Oh DEER: 8 Ways to Control Deer in Your Garden

Deer, especially in our Virginia forests, are ever-present foes. With hunting decreasing and natural predators extinct, this overpopulated four-legged animal has overtaken suburban areas with growing boldness. I've gardened for nearly a decade on a mountainside where a mother beds her fawn in my front garden year after year. I've managed to maintain lush spaces through years of trial and error. Here are my top 8 ways to keep deer at bay—some based on research, others on my own experience.