Do Deer eat Basil? (6+ Ways to Keep Them Away) 

Did you know that deer eat basil? I certainly didn’t until I discovered my basil plants were vanishing and the other day I found deer in my garden. This can’t be a coincidence? Just think if I had been aware of this beforehand, I could have taken measures to protect my basil plants from them.

To spare you from facing a similar problem in the future, I’m sharing every detail of the steps I took to safeguard my basil plants. By following these methods, you can effectively protect your basil from deer. Let’s not delay any further and delve into how to defend your basil from these wild deer.

Do deer eat basil?

Deer can be a most harmful nightmare for the growers who love their gardens. It is so that deer can destroy their garden area if they come to know that they will get food there. But it will be difficult for you to handle your plants so, in this guide, you come to know how you can find out the way so that you can keep the deer away from your basil plants. 

Basil is among those herbs that are being used in almost every household in the form of cuisines, sizzling, and many more. Growers plant basils so that they receive plenty of results from it, but sometimes it happens otherwise.

Deer attracts them when they feel hungry. Though Deer do not like to eat basil. But they can eat this aromatic herb when they suffer from hunger. 

Then they end up eating the basil and satisfying their hunger. They avoid herbs like sage, lavender, basil, etc. as they are scented in nature which is not at all liked by the deer. But they can eat the basil if they are in hunger mode. 

Deer are moreover highly adaptable animals that are not choosy. If they don’t see enough food around, then they can eat anything they get. 

deer eat basil

6+ Ways to Keep deer Away from the basil 

As mentioned, it is not a tricky task to keep the deer out of the garden, you have to be cautious while doing so. So, the following tips will certainly help you to get rid of the deer from the basil.

Basils are a great addition to any garden, so a grower could not take the risk of spoiling them. So, follow the below tips so that you keep the deer away from your garden:

  1. Windchimes
  2. You can use the deer meeting
  3. Use the deer repellent sprays
  4. You can use mass plantation
  5. Make use of homespun repellents
  6. Set up fences

Let’s get started to know about the best possible ways to keep deer away from the plants in detail by following the below points:

do deer eat basil

Windchimes

There are various wind chimes available in the market, so by hanging them in different sizes from the branches, you can prevent the deer from coming to the garden.

You have to use metal and wooden chimes so that it produces different sounds. It will make them confused, and they will hear the sound and run from the garden area. 

You can use the deer netting 

If you have used it earlier then it is great. It is one of the common ways to keep the deer away from the garden.

Putting a net around your garden or your plants will be the best option for you to protect them. Though it is tough to hide your plants with this netting, you can do this for their protection. 

Use the deer deterrent sprays 

As it is a common trouble that is faced by everyone. So, you will easily get the spray from the market so that you keep the deer away from your garden.

The sprays can be rotten eggs and water, soap spray, etc. It needs to be organic otherwise it could harm your vegetation. So, by spraying them near your plants, deer won’t come there again. 

You can use mass plantation

What does it mean? It depicts a way that can be used for keeping the animals away from your area. You can do it with the help of those plants that are not liked by deer at all.

It can let them taste the flowers and they won’t eat the entire plant if they find they do not like this plant, then they will be cut off from your area

Make use of Homespun repellents

Another thing that you can do to keep the deer away from your plants is to make use of homespun repellents. It is because it will help you in confusing the deer as he won’t be able to smell properly.

It is suggested to use the soap by wrapping it inside the fabric and hanging it on the tree which will not let the deer enter your space. So, in this easy way you will be able to keep the deer away from the garden.

Set up fences

Last but not least, you have to keep in mind that if the other tips aren’t helping you out, then you have to choose at least one that could help you so that you protect your basil from the deer.

For that, you can set up fences as they won’t be able to cross them if you set their height at 8 feet tall. Though it will be costly you have to do it so that you keep the deer away from your garden.  

List of the plants that deer usually eat

Being herbivore animals, deer tend to eat any plant, fruit, tree, flower, and everything that comes their way to satisfy their hunger. So, let’s know about some of those plants and fruits that are liked by the deer. They are: 

  • Cabbage.
  • Grapes.
  • Corn.
  • kale.
  • Broccoli.
  • Popples.
  • Carrots.
  • Lemon trees.
  • Pumpkins.
  • Peppers.
  • Onions. 
  • Cauliflower.
  • Blackberry.
  • Lettuce.
  • Sunflower.
  • Celery.
  • Spinach.
  • Raspberry.
  • Potatoes.
  • Zucchini.

Wrapping up the Context  

In this guide, you come to know that Growers plant basil so that they receive plenty of results from it, but sometimes it happens otherwise. Deer attracts them when they feel hungry. though Deer do not like to eat basil. But they can eat this aromatic herb when they suffer from hunger.

When deer do not find anything to eat around them which includes the food, plants, vegetables, etc. they like to eat, then they end up eating the basil and satisfying their hunger. They avoid herbs like sage, lavender, basil, etc. as they are scented in nature which is not at all liked by the deer. But they can eat the basil if they are in hunger mode.

Thanks for reading! Happy Gardening!

FAQs

1. How can one keep deer out of the vegetable garden?

One can keep the deer out of the vegetable garden by using deer repellent sprays, scarecrows, deer netting, setting up some fences that they won’t climb, etc. So, by following these ways you will be able to keep the deer out of the vegetable garden.

2. Will soap keep deer away from plants?

Yes, as you know deer do not like the smell of any plant. In short, they do not like aromatic herbs, plants, etc. so with the help of soap, you can protect your vegetation from the deer as they won’t come there again if they smell its fragrance. 

3. Why does the Basil have holes in it?

When the basil leaves emerge holes in them, it shows that they are suffering from the pest’s infection or insect damage. This is not a good sign for the plant as it shows Deficiency in the plant which does not let the plant grow at its best.

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