Eating my rose bushes!!
ahartlag92
7 years ago
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Deer are eating my roses - suggestions???
Comments (42)The basic rule of thumb is rabbits and deer won't eat poisonous plants. They also tend to avoid very dry, very fuzzy, very scratchy and highly scented plants. Dry and fuzzy things get gummy in their mouths and require water to wash them down. They're eating the plants as much for the water as they are for nutrition. They avoid highly scented plants because it "jams their radar". They all rely upon their senses of smell to detect danger. Highly scented plants, not the flowers but the actual foliage, over power their ability to smell and they can't tell if there are coyotes or other predators in the area so they tend to avoid being so close to them to retain their ability to smell danger. Of course, a highly stressed animal is going to be willing to take more risks and eat things they normally wouldn't. And, they can't read, so are often not familiar with what is often on the "do not eat" lists. Sunset Western Garden book for a long time stated deer won't eat agapanthus, but they will gnaw off all the opening flower clusters, leaving them looking as if Ophelia Addams lives at your house. They tend also to avoid areas with the strong scent of blood as that 'tells' them a kill has occurred and Nature avoids death. Urine from predators can repel them because that indicates their predator has been marking its territory, and they know invading that territory can often result in them being dinner. The commercial and home repellants often work because of the "radar jamming" effects. They tend also to avoid areas where they feel too exposed, particularly where they don't have a fast, easy escape route or where they can easily become trapped. Given their choice, they will usually eat things easily accessed via their entrance and more hidden from view. Increasing stress results in them foraging deeper and deeper into normally considered unsafe areas and their taking greater risks to find food. Using the raised boards or sticks as Strawberryhill suggested is like a cattle guard. Cows see the parallel lines on the ground and instinctively know they can get their hooves caught in them, so they avoid them. Deer need something they fear will trip them or injure them. They can jump a seven foot fence because they can jump high for short distances. They can't and usually won't try jumping two shorter fences placed four or five feet apart from one another. While they can go up high for a short distance, they can't jump long distances without a good running start. The trick is finding which combination works well in your situation and for long periods. They can quickly learn your repellant efforts have no teeth behind them, like the plastic owls on poles with rabbits. If the owls don't actually fly at them, chasing them, the rabbits will quickly learn they can continue grazing right under them with no consequences. So far, the best repellant I've found for all of them are the motion sensor sprinklers. You have to get them set just right to protect the area against the varmint you have to repel, and you have to constantly remember YOU are a "varmint" when seen by the motion detector. It's the surprise of the noise and being hit with a strong, fast stream of cold water when violating the area that keeps that system working against the rabbits and deer. Motion activated lighting works for a short time, but has no "teeth" behind them, so they quickly become accustomed to them and ignore the light. They never ignore a noisy rain bird full of strong, cold water. Get hit with it once and neither will you! The real trick for safety with the motion sensor sprinkler is not to turn the hose on strongly. Too strong and it may cause the hose to burst, resulting in wasting a lot of water and causing flooding should you not find the problem for hours after it occurs. Turning the hose on to a trickle usually allows the pressure to build when needed for that strong, thirty second noisy blast of water. If the hose bursts before the pressure is needed, you shouldn't waste much water at a trickle. Normally, all it takes is one blast an evening to keep the deer out unless you have herds of them to contend with. Kim...See MoreSomething is attacking my rose bush! HELP :)
Comments (9)Try running the pad of your index finger slowly over the underside of an affected leaf. I'd guess you'll feel a lowered area that corresponds to the gray. That argues for a rasping herbivorous insect. Try putting a sheet over the roses at night and see if you interrupt the critters dropping onto the leaves (they would still be on the sheet in the morning.) Then go after the ones on the roses (that often are subtly colored). Way back when, dusting with sulphur was a low teck option....See MoreWhen will JB end?
Comments (13)I occasionally saw 1 or 2 a day during July, but haven't really seen any in August until today when I saw one. Looking at the sexual orgy going on in Johnny's pic, I decided I must have celibate JBs (thank goodness). If I find any, it is ONE in a rose here and ONE in a rose way over there--never together. Pays to have an "abstinence only" garden, wouldn't you say? LOL Kate...See MoreBugs Eating My Dahlia, Rose of Sharon and Butterfly Bush!
Comments (6)Ok thanks. I saw one of these nymphs on my elephant ear (which is just starting out) and I caught him easily and threw him over the fence. I was super mad...I wonder if there will come a time when I will kill them...not sure but he was easily caught. I see them from time to time but there doesn't seem to be too many. They camouflage well though....See More
ahartlag92
7 years ago
Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
7 years agostillanntn6b
7 years agoahartlag92
7 years agoMoses, Pittsburgh, W. PA., zone 5/6, USA
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoahartlag92
7 years agozippity1
7 years ago
jim1961 / Central Pennsylvania / Zone 6
7 years agoahartlag92
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoMoses, Pittsburgh, W. PA., zone 5/6, USA
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoMoses, Pittsburgh, W. PA., zone 5/6, USA
7 years agoahartlag92
7 years agoMoses, Pittsburgh, W. PA., zone 5/6, USA
7 years ago
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jim1961 / Central Pennsylvania / Zone 6