Re: Deer and Iris

I am not much of an iris expert, but I do know quite a bit about deer and 
I can tell you that repellents of any kind work only briefly, if at all.  
This includes all types of urines, manures, sprays, soaps, hair, pepper, 
etc.  If deer are eating your iris you may have very hungry deer or ones 
that have acquired a taste for iris as iris are not all that high on most 
deer preference lists!  Fencing (at least 8 ft., double fencing, or 
electric) is the only reliable means of keeping deer away from plants.  
Netting can work temporarily, but they usually thwart it and it is a real 
aggravation in the meantime!  If deer are plentiful and destructive in 
your area it is a good idea to find out what type of deer management plan 
is in effect (check with local govt. or state "Game/Wildlife" agency).  
Many areas are experiencing tremendous problems with deer and it is best 
to work out an acceptable plan before the deer have destroyed native 
plant colonies, songbird and small mammal habitat, and altered the 
pattern of regeneration of hardwood tree species as they have in many 
areas.

Debbie Green in Williamsburg, VA
dxgree@facstaff.wm.edu
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