Saving Christmas trees from Santa’s team and their kin
Posted by staff / November 19, 2010
Nothing completes a winter scene like deer wandering through a sea of white, yet those peaceful animals are a nightmare for gardeners and growers of winter’s hallmark, the Christmas tree. According to Fraser fir growers, a hefty deer population,
“…can eat young trees down to a pencil-sized stem. Damage can be so extensive that growers have abandoned fields of young trees. To curb the problem, growers have even selectively hunted deer, so it’s a big problem.”
Commercial repellant comes at a hefty price, so frustrated farmers are turning to cheap, all-natural food byproducts like egg powder and dried blood. The smell apparently scares the deer away and saves producers a bundle. Production specialist Jeff Owen is also looking into the use of liver powder and fishmeal to see if they’re equally effective, which could open new possibilities for home gardeners looking for organic alternatives in their own backyards.
No word, though, if the deer repellant would also prevent your pets from using the tree as a fire hydrant.
Full story at Discovery News.
Photo credit: Fotolia
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