Deer Repellants and Butterflies Q.

17 years ago

Just wondering if anyone knows if all natural deer repellant products are OK to use considering my gardens are becoming a magnet for the butterflies.

There were no gardens here 6 years ago, and after much work, the butterflies are finally making it a pit stop. Last year my favourites were the White Admiral and the Monarch. The Monarchs even blessed us with little ones which we took care of and made sure they reached maturity and not a bird's beak.

But the deers have also discovered our property. Fencing is not an option, and we have two dogs. I managed to fend them off a bit last year with a homemade garlic spray, but wonder if that could also repel my beauties.

I wouldn't be spraying everything. Just the ornamentals/shrubs which the deers insist on decimating.

Any thoughts?

Here's a couple of pics of our visitors.

Featured Answer

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7

17 years ago

The deer repellents applied to your shrubs won't repel your butterflies and moths, if that's what you are asking. I'd avoid spraying open flowers and known host plants, however.

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Comments (6)

megan_anne
17 years ago
You might also consider planting Boxwood near the things that you want to save from the deer, yet still keep safe for the BF's. Traditionally, deer don't like Boxwood and generally avoid those areas. Plain ol' bar soap (as in those nearly-useless-for-bathing remnants... save them!) tied in old pantyhose legs and hung on the deer's favorite targets also works well to repel the voracious venison. Cayenne and/or garlic drenches are also moderately effective without being toxic, are relatively inexpensive, and are fairly easy to use. They do have to be reapplied periodically, though, especially after rain.

Check the link for some more ideas on non-toxic and butterfly-friendly deer repellent ideas.

Here is a link that might be useful: Deer Repellent
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Fruitgirl, Our property can't be fenced. The cost would be prohibitive. Using a fishing line would also not be a solution. The reason is that the plants I wish to protect are all over the place on the property which is slightly over 300 feet wide and 100+ feet deep and has the strangest ups and downs, granite boulders here, another there, etc. Dibbit, Thanks for the idea about the Butterfly Forum. Feel kind of silly not having thought about that. I'll certainly post over there. I also understand that dogs are not effective. We have a Valley Bulldog and a Black Lab. The deers know that we keep the dogs inside during the night and that's when they decimate the gardens. You should see what they did to two holly bushes this winter!! pls8xx, There is no doubt in my mind that it was the onions. When I first started gardening here in 2001, there was not a plant to behold. The bones such as some rock walls and mature trees were there, but nothing else. Until last year they did not touch the gardens. I had noticed that some Alliums had shown up here and there in the gardens, and left them. In the spring, I decided to dig up some plants to sell at my daughter's spring school fair. I targeted the plants with the Alliums thinking I would replant the bulbs in the following week. DH was cleaning and disposed of the Allium bulbs. I had placed them in a bag, and he thought they were garbage. Two weeks later, the deers started showing up. I soon made the connection, but in the fall, when it was my intent to order Alliums by the hundreds, life made me take another turn. So, until I can plant members of the Onion family in droves in the gardens - and I intend to, I have to find another solution.
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Roxanna, just so you know....there isn't any pesticide that takes care of only the ticks. As a matter of fact, the ticks are pretty darned tough. The person you spoke to was either lying or misinformed. I would suspect the latter, if he was just the applicator. The comment about using 'only ten ounces for a hundred gallons of water' is a smoke screen.....a meaningless response that sounds good to the customer. The dilution rate depends upon the concentration of the active ingredient. I promise you, the rate that you were quoted was exactly what is needed to get the job done. It may very well have been 10 oz./100 gal.....or half that! The only thing that counts is what comes out of the hose and that will always be just what it takes to kill ticks, the tough guys. The non-target animals....the butterflies, lightning bugs and their beneficial larvae, bees, any insect, as a matter of fact, frogs, toads, lizards, and salamanders are all very sensitive. They came at peak bee activity time, judging by the time of your post. Bees end up taking it back to the hive. Grrrr, that's a cardinal rule for pesticide application: avoid spraying when bees are active. Cats, because they clean themselves, are probably the mammal most likely to be affected....other than those individuals who are very old, ill, immune deficient, very young, taking medications that affect the liver, and more. Pyrethroids have been found in milk. Alisande, the unmarked vans are hilarious.
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susanlynne48
17 years ago
OMG, Tiffy! That White Admiral is to die for! Such a beautiful, beautiful butterfly that you northerners see, but we southerners don't! That is an absolutely gorgeous photograph of it!

Susan
emmayct
17 years ago
I've seen only two white admirals here in CT!

Both were the most beautiful butterflies I've ever seen!

Do you get them often up there?

I don't think the deer repellants will keep your butterflies from visiting.

Do you find butterfly bush to be deer resistant?

Tiffy, sorry to ask more questions than I answer..It's just so great to hear from a butterfly gardener so far north!

Maryann
tiffy_z5_6_can
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks for your replies! There's a first time for everything, and being an avid user of GW, I forgot to press that I wished for your responses to be sent to me.

Megan, Lots of good suggestions. My neighbour does the soap thing, but they ignore them. I also love my little squirrels so won't use cayenne, but have made garlic sprays which have been somewhat effective. I will be planting Alliums in droves within my garden beds in the fall, but until then... They hate the smell of Alliums which I have in one area and will not touch it.

Maryann,
The White Admirals are a welcome sight and are here throughout the summer. Not in great numbers yet, but their numbers are increasing every year with the creation of these gardens. We have a lot of natural host plants for them - poplars and birches - and the neighbours are beginning to express interest and plant feeder plants which I give them.

So far the deers have expressed no interest in the Buddleia (Butterfly Bush). We have 3 mature ones, and I have sowed at least 50 more this year. The Monarchs truly love them.

Lynchnis also attracts them in the early part of summer. In June, when I don't have too many bloomers, I have German Catchfly (Lynchnis Viscaria Slendens Fever) blooming which brings them to the gardens and provides food for the early ones.

The White Admiral is partial to the Oregano plant in the picture. This plant has yet to be properly identified - I found it growing on the edge of a neighbour's beach. It grows 4 feet high and spreads, but is not aggressive like other Oreganos.

I certainly don't mind your enthusiasm! You should see me when these pretties show-up!! :O)
caterwallin
17 years ago
Tiffy, Sorry that I can't answer your deer repellent questions, but I wanted to comment how beautiful those pictures are! Oh, would I ever love to see a White Admiral. I'm not sure if we can get them here...have to look that up. I know we can the RA. Wow, you sure have a lot of butterfly bushes and here I thought I was doing good with five! :)
Cathy

Deer Repellants and Butterflies Q.

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7

Comments (6)

megan_anne

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Deer Repellants and Butterflies Q.

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7

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