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Raising a Stink!

By
Home Inspector with Complete Home Inspections, Inc. TN Lic#050

    I really enjoy gardening and deer are okay to view from a distance; not munching on my hydrangeas or mowing down the hostas. Purchasing commercially made products like Deer Off or Plantskydd can get expensive over a period of time especially when one has to spray every 3 or 4 days or after a rain. Keep in mind too that young deer do not have a sense of smell and odor based detergents will not work on them; so the plant they are munching must taste bad. After reading several forums, I have come up with a concoction that seems to work on both fronts. I start off with 3 eggs blended in a gallon of water. Strain through cheese cloth and set aside in the sun.
    To 1 cup of white vinegar, I add 6 tsp of crushed red pepper. Bring to a boil and let this cool down and strain.
    Puree ½ cup peeled garlic; strain
    1 cup clear ammonia
    1 cup Murphy's oil soap
    1 tsp dish soap
     I blend all the ingredients in a gallon sprayer and spray early evening and after a rain. No, the yard does not smell good and neither do I after applying. The end results are happy, heathy, bad tasting, stinky, deer-resistant plants. What more could a gardener want?

It is a great day at Complete Home Inspections!

Posted by

Complete Home Inspections, Brentwood TN 615.661.0297
 

Comments(11)

Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Michael, We've used some of the deer repellent sprays and you're right, they're some of the worst smelling things known to man.  Fortunately our hostas are right up next to the house next to the AC unit so the noise seems to keep them away.

Jul 26, 2015 05:16 AM
Mike Rock
Complete Design - Granite Bay, CA
Granite Bay Luxury New Construction...For Less

i love it. sounds like my wifes cooking. But deer are a problem. bambi gets so hungry

Jul 26, 2015 05:18 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Michael,

What a great recipe for keeping deer away.  We fenced our yard in Los Angeles and left the bottom part with lots of trees and ivy to much on...not our roses or other annuals. I worked out just fine.  A

Jul 26, 2015 06:34 AM
Rob Thomas
Prestige Homes of The Tri Cities, Inc. CALL....423-341-6954 - Bristol, TN
Bristol TN-VA & Tri Cities Agent, ABR, GRI, e-Pro

I will keep this in mind Michael Thornton ...for now we just Waffles and Peaches chase them off ....they run them into the woods behind our house.

Have a great day!

Jul 26, 2015 07:21 AM
Sharon Lee
Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN
Retired and loving life

Michael-It is a lot of work being a gardener. Glad you found a good recipe even if it does STINK

Jul 26, 2015 07:26 AM
Larry Brewer - Benchmark Realty llc
Benchmark Realty LLc - Nashville, TN

I watched the deer eat my rose bush one day. I couldn't believe they would do it, but they did. Anything to get rid of them and the rabbits is great as far as I'm concerned.

Jul 26, 2015 10:10 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Michael deer are cute, but not so cute when they eat every thing in a garden.

Jul 26, 2015 11:12 AM
Troy Erickson AZ Realtor (602) 295-6807
HomeSmart - Chandler, AZ
Your Chandler, Ahwatukee, and East Valley Realtor

Michael - I am glad it is working for you, but am wondering how in the world you ever came up with that concoction.

Jul 26, 2015 03:04 PM
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Thanks for the recipe Michael, I could use something like this for a few plantations.

Jul 26, 2015 03:24 PM
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

the deer have found my hosta too - oh well - maybe I will spray next year - it is too late this year. 

Jul 27, 2015 07:43 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

I have several friends that live in the Sierra Nevada foothills, here in California.  They are always doing battle with the deer.  I'm going to share your recipe, Michael!

Aug 06, 2015 02:18 PM