“Annual estimates of deer damage are reported to exceed $2 billion nationwide, including… more than $250 million in damage to metropolitan households.”
Wondering how to keep deer away and out of your yard or garden? Fortunately, we provide a Deer Deterrent & Management Program that can protect you and your landscape from deer.
Deer damage can be costly, unsightly, and even deadly. In some cases this damage can have long term effects and disfigure your landscape. Annually deer damage exceeds $2 billion nationwide. If that wasn’t bad enough, deer also bring deadly disease carrying travelers into your yard threatening the safety of your loved ones.
WHAT SHRUB AND TREE SPECIES DO DEER LIKE TO EAT?
In the Northern Virginia, DC Metropolitan area, the #1 plant food that deer like most are Euonymus shrubs. Our arborists estimate that in our area, 1 out of every 3 homes has some type of Euonymus in their yards.
Although not as “tasty,” the food deer in our area also like going after are:
- Hosta (Host sp.)
- Candy Lily (Pardancanda x norrisii)
- Roses
- Yews (Taxus sp.)
- American Arborviate (Thuja occidentalis)
- Evergreen Azaleas & Rhododendron (Rhododendron sp).
Read here to learn more about the plants that attract deer and what plants deer hate.
HOW DO DEER DAMAGE YOUR LANDSCAPE?
Deer browsing: Damage to trees and shrubs can be extensive, affecting plant shape and exposing bare wood to disease and insects.
Mating “rut”: From early September through November male deer are looking to clean their antlers of summer velvet, while at the same time marking territory during the breeding season. In addition to rubbing antlers against trees to remove velvet, buck deer assert themselves by thrashing and battering the tree for noise effect.
Tree Damage: Tree damage involves shredding of bark from a foot or so above the ground, to three to four feet up, exposing underlying wood. If rubbed all the way around, the trunk can be effectively girdled.
If small trees are bent over by the deer, main leaders and smaller limbs can be broken off. Usually the damage is done over a 24 hour period. Because this is also a territorial action, the buck may revisit trees they like in subsequent years.
Read here to learn how to keep deer away from your plants.
WHAT ARE THE SAFETY ISSUES RELATED TO DEER?
Accidents: Over population of deer in neighborhoods can also cause car damage and accidents when they run out into the streets.
Attacks: Always keep in mind a buck in rut is an unpredictable animal. It has an agitated and angry appearance, and will often stand its ground and not be afraid. With its sharp antlers it is a clear danger, and challenging it or attempting to scare it away may result in an attack.
Ticks: When deer enter your yard they bring ticks that can endanger your family. These ticks often carry Lyme diseases, Babesiosis, or other diseases that can lead to great illness or even death.
Read here to learn more about deer-related safety and damage issues.
HOW CAN YOU PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY AND FAMILY FROM DEER?
RTEC Treecare offers a safe deterrent that will protect your plants and family from deer damage or safety issues.
Our Deer Deterrent & Management Program applied by a Certified, Professional Arborist will:
- Deter the deer from your property.
- Protect plants from browsing deer.
- Protect your family from ticks transmitted by deer.
- Save you hundreds or thousands of dollars on spring landscaping aimed at repairing deer damage.
