cervid do eat pumpkins when they get the chance . Here ’s how to stop them .
Robert Cardillo
When set out tar - o'-lanterns on your porch orgrowing pumpkinsin your garden , you may be wondering , " do cervid eat pumpkins ? " Deer are n’t picky eater and they love feasting on many flowers and vegetable plant , admit pumpkins . They ’ll snack on pumpkin leaves , flowers , and on whole fruits , as well ascarved jack - o’-lanterns left outside for Halloween . Here ’s how to protect pumpkin from deer and why you maynotwant to give your pumpkins to deer when skittish season is through .
Credit:Robert Cardillo
Signs of Deer Damage
Many garden plague will eat up pumpkin plants and yield , but deer damage is quite distinguishable . While rodents such as squirrels may manducate small ragged bull’s eye on pumpkin skins , just one deer can eat most , if not all , of a declamatory pumpkin in one visit . In fact , you’re able to lose an entire plot of pumpkins or all of your jack - o’-lanterns overnight if a herd of cervid move through . Here are the main clues to look for to decide if cervid are the culprits of your pumpkin destruction :
How to Protect Pumpkins from Deer
Gardeners have come up with many originative way of life tokeep deer out of veggie garden . But if you just have pumpkin vine for Halloween , you may not want to invest in cloggy duty deer fence and other big plate bar proficiency . No matter how many pumpkins you ’d wish to protect , here are a few ways to keep deer away from pumpkin industrial plant and tar - o’-lanterns too .
1. Fencing
fencing material is the best way to keep cervid out of gardens , but it can be pricey . Fences should be at least 8 foot tall because deer can easy jump anything lower . However , double fencing can also be effective against cervid . If you need to protect a few Halloween pumpkin and do n’t want to install a permanent fencing , impermanent electric poultry veiling fences can be used to shelter a few pumpkin vine on a terrace , but these fences should be kept aside from john - or - negotiant .
2. Deterrent Sprays
cervid repellent like predator pee , blood meal , and putrefied egg solidness are quite smelly and they ’re beneficial for garden use only . But you may apply other check sprays , like hot Madagascar pepper oil or garlic oil , tocarved squat o’lanterns or garden plants to keep deer at bay . Just keep in head thatdeer repellant involve to be reappliedthroughout the season and after heavy rain to be effective .
3. Other Deterrents
spray are n’t the only products that repel deer . Motion - trigger off sprinklers or limelight and ultrasonic devices can also keep deer away fromdecorative gloaming pumpkinsas well aspumpkins growing in your garden , but these products are more effective if you move them around your garden from time to time . For a low - tech solution , keep windchimes on your porch through Halloween to dash deer by from your jack o’lanterns .
4. Companion Plants
Some strongly scented plant naturally revolt deer , andgrowing these plants near your pumpkinscan ply an extra level of protection for your crop . However , many of these plants can also be planted in pots and placed powerful beside your porch pumpkins to deter deer . Herbs likemint , sage , andchivesare specially useful against deer and they originate well in fall porch planters too .
5. Location
Pumpkins growing in the garden ca n’t be well be active from post to billet to avoid deer damage . But if you want to keep deer from range on your decorative pumpkin vine , come out your pumpkins on your porch or up a short escape of stairs to make them less approachable . For even good result , bringyour pumpkins indoors at night and store them in your fridge . This keep Cucurbita pepo brisk much longer and see to it that cervid wo n’t be able-bodied to get to them .
Should You Feed Pumpkins to Deer?
Many well - think gardener and nature lover prey whole or carved Cucurbita pepo to deer at the death of tumble . But accord to wildlife experts , this may not be the good idea for several reason .
While autumn pumpkin are a comparatively healthy treat for deer and other wildlife , intentionally feeding deer is illegal in some areas . That ’s because it can make deer more vulnerable to piranha and increase the counterpane of disease , like continuing emaciate disease . alimentation pumpkins to deer can also inadvertently pull in other wildlife , like bears , which you likely do n’t want prowling around your doorstep .
If you decide to feed pumpkins to deer , place the pumpkins away from your home and dampen them open to make the seed and pulpy interiors more approachable to hungry wildlife . Composting whole or carve autumn pumpkin , either at home or through a community of interests compost service , is another eco - favorable way toget free of old pumpkinsand limit K waste material . Best of all , compost pumpkin wo n’t directly affect wildlife and it can provide you with a fat soil amendment for your garden .
