It's actually nice when you look out the window and see wildlife. Not so nice when you have to watch them enjoy working on the fruit trees. No tree can withstand this in the long term. The bark of young trees in particular seems to be particularly sought after. It is not always possible to secure the entire property with a fence.
Who eats?
In winter, deer like to come into the garden and, among other things, like to nibble on the bark of young trees. Wild rabbits also like the delicate bark of young trees. The trees can be left defenseless and without bark after just one day. In the spring the roe deer often come along. They scrape their antlers on trees to remove dead skin from the finished antlers. This process, which usually takes place in March, is called “sweeping.” Wild boars can be a nuisance by rooting around in the garden, but they don't eat trees. They simply rub the layer of mud off their bodies on trees or stumps.
Wall, fence, hedge
Of course, a property is most effectively protected by a correspondingly high barrier. This can be a high wire fence, a high wall or a dense thorn hedge. However, such all-round protection is not for everyone. Such a protective wall quickly becomes oppressive around small properties. For large properties it is very expensive and wire fences in particular have to be maintained on an ongoing basis.
High fences are without question the best protection. However, the fences have to be really high, that is, at least two meters high. The fences must be built in such a way that the game cannot crush them nor that rabbits can slip under them. Depending on the size of the property, this can be very expensive. In any case, they will disrupt a clear all-round view.
For a more attractive look, the fences can be supplemented with ditches and also with rampant climbing plants or thorny hedges. Barberry or hawthorn, for example, are well suited for a dense thorn hedge. These are attractive native plants that many birds and insects will also enjoy. When the hedge is thick enough at some point, the fence becomes unnecessary.
Last but not least, you can also surround your property with an electric fence. A complete system can be purchased from around 150 euros for 50 meters. A special electric fence to protect against deer consists of five wires and is up to 1.40 meters high. Various protective measures must be taken when installing electronic fences. It can also lead to unpleasant encounters with the electronic fence for other animals and people.
Mechanical protection
A cheaper alternative that is also less visually noticeable is mechanical protection that is simply attached around the trees. When planting, the young fruit trees can be provided with wire trousers or cuffs. Another option is a small fence. For this purpose, three stakes are also used when planting. A wire mesh can then be attached all around.
The following models are commercially available for mechanical protection against damage from sweeping and browsing:
- Protective trousers made of tight wire mesh
- Bite protection cuffs made of plastic
- Wildlife protection spiral made of fir branches
- Plastic grid as a yardstick
- flexible sweep protection spiral
- Long-term protection fence made of sturdy wire
- Large nets (spread over the trees every evening)
Tip:
Be careful with plastic spirals. They seem practical at first glance, but hungry deer can easily push them aside. The bark stays wet under the plastic for a long time, which can lead to rot and fungal infestation.
Electrical protection
For electrically-savvy gardeners, there are a few other options (apart from electric fences) to keep unwanted guests away from the trees. All of these systems are usually based on a motion detector. These work either battery-operated, solar-based or with a power connection. Professional devices cover a range of over 100 square meters.
They then either emit visual warning stimuli in the form of flashes of light or they scare away the game using ultrasonic sounds that cannot be heard by the human ear. Water jets can also be activated using motion detectors.
Tip:
Be careful with the ultrasound measures. These sounds not only drive away the deer, but also other desirable animals. It is better not to use it, especially on small children and dogs in the garden.
Scent defense
Chemical and biological scents are also often used to combat unwanted wildlife. Such protective agents can be purchased commercially as so-called repellents. They are applied or sprayed onto the stems. These agents need to be reapplied from time to time. However, they hold up quite well in winter. Scent columns are also available to buy, which can then be stuck in the ground next to the trees. Well-known deterrents that ward off wild animals using smells are presented below.
Blood Meal
Certosan and Wildstopp are common biological protection agents based on animal proteins (blood meal). They are available for application and spraying and last from 6 weeks to several months, depending on the weather. It is intended to keep away game, as well as hares, rabbits and wild boars. People don't smell it and beneficial insects don't mind it either.
Blood meal is a type of animal meal. It consists of dried, ground animal blood that is produced during slaughter. Handling it in the garden may not be a joy for everyone. Fleeing animals such as rabbits and deer sense danger and avoid these places. Due to its high nitrogen content, blood meal is also an additive in some types of organic fertilizers.
Home remedies
Many home remedies are also aimed at the fine noses of game and co, as so-called deterrents. Here, as with many other home remedies, it is the individual experience that counts. One person successfully drives away the game with sheep's wool, while another reports that this measure is completely useless. Since it usually doesn't require much effort, you can just try out one or two things.
Chili
With their fine noses, the game can smell the hot chili smell from afar and will avoid it. To do this, you mix a viscous chili paste made from chili powder and oil. This is then painted onto trunks or fence posts every two meters.
elderberry manure
Elderberry keeps predators away with its glycosides. To ward off wild animals, prepare a liquid manure made from elderberry bark or wood and water (1kg to 10l). The manure can then be poured over the plants and onto the soil. Pleasant accompanying effect, it also drives away voles.
Dog hair
The natural enemy of the deer is the wolf. So it's no wonder that the scent of dog hair can also drive deer to flee. To do this, hang out small, thin bags of dog hair every two meters along the property line.
Horn flour, horn shavings
Anyone who fertilizes their garden with horn meal or horn shavings also provides a certain deterrent. This works particularly well with rabbits, but deer don't particularly like it either. To protect a tree directly, spread it in a circle about ten centimeters thick around the trunk.
butyric acid, wool acid
Some say it helps, others laugh mildly at these traditional measures: laying out old sweaty clothes or old socks as well as natural, unwashed sheep's wool against game. These smells are also intended to keep wild animals away.
Tree painting
These two tree coatings are also intended to scare the deer away by producing unpleasant smells:
- Tree painting with a mixture of lime milk, clay and animal blood
- Tree painting with animal dung or animal urine (not so appetizing, doesn't last long)
Optical Defense
You can often see them in some shelters at the edge of the forest: CDs hanging in the trees. There are aluminum strips available commercially that are attached to the trees. The movements and light reflections are intended to keep the game away. Unfortunately, deterrents based on visual stimuli don't help for very long because the game gets used to them quickly and at some point hunger takes over.
Tip:
What doesn't help at all, by the way, is red and white barrier tape, even if it's a potential crime scene. Scarecrows are just as unhelpful, but that's what the name says.
The best for last
All dog owners are fine. In a garden where four-legged friends are in charge and are allowed to run around freely, neither rabbit nor deer will certainly say goodnight to each other. Another protective measure against game browsing in the garden, especially in rural areas: fleeing forward. The deer have their own feeding area with delicacies such as leaves, shoots, grasses and herbs that they like better than the bark of young fruit trees. However, this is only suitable for large properties where it is possible to create a secluded spot for wildlife feeding.
