Garden Problem-Solving

Maybe I should have reconsidered my title today. Perhaps Garden Pest Control Ideas Needed would be more suitable. The deer have already been visiting my yet-unplanted vegetable plot this spring. Thankfully, the parsley clump and the two chive mounds are unmolested.

Over the weekend I turned over all the soil in the garden,
worked in some peat into the clay, arranged the stepping stones, and tossed some 30,000 sprouting acorns out of the area. Sunday morning there were fresh fawn prints deep in the newly turned soil. Now a second generation of deer have our yard as a regular spot on their nightly foraging routes.

The other chief culprits in my garden are rabbits and chipmunks. I need to find some kind of covering to keep the deer from jumping in and keep the little critters at bay. I'd hate for the deer to jump the wooden fence from my neighbor's driveway and then get stuck inside my garden.

I have no experience in this area. What do you use or what have you seen used to protect the plants from nibblers? What has not worked? Do you have any experience with, recommendations or advice about deer repellent products?

The series of burning bushes we planted as a hedge at the back border of our property have also been nibbled nearly to death. This was the year they were to approach four feet tall. We've readjusted expectations based on the deer damage. Hopefully they will all live and grow back to the two and one-half foot height.