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This is how our hosta looks when we are successful in deterring the local deer and/or rabbits from sampling it. It seems to be something they relish from the time it sprouts up from the ground. I had heard that Irish Spring soap when sprinkled on the ground, discouraged deer and perhaps rabbits from nibbling away at the plants. After a year when the hosta were eaten to a nub overnight, I started slicing up bars of Irish Spring and putting it around bulbs and plants as they begin to grow in the spring and we have had good luck ever since. I also thread a bar of soap onto dental floss to hang in our, evidently delectable shrubbery about mid way up the trunk and this also seems to work in deterring the deer from making a feast of the greenery. I had tried using products sold for this purpose but Irish Spring works the best!
Below you can just see how the tops of some of the hosta shoots have already been eaten which was a sign that it was time to start slicing up the soap!
Also, I found Irish Spring at Dollar Tree Stores - 2 bars for $1.00.
Also, I found Irish Spring at Dollar Tree Stores - 2 bars for $1.00.
I am linking to most of these BLOG PARTIES
35 comments:
Oh my gosh you are my life saver! I was getting so irritated this year cause a lot of my flowers are being nibbled on and my hostas! I'm getting some Irish Soap today! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Saw your post on New Nostalgia BTW. :)
Kristin
JustWannaParty
Great idea! I always use Liquid Fence, but it's SO expensive. And, it stinks so badly and washes off in the rain. I'll definitely be trying this. I'm hosting a linky party on my site, Organizing Homelife, and I would love for you to link up this post! :) http://www.organizinghomelife.com/archives/2912
Glad you are having good luck with that! Didn't work for me. We have very determined deer. I tried hair in the garden, soap, and even a radio on, I let my dog out thinking she would run them away, nope, she was laying out in the yard with them! Sleeping with the enemy! I finally put an 8' tall electric fence around the vegetable garden. So far, so good! Keep your fingers crossed!
Blessings
Linda
i see what my problem was. a while back, i did this on a recommendation from a home depot employee, but instead of chunks of soap i shaved it. that did nothing! apparently chunks in the answer! huzzah!
I have had great success with an organic solution that I mix & store in a 2 gal pump up sprayer. The mixture is: 2 well beaten eggs, 2 cups milk, 2 tablespoons veg. oil, 2 tablespoons dishwashing liquid, put all in sprayer & finish with water to fill line (hint - add dw liquid after water to prevent foaming. I spray plants, shrubs, vegetable plants once a week and/or after a rain. I started this after having a herd of 12 deers greet me in my yard one day upon returning home. The deer stay away as long as I keep my spraying on schedule. Cheap & not harmful to pets.
Peggy
I definitely need to do something this year. Thanks for the tip! Stopping by from At the Picket Fence.
Your hosta are so beautiful!! And I am so glad the soap works. Living out in the country with a million deer, nothing seems to work for us. The dog chases them but they just come right back. I love to see them out in the fields but hate that they eat our stuff. We have a sweet old peach tree and have yet to get a peach off of it, even after covering it with netting. LOL...What veggies we grow, are on the high up deck. So nice to meet you. xo Lyn
I'm glad to hear this works, we just planted 10 fruit trees and they've been nibbled already and the leaves aren't even out!
Sadly my hosta and lillies have another enemy. My ducks will not stay away from them!
Thanks for the tip!
chickenscratchny.com
Thanks for the tip! I will have to let my dad know about this! :]
What a great post!! We so need this advice right now here at my house. Thanks for sharing at my party!! Have a great weekend!
Great ideas. I am amazed we haven't lost ours but at least will know what to do if they start showing signs of abuse.
I love Hostas... I miss having them! Stopping by from the Blog Hop Friday!
Well ya learn something everyday. I had given up my one hosta to rabbit food and wished him well. This is worth trying cause I'd rather he eat the clover. Thanks a bunch for sharing. Found you on "Kitchen Fun w/ My 3 Sons." enJOYed!
Great tip. Never knew about this.
Already your follower.
