Deer can damage your produce as they generally eat any plants when hungry. Thankfully, you can deter them with homemade deer repellent. Commercial sprays exist, but natural DIY alternatives are less toxic and better for soil quality. Instead of using soap, which may not be as effective or safe, try placing Dawn Dish soap around your garden. Its strong scent deters Deer.
Effective Use of Dawn Dish Soap
Using Soap to Keep Deer Away
To deter Deer, simply grate or thinly slice bars of a dawn dish soap , or any similar scented, tallow-based soap, and distribute the pieces around the plants you want to protect. Replenish the shavings weekly or after rain or intense sun exposure. Since generally dawn dish soap is non-toxic, it won't harm your plants or any animals that wander through your garden.
Consideration While Using the Soap
Be mindful that not all animals are deterred by the scent of soap, just as Deer are. While using Dawn Dish soap can also help keep squirrels, rabbits, and rats at bay, more creatures such as possums and skunks might be attracted to it. If you find that your soap disappears overnight, consider hanging it in mesh bags or stockings about four feet above the ground. This height ensures that the soap is out of reach for these animals but still close enough for the Deer to detect its smell.
Prolonging the Soap Effectiveness
Hanging a full bar of soap in a bag can help it last longer; when it starts to lose its fragrance, simply shave off a thin layer to refresh its potency. If you don't have suitable tree branches nearby, using a shepherd's hook stuck in the ground can be an effective alternative.
Understanding the Benefits and Risks of Soapy Water for Plants
The reason Dawn dish soap deters Deer is simple: they find its odor unbearable. While other dish soap brands also repel Deer, some may attract them instead.
Soapy Water's Benefits
Initially, the idea of using soapy water on plants might seem concerning and illogical, but in reality, its effects are not always as negative as one might think. In fact, sometimes the benefits of soapy water for plants outweigh any potential harm.
One significant advantage of soapy water for plants and soil is its effectiveness as an insecticide. Additionally, it can be used to clean foliage, giving plants a shiny appearance, such as palms. Soapy water serves as a practical substitute for watering plants during droughts or periods of water scarcity.
Understanding the Risk
Nonetheless, the presence of harsh, synthetic components in soaps and detergents may damage plants by stripping away the natural waxy layer on leaves, thereby increasing their susceptibility to pests and diseases. Hence, it is crucial to refrain from using grey water, such as dishwater or bathwater, on plants, as it may contain more harmful chemicals compared to those found in Dawn dish soap.
Diy Deer Repellent Using Bar Soap
Deer avoids strong scents, making this DIY deer repellent using bar soap an effective and economical choice to protect your plants from being eaten.
Instructions:
- Cut the Dish soap in Small Pieces
- Place the soap pieces into an empty sock.
- Tie the top of the sock with twine to create a pouch.
- Attach the soap pouch to a wooden stake using a staple gun.
- Drive the wooden stake into the ground near plants needing protection from Deer.
Variations of Dawn Dish Soap Deer Repellent
Essential Dawn Dish Cleanser
Combine 1-2 tablespoons of Dawn Dish Soap with 16-32 ounces of water in a splash bottle. By shaking for some time, an application for deterred Deer is ready to use.
Fiery Form of Dawn Dish Cleanser
Improve the essential formula by including 1-2 tablespoons of cayenne pepper, a squeeze of garlic powder, and a sprinkle of cinnamon to the blend of Dawn Dish soap with water.
Dawn Cleanser With Fundamental Oils
Make a mix by blending 1-2 tablespoons of Dawn Dish Soap with 5-10 drops of basic oil (such as peppermint) in 64-128 liquid ounces of water to hinder bugs and keep Deer absent from gardens.
Dawn Dish Cleanser Deer With Egg
Combine 1 egg, 1-2 tablespoons of Dawn Dish Soap, and 64-120 liquid ounces of water to successfully repel the deers.
Dawn Dish Cleanser With Vinegar
Blend 1 container of white vinegar, 1 glass of water, and 1-2 tablespoons of Dawn Dish Soap, specifically in a shower bottle, for another homemade bug control solution.
