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Trying Milorganite/deer digging up plants
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Posted by tammyinwv z6/WV (My Page) on Sat, Nov 14, 09 at 13:10
I bought some milorganite recently and planned on waiting till spring to try it. I read several posts that it works very well about keeping the deer away. I figured whats left in the garden was going to die off to the frost anyway so it didnt make any difference if they ate it. Well I went out in the garden today and they had completely uprooted some lilly bulbs and a Montauk Daisy. Probably while eating and pulling on them as they have only been in the ground about 2 weeks or so. So I went out and hung about a cup full of the stuff in pieces of knee-hi from trees around the back of my yard, then lightly sprinkled some in the bed. It really didnt smell that bad either. I had heard some nightmare post about that. I guess I will find out soon enough if it's going to work for my deer. My backyard backs up to woods on 2 sides.
Tammy |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Trying Milorganite/deer digging up plants
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| Oh no, Tammy. That's just a step beyond fair fighting on part of deer. Last winter they ate plastic bottles I had over Larkspur seed so they wouldn't wash away. I just read something that said to staple two tin pie plates together with marbles or something inside them. String up from tree limbs. Also suggested using wind chimes positioned similarly. For some reason deer (until they get used to it I'd think) are afraid of surprise clanging noises. I'm going to try it around perimeter of back and side yards but I'm not sure I'll be able to stand the clanging when the wind gets going. My father is near deaf so he shouldn't be a problem but the neighbors are another story. Let me know how it works out. I can get milorganite from nearby nursery and one of their employees swears by it. She even spreads it over lawn in place of compost boost. Do you spray any repellant on your sensitive plants like lilies? Can't believe they haven't eaten them up til now. Good luck. Now you know why I grow lilies in containers on a deck. :( |
RE: deer digging up plants
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| Forgot to tell you one thing...deer pulled my Gladiolus right out of the ground - bulbs and all. They ate the foliage so most didn't bloom. My father has Glads that have been in ground since '80 and they never touched his. Maybe your lilies and daisies being new attracted their attention. Milorganite...the revenge of mankind...LOL. |
RE: Trying Milorganite/deer digging up plants
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I tried many times for a veggie garden in the back yard, and at that time I tried aluminum pie pans, ivory soap, human hair, you name it. Nothing worked. Gave up on that idea, except a few tomatoes right in the courtyard. I have mixed up a concoction with eggs,milk, oil, hot sauce, garlic etc, and they do leave things alone for awhile. But I usually forget to do it again until I see damage again. They ate all the blooms off my lillies the evening of the day they opened. They eat my hostas, heuchera, tulips, and more. They didnt bother the few glads I had.So I hope this milorganite does the trick.
One yr, we even caught a mother deer chasing our dog across the yard.
Tammy |
RE: Trying Milorganite/deer digging up plants
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| It's hunting season; perhaps a dead carcass of one of their own strategically placed would deter them... |
RE: Milorganite
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Oh Tina, your a meanie, lol
Tammy |
RE: Trying Milorganite/deer digging up plants
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Hi Tammy,
Milorganic is made up of human waste.It is marketed as Organic, but it far from being Organic.
They can remove a lot of harmful things from human waste,what they can not remove,is all the toxins,it stays there,and you(all of us)are using it in our gardens, it does not break down in the soil,where ever you use it, it will get sucked up by the plants, including your veggies,which you are going to eat.
I was really going to use it this spring,because we have soooooo many deer here,and i have a neighbor who loves it,the deer do stay away.
But at what price???I just hate it when i think i have finally found a good thing,only to find out,it is not so.
I bet they will not allow this in the European countries.
Milorganite will work at keeping out the deer,but what will we be feeding our children and the rest of our family,where we use it in our gardens? A couple of years ago, i planed some lilies,and that night,we looked out the window,there were 2 deer,munching away,roots hanging out one side of their mouth,greens out the other side, it was funny,but I was so mad,I just Love/Hate them.
Guess for me, I will have to find something else to use.Please be careful,if you do decide to use it,at least keep it out of your veggies.
cAROL
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RE: Trying Milorganite/deer digging up plants
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Carol, I knew what it was thats why I hung it in stockings around the perimeter of my backyard. I dont plant on using it in the beds and definitly not where I might grow veggies. I know its supposed to be safe, but its the thought of it. I did sprinkle about 3 cups down the backside of my 60ft long raised bed, as a little extra measure.My neighbor has horses and he promised to bring me horse manure for my beds , so I will use that as fertilizer in the beds.
