This year I'm tring the blueberry/butterfly bush repellent (LOL) and so far it seems to be working. I think what's really happening is the deer are playing in the potager (sampling a few things, nothing serious) and haven't gotten to the other gardens yet.

I'm glad the milorganite is working so well. Is it poisonous? If not, I might try some, if the blueberries stop working :)

I'm not familiar with either the milorganite or the blueberry/butterfly bush method. Care to explain them?!

Is the milorganite organic?

Milorganite is supposed to be very safe. It is made from Michigan sewer waste and processed. That fact really bugged me at first. I used gloves, was careful not to touch it etc, but then I got used to the idea. It is supposed to be even safe for edible gardens but I draw the line there.What thrills me is that I have had NO problem with deer eating anything in the area since last fall when I started using it. Here is the website:

Here is a link that might be useful: Milorganite

Gwen- I planted blueberries and butterfly bushes behind the roses...and so far, the deer haven't bothered them :)

the deer hasn't bothered the roses or the blueberries and butterfly bushes? I'm confused! I don't think deer normally eat butterfly bush but it would seem they'd love blueberries!

My deer hate blueberry bushes...at least the leaves and branches. I only have a few deer and they don't seem that interested in anything, but hybrid tea roses, so far. Just to be on the safe side, I put blueberry bushes, butterfly bushes and lilacs on the back of my fairy garden (facing the yard) and so far....no eating the roses. The fairy garden is against one side of the house, with a grass path through the middle, so the back of the garden faces the side yard.

The deer seem more interested in tasting a few things in the kitchen garden, which is further from the house. The John Cabot roses and Snow Pavement rugosa roses haven't been of much interest. They tried a little of the Therese Bugnet roses, but didn't come back for seconds. They even tried one butterfly bush and ate the top off one tomato plant (probably the younger deer) but didn't like that either. You can always tell, when they spit it out and don't come back. LOL

For now, I'm keeping my fingers crossed this continues to work. In my favor, we only have a few deer, they are NOT hungry, and they have entire fields and pastures to play in and eat...they only come up because they're curious.