University of Vermont Extension 
Department of Plant and Soil Science

Deerproofing Your Yard and Garden
Rhonda Massingham Hart.  2005.  Storey Publ., 2nd ed.  softcover, 199pp.

In the last ten years deer populations have increased in many gardens in most parts of the country, but so has knowledge on how to deal with them.  In this revision of her earlier book, the author brings us up to speed on all we need to know to control deer effectively.  Chapters begin by defining the problem, helping us to know deer in order to outwit them, and perhaps alerting us to new damages we had not considered including the latest on Lyme disease.  Subsequent chapters focus on control, from landscaping tips, to deterrents, to fencing.  There are many helpful tables, such as of deer resistant plants, and figures such as of fencing methods.

In updating this book, the author (who gardens and battles deer in Washington state), consulted zoologists and deer experts from all regions of the country, as well as those in public gardens on their methods that work and don't work.  Under the deterrents, the author discusses each of the commercial ones and home remedies, along with their pros and cons, and those you should not try.  For resistant plants, tables are given for each region of the country, and plants further listed by type (shrub, tree, perennial).  The author ends with some ideas being considered for the future, and the potential for community efforts in control. If you are battling deer in whatever degree, don't give up gardening, get a copy of this book! There are many gardening options to consider before resulting to the ultimate stockade fortress.