesting.
Should I build a fence to keep deer out of my Garden?
If you just want to keep deer out of your existing garden, then it should be much cheaper to just build a simple PVC frame and hang up the netting. We wanted something that would be sturdy, long-lasting, and aesthetically match the adjacent 5-foot cedar split-rail fence – so no PVC, and no secondary 8-foot fence.
What plants are good for a deer-proof garden?
Plants with very aromatic foliage confuse Bambi’s olfactory system and discourage feeding, making them the perfect addition to deer proof gardens. Many flowering herbs, including sage, thyme, lavender, and oregano, fit in this group.
How do you keep deer from jumping over a fence?
Deer have lousy depth perception and won’t try to jump over both fences at once. Use “invisible” deer netting. Probably the most common deer fencing type, black mesh deer netting fastened to wooden 4x4s or metal t-bar garden posts is an effective way to keep deer out of the garden.
Can a deer walk over a rock bed?
This is because hooved animals like these won’t walk over unstable, rocky areas. Deer are the same. Creating a six- to eight-foot wide border of these kinds of large rocks around an area will keep deer from entering. The rock bed needs to be wide enough to prevent the deer from leaping over it.
How do you know if a plant is deer proof?
Fuzzy or hairy foliage: Before buying a plant to include in your garden, rub the foliage against your cheek. If you feel small hairs on the leaves – whether bristly or soft – it’s probably a good plant choice for deer proof gardens. Deer don’t like fuzzy or hairy textures against their tongues.