Hopping by and inviting you to join my Yoplait Giveaway which includes VIP coupon for a free 4-pack of Yoplait Trix yogurt for kids and Yoplait branded items including an insulated lunch tote, ice pack, backpack, folder, zippered pencil pouch, pencils, erasers, and pencil sharpener (great for your schooling kid!). You may join here: http://olahmomma.com/blog/intrixicated-yoplait-trix-review-and-giveaway
Hope to see ya there:)
My hostas are thriving I do not know why the deers don't come to my garden ^_^ Blog hopping from Follow Friday.
Monochrome
Hmmmm, maybe that is where all my Hostas went to last year? Actually I find the slugs eat them as well. But they never touch my Rhodies! Came over via Follow Friday! New follower.
http://quiltingranny.blogspot.com
I wonder if this works for chickens too?
I have an air plane plant that my is potted in a pot... I was thinking of hanging it if I can't keep the chickens out.
I think I have some of this soap, may give it a try. Is it any particular flavor...I have the green.
and how often do you have to replace it?
-Pat
We live in the country and have a big garden each year. The Deer were having a feast on our veggies and we used the Irish Spring also. Worked pretty well for us too.
Thanks so much for linking up to the Tuesday To Do Party at the Blackberry Vine! You are one of this week's List Makers! Feel free to stop by and grab a button...can't wait to see what you'll share this week!
Smiles!
Jami
www.blackberryvine.blogspot.com
You were featured at Simply Sensational Tuesday! Thanks for linking up. :) http://www.organizinghomelife.com/archives/2926
Hostas are just salad for the deer around here! It's so discouraging. I've never heard of using Irish Spring like this--thanks for sharing such a valuable tip!
Thanks so much for joining Grace at Home! I really appreciate it.
Thanks for the tip! There are rabbits after my phylox already!
makingitfeellikehome.blogspot.com
We have a lot of deer in our area. I had a neighbor tell me this the first year we moved in. In church one Sunday we were visiting and she said, "You'd better hang Irish Spring from your new trees." I did and it was a life saver. From there, I took a cheese grater and grated it all over my perennials. Hey, it's so weird that they don't like the smell. Glad to hear that it worked for you also. Thanks for sharing this at my link party!
Hugs,
Jann
We don't have deer where I live but we did growing up! I remember my Mom crying over her poor Hostas. Thanks so much for sharing at Mom On Timeout!
What a great tip! Do you think it would keep away rabbits as well? They LOVE our plants! Grrrr. Check my blog tomorrow for a feature on this wonderful tidbit of advice! Thanks for sharing!
I didn't think I had a deer problem until last week-- when I looked out the window, there were FOUR boldly standing there! Thanks for the tip, and for linking up to Refresh Your Nest Friday.
Cool! I don't have a deer problem but my daughter does. Anytime I find something that might help her with her problem, or plants that deer don't like, I send her a link.
Irish spring smells awful, I can see why the deer leave your plants alone.
I will be sending my daughter your link.
Thanks,
Linda
Aren't Hostas the best? I have a lot of shade in my and and mine just thrive in it. They have completely tripled in size in two years. I don't have many pest problems but this is an excellent tip. Pinning it to my garden board :) New follower from the Friday hop too. Have a great weekend!
I shave it and put in an orange bag. It works great on my big hydrangeas.
For any of u with skunk problems..the same applies to them..cut the soap into six cubes and the skunks will not be seen again
I needed this tip, deer are eating my hostas and the rabbits are in the garden! Shared your tip on my Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/IdeasForTheHome?ref=tn_tnmn
I used to use Irish Spring but now use a product on the market called Milorganite. You just sprinkle or throw it around your gardens and hostas and no deer. It is made in Wisconsin, the name coming from Milwaukee and organic. Best tip from someone ever!!!
I dont think it will work on chickens this only works because it is a people smell. Dog hair and or cat hair will also repel deer and rabbits
I picked up the aloe Irish spring by mistake.has to be plain.😆
I decided to try the soap to keep rabbits away, but my Labrador decided to eat some of the small chunks and became very sick for several days. So I would suggest putting it in small bags if you have a dog! an Illinois dog lover!
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