Deer do eat pumpkins when they get the chance.
Here’s how to stop them.
Deer arent picky eaters and they love feasting on many flowers and vegetable plants, including pumpkins.
Credit:Robert Cardillo
Fencing
Fencing is the best way to keep deer out of gardens, but it can be pricey.
Fences should be at least 8 feet tall because deer can easily jump anything lower.
However, double fencing can also be effective against deer.
Just keep in mind thatdeer repellents need to be reappliedthroughout the season and after heavy rains to be effective.
Other Deterrents
Sprays arent the only products that repel deer.
Herbs likemint,sage, andchivesare particularly useful against deer and they grow well in fall porch planters too.
Location
Pumpkins growing in the garden cant be easily moved from place to place to avoid deer damage.
For even better results, bringyour pumpkins indoors at night and store them in your fridge.
This keeps pumpkins fresh much longer and ensures that deer wont be able to get to them.
Should You Feed Pumpkins to Deer?
Many well-meaning gardeners and nature lovers feed whole or carved pumpkins to deer at the end of fall.
But according to wildlife experts, this may not be the best idea for several reasons.
