Page 14 - ALG Issue 3 2023

horticultural advisor Oh dear
oh deer...
Our resident Horticultural Adviser David Allison advises on a member’s deer dilemma!
‘Last autumn muntjacs appeared on my allotment. They seemed to have been attracted by ripe sweetcorn. Can you recommend any reliable deterrents?
I have covered overwintering broad beans and strawberries with wire but don’t know how high a perimeter fence would have to be.
I would very much appreciate any advice that I could pass on to my fellow plotholders.’
David says...
Muntjac deer have become a real problem in recent years, and as deer have no effective natural enemies in the UK, have become more numerous in recent decades.
They are a non-native breed and originate from South East China and Taiwan, and are roughly 50cm tall at the shoulder, one of the smallest in the UK. They are now widespread in Southern and Central UK, with smaller numbers in the North, Wales and Scotland. There are none in Ireland as they haven’t learnt to swim the Irish sea yet!
They were introduced to Woburn Park in Bedfordshire in 1894, and, due to releases and escapes, became established in the wild in the 1930s. They have no breeding season and breed all year round.
There is also no close season for muntjacs, unlike other breeds, so shooting by licensed hunters is allowed all year round. Unless you are partial to venison, you may find this method of control distasteful (pardon the pun).
They have incredible appetites and
will eat just about any living plant material, depending on the time of year and availability, and whilst there are a number of ornamentals and shrubs that they tend not to eat, the only edible that they tend to leave alone is rhubarb.
So, how do you protect your allotment and precious veggies and fruit from these pests?
To my knowledge, you have 5 main options:
1. Byfarthemosteffectiveistoerecta strong solid or mesh barrier around the whole site. Although this could be cost prohibitive, grants or funding may be available. You would also need to check whether your rent agreement allows this, and whether planning consent would be needed. A deer proof wire mesh fence needs to be 1.5 metres (5ft) high for muntjac deers and 1.8 metres (6ft) for other breeds. The bottom of the fence needs to be secured to the ground or buried in it, to prevent the deer from lifting it and getting underneath. The gate to the site/plot needs to be deer proof as well. If the mesh size was small enough, it could also provide protection/control from rabbits, foxes and badgers, if they are a problem in your area.
2. You could also put chicken wire around specific crops on your plot, but it would need to be at least 6 inches from the top and sides of the crop, and well secured. For crops that you only harvest once, this could work, but for regularly harvested crops, soft fruit etc., it could be a pain. Traditionally grown fruit trees, i.e., those on a stem and grown as a bush and not trained could have tree guards put around them as the deer will eat tree bark if nothing else is available.
Muntjac deer have become a real problem in recent years, and as deer have no effective natural enemies in the UK, have become more numerous in recent decades.
3.
4.
5.
Some companies offer a deer/fox/ rabbit repellent spray as part of their range of controls, which is mainly calciumchloride,butIhavenofirst- hand knowledge on how effective this is.
You can purchase solar powered motion sensors to place around the perimeter of your plot which, when triggered, give off a high-pitched sound, inaudible to humans. But eventually they realise that it does no harm, and they get used to them, so this is only effective for a short period.
A plant-based natural hedge could
be an option, but it would need to
be mature and thick or would not work as they’d just eat it! Even Yew (taxus), which is poisonous to us and most animals, also won’t work with muntjacs as they eat them as well! If you can grow and maintain a hedge to maturity, this could be a good long- term plan.
Finally, I have heard that heavily scented plants, i.e., lavender, mint, thyme, sage and other scented herbs planted around the perimeter can hide the scent of your edibles.
I hope this helps and good luck!
David Allison Horticultural Adviser
14 Allotment and Leisure Gardener