Growing a Greener World

Oh Deer: Dealing with Four-Legged Garden Pests, Big and Small (10x3)

: 21, 2019

One topic nearly guaranteed to stir up controversy among gardeners is deer management and controlling other mammalian garden pests. After all, striking the right balance between garden and wildlife is complicated and unique to every gardener. With increased urbanization, wildlife encroachment continues to impact gardeners everywhere, from the farm to the cut-de-sac. Is it possible to enjoy the presence of foragers, like deer, without suffering the effect of their damage? It’s an age old and common question which has been the subject of anecdotal tips and quirky tricks for generations. This episode focuses on animal pest identification and options for keeping the offenders at bay. Habitat modification, scare tactics, repellents, and physical barriers – Professor Michael T. Mengak of the University of Georgia takes us on a tour of what his research has turned up to demystify what works and what doesn’t. We also catch up with Joe Lamp’l at the GardenFarm. Seven years ago, Joe took a chance on his edible garden design. Has it stood the test of time against a continual parade of hungry deer? Joe explains his reasoning and results.