Liquid Fence: A Good Deer and Rabbit Repellent for your Roses

”]TheGardenLady received this question from Bonnie.

We planted a knock-out rose bush this past spring. It started blooming and had beautiful roses. We noticed that the stems were cut. The deer are eating them. What can we do?

Deer love roses. It seems strange because there are thorns. In spite of the thorns, I guess deer like plants that humans eat. Rose petals  and rose hips  and  are eaten by humans.  See here, here and here.

I spray my roses and other plants that deer love with a product called Liquid Fence.  I have been using the product for a few years and my plants are not eaten by deer or rabbits. I think it is pricey because I use it much more frequently than recommended on the container. I have used it even more frequently this summer because of all the rain. Even though the product label says it lasts through rain, I am fearful of losing the plants. Because some some plants are deer resistant, I do not spray all the flowers I have. But I have learned that some plants that I wouldn’t think deer would eat, like sunflowers, will be eaten by the deer if I don’t spray. Liquid Fence stinks like the rotten eggs that is the major ingredient. That dissipates fairly quickly for the human nose; but the smell lingers for the more sensitive nose of the deer. The one thing that I dislike is that the leaves retain a white film from the spray. However, it washes off in the rain.

Some of the plants that I spray, besides the roses which deer adore, are the hostas, the lilies both the daylilies and other lilies, impatiens, sedums, weigela, baby trees, as well as any plant I want to rest assured the deer or rabbits won’t eat. There are deer resistant plants, however when deer are hungry, they will eat anything.

Because I fear that the deer will get used to the smell of Liquid Fence, I will spray Deer Off or other deer repellents that I find in the stores or friends might tell me about in between the times I spray Liquid Fence.

There are some home recipes one can try:

One recipe calls for blending 2 cups of water, 2 cups of nonfat milk, 2 eggs (with shells), 2 tablespoons cayenne pepper, 2 cloves garlic and a couple of drops of Murphy’s oil Soap or other oily dish detergent. Sprinkle (or strain and spray) over plants.

A second concoction calls for 1 teaspoons of tabasco sauce or red hot pepper sauce, 2 tablespoons garlic powder, 2 Tablespoons Murphy’s Oil soap mixed in 1 gallon of water. The friend who used this reciped added 1 egg.

A third mixture calls for 4 eggs, 2 oz. red pepper sauce, 2 oz. garlic powder mixed in one quart of water.

Another recipe uses one whole egg, one cup of milk (skim or regular), a few tablespoons of cooking oil and one tablespoon of liquid soap with one quart of water. Add one teaspoon of hot chili oil and blend it in your blender on low. Put in spray bottle and use once a week.

There are many recipes that are variants of the above or you can create your own that is a variation. A list of other recipes are here.

Remember that there are mechanical devices that are used to repel deer. If you can fence in your property, use 8 ft fences.

One friend uses a motion sensor device that sprays the deer with water when they come near. This startles the deer so that they run arway. But you need a number of these sensor devices to cover a large area.

TheGardenLady thinks that mechanical devices are really expensive. I stick with the cheaper alternative of the sprays that have been effective in keeping the deer and rabbits from eating the plants.