Remember that old movie with Charleton Heston where he uncovered how the food product sorlent green was made from dead humans? I think I have the names right. It has been a long time. Kinda reminds one of that.
Tammy |
RE: Trying Milorganite/deer digging up plants
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| Tammy, If I could get Milorganite around here, I would buy it up in no time flat. At least to try. Before deer hunting season hit was the worse. We had 4 teenage deers in the neighbourhood and they were testing everything including azaleas and rhodies. In regards to the safety of the product mentioned, it's hard to say. Even when it comes to using your neighbour's horse poo, questions should be asked. I'll post a quote from another Forum... "It seams like we are holding Milorganite to a higher standard. I buy all sorts of bagged manures and composts from the local home improvement center. I don't think any of them are tested for contaminates. Who knows what may be in the steer manure blend from HD?? My neighbor is concerned about using his own horse manure because of the deworming and antibiotic chemicals he gives his horses.
I buy certified organic compost from a local supplier. Included in the mulch I have found batteries!! They sort the stuff collected from thousands of citizens who include who knows what in their trash. They make a best effort to sort out trash but plastic (what's in plastic??) and batteries get through. I used to pass on Milorganite. After reading this thread I bought some!! It seams their testing and monitoring is of higher quality than a lot of other products. Zeuspaul" |
RE: Trying Milorganite/deer digging up plants
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| I use milorganite and I have my hosta survive every year! I see the deer go past the back yard at twilight, so I know they are here. The funny thing about milorganite is the response of other animals. The difficulty I had was dogs coming by and spraying every place I had spread the milorganite. At first I thought it was my imagination. Then there was no doubt about the number of dogs coming around. My neighbor thought it was funny. |
RE: Trying Milorganite/deer digging up plants
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| Think I'll give milorganite the ultimate test. Deer walk through mailbox garden at night nibbling on my deer resistant plants as they go. I'm going to add container soil from annuals to perimeter of bed and will top off with milorganite. Just can't tell my father...he's already queasy and wary about me working composted horse manure/bedding into all that container mix. I'll blame any possible odor on the ponies...LOL. |
RE: Trying Milorganite/deer digging up plants
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The deer have eaten my plants down to little nubs, pulled some from the ground, and even stomped seedlings down to mush.
They're still eating the sedum regularly. They leave tracks so I know that deer are the culprits. It's only in the last few years that deer have really been a problem. Please, those of you using Milorganite as a repellent, keep us informed. I might have to give it a try. I'm not too concerned about it's safety, either. Karen |
RE: Trying Milorganite/deer digging up plants
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| Have you tried stringing fishing line between posts or poles? Don't laugh - I read about this technique two years ago. It uses deer psychology (more about that in a minute) and it works. Deer get spooked if they feel something tangled around their feet, legs or chest, and they cannot see it. Around my gardens, I plant fence posts (even rebar) several feet apart. Then I run one string of heavy fishing line (50# test is best) about 18" above ground, and another string of fishing line about 36" above ground. The lower line trips their feet, and discourages smaller deer. The higher line gets the larger deer - they run into it at chest level, can't see it, so they don't try to jump over it, as they will jump a fence. Deer get accustomed to most aversives - milorganite, lights, loud noises - because they learn that nothing bad happens. But they do not get used to invisible (to them) fishing line around their feet and legs. I add more aversives when the deer are most destructive (i.e., buck rubbing the bark off trees). I scatter chunks of strongly scented soap around gardens and treasured plants. I have two big dogs with thick fur - when we give them a haircut, I save the fur and sprinkle it around when needed. I picked up lots of sparkly stuff made of Mylar from a party store. Mylar dances and moves in the slightest wind, so deer don't get accustomed to it. A woman who posts in the Cottage Garden forum has a wonderful blog that includes information about deer behavior and traffic patterns to protect your gardens (link below). Her techniques are successful because they are based on deer behavior and deer psychology. But first, you may want to try the fishing line strategy. It's cheap, easy and it works! |
Here is a link that might be useful: Gardens and Deer Traffic Patterns
RE: Trying Milorganite/deer digging up plants
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Pam, I have tried many of the things you listed and they did not work for me, however, I think I remember reading something about the fishing line before. It makes sense. If the milorganite fails, I will give that a try as well. I have been to Cameron's site before, but I think I missed that page. thanks for the link.
Also I need to report that so far I have not seen signs of deer damage, I have seen some deer around the outskirts of my yard tho.So far so good.
Tammy |
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