Deer Hunt

Deer damage to gardens and shrubs, including trampled and eaten plants, is the No. 1 complaint in urban and rural landscapes, according to the West Virginia University Extension.

And while no one argues homeowners shouldn’t continue to improve their landscapes and keep plants lush and thriving with regular irrigation and fertilization, they don’t realize they are opening up a buffet deer can’t resist.
To make matters worse, the U.S. deer population has exploded from 500,000 in the early 1900s to 25 to 30 million today because populations of wolves – deer’s natural predators – are down and hunting has been on the decline.

In addition to damaged plants, deer also bring potential lime disease-carrying deer ticks onto a homeowner’s property – more unwelcome pests.

So, how about deer-resistant plants? “There is no such thing,” says Eric Gerhartz, director of deer repellent manufacturer Liquid Fence’s pro division in Brodheadsville, Pa. “Deer aren’t supposed to like holly, yet I have no holly bushes left in my yard. If deer are hungry, they are going to eat what you’ve got. Deer adapt.”

That leaves the No. 1 way to keep deer at bay being to remove the food source, which isn’t a likely option for homeowners who have grown attached to their backyard paradises.

Landscape contractors can cash in on this opportunity by offering deer control services to their clients.

One of the main ways contractors can help customers fend off deer is through repellent applications.

There are a variety of repellents on the market. Fear-based repellents use bobcat or coyote urine to scare deer away thinking a predator is nearby. Irritants or taste repellents have ingredients like hot pepper wax so when a deer takes a bite it alters the taste of the plant making it undesirable. Scent-based repellents use irritating components like sulfur or mint that make the plant smell unattractive. And masking repellents hide the scent of plants, replacing it with the scent of something foul to a deer, like a dead animal, e.g., a rotten chicken.

Since many of the deer repellent products biodegrade after 30 days, manufacturers recommend monthly applications to guarantee deer-free landscapes, especially during the growing season.

Application times can range from 20 to 40 minutes on a job, depending on size and coverage. Gerhartz says using a backpack sprayer, which is the only equipment necessary for deer control, and spraying at 2,000 square feet per gallon takes about 40 minutes.

Most repellents are available for between $25 to $40 per gallon retail. A contractor can likely get this closer to $5 to $10 a gallon or less, depending on how much he’s buying, Gerhartz says. 

When it comes to pricing the service, this is open based on the contractor’s costs and desired profit margin. Sean
McNamara, manager of Redding Nursery and Great Oak, maker of DeerPro repellents, Redding, Conn., who has offered the service for 25 years, charges $100 per application using about 5 gallons of product on an average 2- to 3-acre-sized property. During the growing season from May through September he makes five applications. During the winter months, he uses a stronger repellent that lasts longer and charges $300 for a one-time application using the same amount of product to an average 2- to 3-acre-sized property. McNamara prefers a 300-gallon, low-pressure Solo backpack tank sprayer for deer control.

In addition to learning about repellents, a landscape company interested in adding the service should have a commercial pesticide applicator’s license – requirements will vary by state.  

“As deer populations continue to explode, there will be increasing demand for these services,” McNamara says. “This could be the fastest growing niche in the industry.”

The author is editor of Lawn & Landscape, and she can be reached at nwisniewski@gie.net.