Each June, when our daylilies start to bloom, it begins. The never-ending struggle between the dear deer that passes through each night and my husband. Each morning, he goes out to snap off the spent blooms and comes in to give me the report of the damage from the deer. The patch in this photo is located behind our house. We have a whole fence row of other daylilies, more in the front, and a big sunny garden behind the garage. He feels they should leave this patch alone. And some years, they do. Last year, he put old egg baskets over the tender leaves as they appeared in the Spring, which seemed to keep the deer away. Instead, they munched their way around the house, ignoring my soap shavings and garlic powder I put out all over the place.
This year, once again, Jon put these wire baskets out. But as the plants grew, the baskets had to be removed. I never got out with my soap, either. Last week, it started—the report. A deer had started nibbling on this garden. So out came these saw horses. He would add a few more each night, and they ate more each morning. He woke me this morning at 5 am to report that they ate ALL OF THEM!! As I stumbled out to look, I saw not the few horses, but he had the whole place surrounded. Nothing was knocked down, but those darling deer did leave evidence that they were there. Bits and pieces of our beautiful buds lay on the ground. “But look, there are still hundreds of blooms,” I told him. He only sighed and said, “But they ate all the buds, even off the little ones.”
The struggle is real, and right now, I think the deer are winning. At least I have gotten to enjoy these for a few days. Even my
Stephanie Fleming daylilies are in full bloom. Our Albert Behnke has a few blooms, but my cousin’s Daylily Jeanne Byrnes was eaten to the ground and stepped on. Bad Deer, Bad Deer!!
** I spoke too soon. Tuesday night around 11pm they were back! I banged on the side of the house and they just looked at me. So I went out waving my arms like the nut I am and they took off. My husband now is the one laughing at me**
Please try Liquid Fence!!! It has kept deer and rabbits away from all my lilies as well as hosta and tomatoes. (For tomatoes, I spray the mulch, not the plant directly). It has a strong smell but it dissipates quickly for humans—not for animals. It has eliminated much heartbreak. Please try!!
I have heard good things about Liquid Fence but this is just a thing around here. The soap shavings work pretty good and is cheaper. I just need to do it. Last night they ate all but one of the Stephanie Fleming daylilies that my grandfather named after me sigh
In Colesville Maryland I have electric fence around my daylilies but grape and porcelean Berry vine grew on electric fence taking away its effectiveness and other evening lost most buds from deer and upset.
The deer last night came around from the other side of the house and finished off some more 🙁
Bad Deer!! I’ll send you a picture of my feeble Jeanne Byrnes!!
they ate more of my Stephanie Flemings last night and finished off the Albert Behnke.. My Jeanne Byrnes was finished the first night