Inexpensive Deer Protection for Young Trees

We have major problems with Whitetail deer in Western Pennsylvania. They are extremely destructive to crops, bushes, vines, and trees. They also are the primary host for the ticks that carry Lyme disease, which can have devastating effects upon people and animals. However, in spite of us being overrun by deer the Pennsylvania Game Commission has a vested interest in their promulgation, and they are something of a sacred cow around here, without the benefits.

 The deer damage the young trees in two ways, they will browse on any new growth, and the bucks will rub their antlers on the trees and scrape the bark off, often girding the tree. Sometimes they break the tree in two when they are creating their buck rub.

I have tried various ways of protecting my newly planted and small fruit trees, and I think I have finally found an effective and easy way to keep the deer from destroying my trees.

I use two foot pieces of rebar, five foot lengths of 1/2 or 3/4 inch PVC pipe and orange polypropylene baler twine. All of these main ingredients are not biodegradable and will last for years. I have used the twine in various applications outside, and some has been outside for 5 or six years and is still fine.

I make a five by five square around the tree by pounding the rebar about ten to twelve inches into the ground. I then slide the PVC pipe over the rebar, mark my spots and drill using a 3/8 Irwin speed bit, designed for wood or plastic, and then thread the twine through the holes and tie it. I put the twine at about two and three feet from the ground, and we have never had any problems with the deer when using this arrangement. It is best to have a helper when setting this up, it makes it much easier

Another nice benefit to this system is that you can easily remove the PVC and the ropes by just sliding the pipe off of the rebar. That way you can easily mow, mulch, or weed as needed, and then you just slide the pipes back on and your trees are safe again.

I have tried spraying the trees with "Deer Off" type products, and it mostly works, but it is expensive and has to be applied frequently or you are going to lose some trees or growth. I have used deer netting, but it is expensive, hard to work with and not durable. I have also used t-posts and wooden posts with wire, twine, etc.... . This PVC, Rebar, and Twine Combo is the easiest and cheapest and best way I have come up with to keep the deer off of the trees. Plus all of the other ways make it difficult to get access to your trees.