Our Love/Hate Relationship With Deer

The first deer I ever remember seeing 'up close and personal' was an albino at the tender age of three when we lived on Jekyll Island located east of Brunswick, GA.  At that time, I thought all deer were white with pink eyes!  I was fascinated with them from that point on.  Deer are beautiful and graceful animals.  They dot the landscape with an adoring finesse and ambivalence that captivates and touches our hearts - those of us that aren't hunters or trying to save our expensive landscape plantings! 

On some level, I feel sorry for the deer population.  Afterall, urban sprawl, has wreaked havoc on their natural habitat.  They're hungry.  I get that.  If someone or something is hungry, my natural inclination is to feed.  Hosta are the ultimate salad bar for deer.  Trees, roses, and azaleas, too! 

I am cynical.  There are literally hundreds of sprays on the market touting deer resistance and/or repellent.  Rotten eggs, garlic!  You name it, it's out there and hard earned dollars are being spent to try something that essentially you can make at home. There's no consistency from one property to another with regard to the efficacy of any particular product on the market.  The only over the counter product that I know of that is a derrent is Irish Spring Soap!

Two years ago, I came across a product that was undergoing EPA approval for its effectiveness against deer grazing in the landscape. 

Deer damage is a rapidly trending landscape problem, expanding to more areas of the country with each passing year, making it the fastest growing ornamental and turf challenge in America.

To address this problem, over 30 years ago James McNamara (Redding Nursery, Redding, Connecticut) developed a thiram-based repellent to protect his nursery stock from winter deer browse damage. Soon after, Redding Nursery customers noticed and began requesting deer protection for their own ornamental evergreens. Before long, Redding Nursery was protecting thousands of properties throughout Connecticut from deer damage. DeerPro Winter Animal Repellent successfully prevented millions of dollars of permanent damage to homeowners' expensive landscaping.

As the local deer population in Connecticut exploded, so did the demand for DeerPro.  Today, despite its small size, Redding Nursery is the largest deer repellent service in Connecticut and quite possibly the United States. And now, with the development of DeerPro Repellent for Spring & Summer, year-round protection from deer damage has become a reality.

Their successful deer repellent history, and the rapid expansion of deer browsing has enabled Redding Nursery to offer DeerPro products along with their tried and true expertise (instructional videos, promotional fliers and consultation) to Licensed Commercial Applicators throughout the country.

Well, I spoke with the owner of the company.  In 2009, the product was not sold in VA due to EPA regulations; however, I was sent a couple of gallons for free.  I asked a couple of clients if I could field trial this deer repellent - FOR FREE - on their property.  For two years, I applied the product.  Amazing results.  Last year, after receiving EPA approval, I applied the product in October and the results were incredible.  No deer grazing through the winter.  The summer product is currently undergoing EPA approval and, although is an effective deterrent, requires multiple applications. 

This past January, the owner came down to Virginia and we met in my office in Manassas, VA.  After several hours of learning more about their company and the product, I've got to say, I'm impressed.  Moreover, at the time we spoke, we discussed the possibility of this product being used to deter moles and voles.  In theory, the product should work, we discussed, but product labeling is everything when it comes to being a Licensed Commercial Applicator and the EPA is a stickler for using a product outside the parameters of its label.  Recently, the product was approved as a vole deterrent. 

DeerPro™ Winter Animal Repellent is the longest lasting deer repellent on the market today. Unlike other deer sprays that last only a few weeks, DeerPro does not need to be reapplied in the snow and ice of winter. DeerPro provides six months of protection from deer. One spray as early as October will still be protecting shrubs into early spring.

To schedule your DeerPro™ Winter Animal Repellent Treatment, call 703-361-3527