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Sunset Garden
Center News
IT'S DEER SEASON AGAIN...
It's time to start thinking about protecting that tender new growth on trees and shrubs, as well as emerging perennials from the destruction of deer and rabbits.
Before I moved to the San Juans, I enjoyed the luxury of a well fortified, 7 foot deer fence around my property - now I live in a neighborhood that prohibits fences. In addition to selecting more deer resistant plant material, the following program has aided me in the fight against a landscape full of chewed stubs and bare stems, perhaps these strategies may help you too.
Early Spring: Hang sachets filled with Deer Scram around the area, or apply blood meal around emerging perennials. The younger tender growth is especially appealing after a winter of chewing on last season's leaves and stems. Since my local deer have little grass or tastey foliage to eat over the winter, I cover my emerging perennials with a bit of lightweight netting held down with landscape pins for the first few weeks until foliage starts to harden off.
Late Spring/Summer: Apply odor-based spray repellents like Liquid Fence every three to four weeks once the plants have leafed out. Spritz flower buds as they appear. Just be sure to stand upwind when you are applying these kinds of dererrents. These egg-based products smell bad and the area will have a distinct odor for several hours after application.
Late Summer/Fall: Continue your program throughout the summer. Vary the products you use so the deer don't develop a tolerance. I sometimes will mix my own repellent as an alternative spray, although you can't beat the convenience of the bottled ones. The standard recipe for a home brew is: 1 egg, 1/2 cup whole milk, 1 tablespoon cooking oil, 1 tablespoon of liquid soap. and 1 gallon of water - mix a new batch every 10 days.
Winter: The cooler temperatures tend to render the taste and odor based repellents less effective, so apply a blood based spray repellent like Plantskydd during the dormant season - November and again in January.
Good luck and good gardening this season !
UP and Coming Events
At Sunset Builders Supply
Garden Center
April 26th - Growing & Eating Tomatoes
on Lopez Island
With Denah Feldman
May 24th - Pesticides & Herbicides In San Juan County
Russel Barsh San Juan Nature Institute
June TBD - Noxious Weeds
Scott Rozenbaum SJI Noxious Weed Board
All Speakers 11:00 am in the Garden Center
Kid Event !!!
May 10th, come decorate a flower pot and plant for Mother's Day
Watch for details in the 'events' section of the paper and at Sunset.
Garden Center
Discount Coupon
Take 10% off any roses
Lots of Rugosas & Climbers
