One of the top-rated and most requested services here at On The Green Inc has to do with deer control. The Deer Guard Program helps reduce the presence of deer in and around the edges of your property. But how do you know that you’ll need our services in the first place? Deer are particularly active in the fall. They leave behind signs of damage that might not always be distinguishable from damage caused by pest animals. Either way, it’s a good idea to bank on being safe than sorry!
Initial Signs of Damage
You use ornamental plants to help make your lawn, garden, and landscaping look better. Unfortunately, they are a primary food source for deer. Since they eat the buds, leaves, and stems, this strips the plants of what they need to survive. Farms, orchards, nurseries, and suburban neighborhoods are most commonly affected by large deer populations. When the lower branches begin to thin out, that indicates that deer are lurking nearby. Arborvitae is particularly prone to showing this damage. Twigs and stems will also look like they have been heavily pruned. If you observe the damage extending from ground level to about 5 feet up, that’s how you’ll know a deer is to blame, and not smaller animals like rabbits or rodents.
The Issue of Antler Rubbing
Deer often engage in a habit known as antler rubbing. Their antlers are covered in velvet, which is quite uncomfortable for them. Small saplings are especially vulnerable, but the rubbing also affects tree trunks and limbs. The velvet is intended to help the antlers grow as bucks (male deer) reach maturity. Fall is the typical breeding season, so it’s during this time when the velvet begins to fall off. This process helps polish the antlers before they detach and fall away in midwinter. Deer rubs are notable areas on small trees where the deer rub the bark with their antlers stripping the tree down to the hardwood. This damage is permanent, and many times will diminish the health of the tree.
Effective Deer Management Strategies
Two effective but nonlethal strategies for deterring deer are using repellants or scare devices. Deer control is much easier to achieve when the deer cannot associate your yard with a convenient feeding ground. Switch between using these methods as needed; once deer become acclimated to certain sounds, they ignore them. You might not have noticed much if any damage over the summer; it will become much more apparent as winter approaches. Temporary fencing, permanent fencing, and tree protectors also work. But if none of these measures seem to help, it’s time to call the professionals for assistance!
On The Green Lawn Care is Here for You!
On The Green, Inc. was established back in 1994. We started as a small business that served the local area. In the decades since, we’ve expanded tremendously. Incorporated in 1997, our brand has become renowned throughout the state of Maryland. Do you adore social media? Email us at [email protected], call us at 410-695-0444, and find us at our street address: 777 Annapolis Road, Gambrills, Maryland 21054. Come and grow with us on Facebook and Google!