Naturally, you must have seen deer or a group of them wandering in the woods or a nearby area, but sometimes, those deer come to you or your neighbors and make a mess of the garden or your backyard.

Almost everyone has this question: how to actually keep deer away from your house without actually hurting them?

Luckily, there are many easy things anyone can do to keep deer away naturally. In this blog, we will answer one of the most asked questions: Do deer like mint?

In addition to answering the question, we will discuss other ways to keep your garden and house safe from deer.

So, be ready to coat your garden with deer repellent and some of the best eco-friendly alternatives.

The Powerful Sense of Smell in a Deer

Deer have a very strong sense of smell.

Research shows that deer, particularly white-tailed deer, have an exceptional sense of smell.

They have 297 million olfactory receptors in their noses, which is way higher than humans’ 5 million olfactory receptors and even more than the dogs’ 220 million olfactory receptors.

These receptors help us detect odorant molecules, or, in simple language, smell. They are present in the tissue lining of the nasal cavity of the deer.

The heightened smell of deer helps them detect various types of scents. This incredible sense of smell plays a pivotal role in a deer’s life, as it helps them in their survival.

Fact or Myth: Do Deer Like Mint?

Deers generally do not like mint. Mint has a very strong and stinging aroma that repels deer rather than attracts them because of their highly sensitive noses.

Because of this, many people, especially gardeners, coat or plant mint in their gardens and around the house.

Let us take a look at why mint acts as a deer deterrent:

1. Overwhelming Smell: Mint plants have a mixture of smells, including menthol and essential oils, which irritates the highly sensitive nose of a deer and also covers up the smell of other plants.

2. The Taste: Mint plants have a chilly, a bit sour, and bitter taste that the deer usually avoids. Because of this, the deer thinks that all the other plants are also from the same family.

3. The Preferences: Even though deer are herbivores and only feed on plants, they still have eating preferences. Deer usually prefer plants that do not have a strong smell or a rough structure. Mints don’t have a rough structure, but their smell gives them an advantage here.

The Best Mint Plants to Deter Deer

The mint family, also known as Lamiaceae, is very easy to grow and comes in various types. Below are some common types of mint plants.

1. Peppermint

This type of mint is popularly used to make tea and acts as a flavoring agent in many foods and drinks.

• Height: 12-24 inches
• Water Requirements: Regular watering.
• Sun Positioning: Full sun to partial shade

2. Spearmint

A natural remedy for digestive problems, and also used in culinary preparations

• Height: 12-36 inches
• Sun Positioning: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5

3. Agastache

The dried leaves are used for medicinal purposes to treat coughs, fevers, and wounds, etc.

• Height: up to 3-4 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide.
• Sun positioning: Anise hyssop prefers full sun to partial shade.
• Soil: Well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5.
• Water requirements: Relatively drought-tolerant once established, and doesn’t require frequent watering.

4. Catnip

This plant is known to attract cats and also has medicinal properties.

• Height: 24-36 inches tall
• Sun positioning: Full sun to partial shade
• Water requirements: Moderate watering, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.

5. Sage

A strong herb with a woody aroma, often used in savories and also as a natural remedy.

• Height: 18-30 inches tall
• Sun positioning: Full sun
• Soil: Well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5
• Water requirements: Infrequent watering, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.

Other Eco-Friendly Solutions to Achieve A Deer-Resistant Garden

Wrapping It Up

When it comes to keeping your garden safe from deer and other dangers, you are not limited to options. In addition to short-term solutions, the blog has already mentioned other eco-friendly solutions.

Aside from the solutions mentioned above, there are many other safe solutions that protect not only your garden but your whole house from deer and such dangers. Be it fencing, keeping a guard dog, using a scarecrow, or whatever suits you the best.

Have some other innovative ways? Let us know in the comments and help others out too!