Hydrangeas and Deer Control

We are coming into the home stretch and just about finished with hydrangeas for this season. Except there’s one more task that needs to be dealt with: hydrangeas and deer control. I wish this was a “one and done” chore, but unfortunately you’ll have to repeat it at least once, if not more often.

Growth of the Deer Population

Over the course of the 36 years I have lived at my current address in Connecticut, deer pressure has gone from zero to a continual concern. The herd multiplies every year, and depending on the severity of the climate, it’s possible that winter kill will not reduce that population. Their only enemy is automobiles. If you live in “deer country” like I do, you must decide how you want to handle this challenge.

Deer Repellent Products

I have trialed many products, and although most of them work, some work better than others. The one that has been consistently effective for me is Deer Defeat.

Deer Defeat deer repellent

One spring I trialed it on a container of tulips—a deer favorite. There were 2 other products in the trial (no names mentioned). The plants I sprayed with Deer Defeat were untouched for the entire trial period of 10 weeks, while the other two were consistently nibbled. Deer Defeat has great staying power and doesn’t easily wear off/wash off. You should also know that it is the stinkiest of all the products I have EVER tried. So be prepared to immediately toss the clothes you wear when you have finished applying it into the laundry.

Free Shipping on Deer Defeat Orders

The better news is that the owners of Deer Defeat are offering my subscribers free shipping. Just use the code AUTUMN27, which will provide free shipping until December 31^st. Grab it now and start spraying, especially your old wood plants (big leaf, mountain, and oak leaf hydrangeas). Of course it also works well on the rest of your garden. We had a situation in our neighborhood a few years back when deer actually stepped onto someone’s front porch to eat the holiday greens on the wreath. Incredible!

Upcoming Public Speaking Dates

On February 21 at 11.15 AM I’ll be at the Earth Expo and Conference Center at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT, for the Southeast Connecticut Home and Garden Show to discuss Hydrangea Companion Plants.

Lorraine Ballato addressing a live audience

Of course, signed copies of both my award-winning hydrangea books will be available for sale. Choose from a hardcover or softcover autographed edition—an ideal gift for yourself or any hydrangea enthusiast, especially for special celebrations. 

A word about my newest award-winning hydrangea book, Hydrangea Pruning: What Stays, What Goes, and When at all on-site speaking venues. In this book, I drill down further into pruning to answer the questions gardeners have about how to prune this magical plant. There are over 100 photos and illustrations to help you make sense of this somewhat challenging chore.

You can order your signed copy of either book anytime right here on this site. Or get it from your favorite bookseller (unsigned). 

I look forward to seeing you at this talk. Tell/bring your friends.

Thanks for checking in.