Page 30 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • May 1, 2013 Aesthetically appealing plants may be also appetizing to area wildlife. Those who do not want their gardens to turn into all-you-can-eat buffets for deer, rabbits, and other wild animals can take a proactive approach to gardening. As housing developments continue to encroach on the natural habitats of deer and other animals, these animals are becoming more visible. Deer may not be able to forage for food effectively in their smaller, natural surroundings, or they may become accustomed to the “easy pickings” in neighborhood yards. Keeping deer at bay involves some work and maintenance on the part of a homeowner. There are safe and humane methods to repel deer, or at least block access to the plants worth protecting. Fences are one way to deter deer from entering a yard and dining on the garden. Keep in mind that deer can jump fences that are quite tall, but they have to be especially Easy ways to help repel wildlife from the garden motivated to jump an eight-foot high fence. Still, they tend to be wary about scaling a fence when they cannot see what is on the other side. Therefore, if you are fencing out deer, choose a fence that camouflages the garden well and completely encloses the area to be protected. If you do not want the fence to be solid, consider putting stakes or thorny plants within the garden to discourage deer. Deer are naturally skittish around people, but can become quite complacent around human beings. Motion-activated devices and the presence of pets may not work. However, predator urine is typically an effective way to keep deer at bay. Bottled coyote urine can be quite effective. Reapplying the product weekly is is a good idea. There are many organic products on the market that deer may find offensive to taste or smell. Hot pepper, sulfur, eggs, and even the use of soapy water have been successful in certain instances. The use of blood meal or human hair around the garden may repel the deer. However, remember that any deer that is very hungry may ignore unpleasant tastes or smells for a quick bite. If other food sources are available, there are some species of plants and trees that deer will avoid. Filling your garden with these plants can help you maintain a beautiful, albeit non-tasty, environment for deer. When planting annuals, try alyssum, begonias, calendula, celosia, dianthus, foxglove, geraniums, parsley, poppies, or snapdragons. In terms of perennials, plant these items once, and deer could stay away: anemone, astibe, bearded iris, catmint, honeysuckle, lantana, monkshood, rock rose, rosemary, soapwort, or wisteria. Plant these herbs alongside flowers for even more protection: chives, eucalyptus, garlic, mint, thyme, and wintergreen. Gardeners who use a combination of methods may have a higher success rate.