I put an in-ground garden in last year in front of the house. I essentially grew a forest and called it permaculture to make myself feel better... between work and mothering, I couldn't keep up with the weeding and care. My plants were so happy, but wild.

SO. I'm moving the garden to the side of the house and am envisioning a sea of metal raised beds on a gravel bed that is more inviting, and easier to access/keep.

I have a few questions for other avid gardeners in the area:

1. Is there a master gardener you love that holds online classes / provides good content about native plants for our area? I want to add some native flower beds amongst the food.

2. Where is your favorite native nursery? Milberger's is on my radar, but am looking for additional options.

3. I need any natural deer repellant tricks. My husband is adamantly against another garden fence. We have agreed to try all other means this spring, but if the deer eat all my hard work.... husband gets to build a fence.

Have you listened to these guys? Really good insight.

https://woai.iheart.com/featured/lawn-and-garden-show/

Also, the War Department loves this place:

https://www.scgardens.com/

As for deer proof, that depends on the area. My daughter bought a house off Donella here in town and inside their land locked neighborhood, they have a glut of deer that will eat anything and push over any netting or fencing fairly easily. "Deer Proof" plants weren't that protected, they ate most of everything planted. The only thing that has marginal success has been the sprinkler heads with motion detectors.

https://dealingwithdeer.com/the-2-best-deer-sprinkler-repellent-products

As someone that has been gardening for 30 years, I can tell you there is no such thing as a deer repellent aside from a fence. My 1 acre vegetable garden was obliterated by deer and after spending hundreds of dollars on alternative electric fence options, the ultimate fix is a high fence, which I am in the process of erecting.

Just to be clear, are you asking about vegetable gardening or pollinator gardening? I live in Medina County.

Preaching to the choir, Brazos. We live on the other side of SA, out in DeWitt County, and have a large deer population. Neither of us love the look of a high fence in the yard, but I'm pretty sure that's what the result will be.

Until that point is proven, I'm looking for any sort of trick that has worked, even if only a little: plants, motion sensor sprinklers, etc. We often drive by gardens that do not have a deer fence, and the folks keep planting year after year. We assume something has worked for them.

The alternative is over-planting to feed everyone, I suppose.

That's what I'm looking for - thank you!

Just throwing this out for those that may be interested.

https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/asset-local/texas-master-gardener/

Red Pear Medina said:

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Preaching to the choir, Brazos. We live on the other side of SA, out in DeWitt County, and have a large deer population. Neither of us love the look of a high fence in the yard, but I'm pretty sure that's what the result will be.

Until that point is proven, I'm looking for any sort of trick that has worked, even if only a little: plants, motion sensor sprinklers, etc. We often drive by gardens that do not have a deer fence, and the folks keep planting year after year. We assume something has worked for them.

The alternative is over-planting to feed everyone, I suppose.

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I'm not sure how big an area you are working with but a friend of mine basically made a set of raised beds 16" tall, and then Bought what appears to be two dog kennels and combined them to enclose the w tire thing. It looks pretty nice to me, and even though the fence isn't 8' tall, deer don't bother it becasue it's less than 15' wide which makes it impossible to judge a good jump so they don't go in. Perhaps that is an option. Not cheap but it may look a little nicer. You could put come climbing plants on it maybe and make it look pretty.

Also, I do use Orbit motion activated sprinklers which actually work pretty well. You can set them to always on, off, daytime, or night time. Just make sure you test them frequently and make sure your batteries are hot.

Thank you for that info- I'll look into those sprinklers!

We are looking at a large area - 44ft x 34ft

BrazosDog02 said:

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Just make sure you test them frequently and make sure your batteries are hot.

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Also, you will get surprised two or three times until you remember you have them.

I was surprised when I forgot to turn mine back on after working the garden and went out the next day to find 100 feet of vegetable stubs sticking out of the ground where beaufiul plants were.


Don't forget!

Go to Fanick's

Shades of Green on Sunset, just west of Broadway.
https://www.yelp.com/biz/shades-of-green-san-antonio