Whether it’s a halved melon rind or a pan full of water, there are plenty of unexpected household objects that can make keeping your garden happy easier.
And if you’re hoping to keep your plants safe from grazing deer, the British Deer Society said that a humble bar of soap might help.
Wrapping it in a mesh bag or sock can make hanging it much easier, Martha Stewart’s site added.
How can soap help to deter deer?
“Fragrant soap will help to deter deer from garden beds because the scent is out of the ordinary and seems to trick them into thinking something is off,” orchard programme manager C.J. Walke told Martha Stewart previously.
Some gardeners try to add the pungent item to their flower beds by grating it onto the surface. But experts caution against that approach, pointing out that such small pieces of soap are likely to disappear much faster than a full bar.
“While it may still be effective, it would require more frequent replacement,” Walke stated.
Instead, the British Deer Society said, “Hanging bars of heavily scented soap amongst plants is thought by some to be effective. A benefit is that soap does not need to be replaced until it has completely dissolved.”
To ensure your soap stays put, place it in a sock or mesh bag and hang it from branches or your garden fence. Or, you could drill a hole through it and tie a string through to provide a kind of handle.
What are the best soaps to use?
The smellier, the better.
And one study found that soap which contains tallow seems to be better at deterring deer than other kinds.
Still, in their paper, both tallow and non-tallow soap placed near a plot of corn led to “significantly reduced browsing compared with untreated plots”.
However, they also noted that voles tended to damage the trunks of freshly-planted apple trees that had been protected from deer by hanging bars of soap. So, they recommended keeping an eye on your trees if you try the trick.
You should also reapply soap every four to six weeks so it doesn’t lose its scent.
Deer might outsmart the soap bar eventually
Though some research has recorded good results, the British Deer Society said there are caveats.
“Evidence comes from a limited number of uncontrolled trials and suggests variable success,” they shared.
And over time, deer can become used to the new smell, which is why it’s important to move your soap around from time to time if you’re planning to stick to the method for a long period of time.
Rotating deterrants, like loud noise and/or scarecrows, can help too.
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