Garden Spot - Offensive Gardening - March 2005

All winter long, gardeners pour over their catalogues and gardening guides, planning the next season's gardens and making endless wish lists. With high hopes and great anticipation, they welcome spring and the new growing season, only to be thwarted at every turn by the foes of the flora-deer, drought, disease, bugs, and bunnies. Without curbing their enthusiasm, gardeners need to put an end to this cycle of despair and learn to outsmart these villains by beating them at their own game.

Deer
Spring flowering shrubs set their flower buds during the previous summer. The entire plant, including the buds, go dormant for the winter. In early March, while the plants still appear to be resting, the botanical clock signals the roots of the plants that it is time to send stored nutrients up into all parts of the plant and begin the new growing cycle. The dreaded deer intercept the signal and know that the flower buds are filling up with tasty, delectable plant food. Before the gardener realizes it, the buds of viburnum, rhodendron, kerria, and roses have been devoured, and spring color in the garden is compromised. Once the deer begin grazing on these early plants, they will make these planting beds a regular stop on their daily search for food. In order to prevent this from happening, gardeners can do all of the following:

1. As soon as the snow melts and the ground is visible, sprinkle the organic fertilizer Milorganite in all planting beds. Deer are repulsed by the odor and should stay away from planting beds. The browsing cycle is stopped before it begins. Apply the product every 3 to 4 weeks, spreading 1 cup over each 6' x 6' area. Besides repelling deer, Milorganite is a safe, slow acting fertilizer for plants.
2. Spray plants with either Liquid Fence, Deer Off or other animal detractant. Early in the season, it is more effective to treat plants weekly. Later on, a monthly application should suffice.
3. Purchase plastic netting and either drape it over vulnerable plantings, or create a fence around plants, using vertical poles. Sadly, the list of plants which deer do not eat grows smaller every season, so most flower buds should be protected.

All products mentioned can be purchased at local garden centers. Next month's issue will cover insect and disease prevention.