How to Choose a Deer Repellent Service: 8 Questions to Ask Before You Hire

The Short Answer

The right deer repellent service sprays your whole landscape on a fixed schedule, every 3 to 4 weeks, with a product that holds up in rain. It also starts with a free trial and has a clear guarantee. Before you sign up anywhere, ask the eight questions below. They separate a real deer program from an add-on.

Your Four Options for Stopping Deer Damage

• DIY sprays and homemade recipes: fine for a few plants, but most wash off in rain and need reapplying every week or two. Any gap lets deer back in.
• Fencing: works for vegetable gardens and fully enclosed yards. It is expensive, may need town approval, and does not protect plants outside the fence.
• Lawn or pest company add-on: deer spray sold as an extra on a lawn, tick or mosquito plan. Convenient, but deer is a side service, so schedules and products vary.
• Dedicated deer repellent company: trained technicians spray the full landscape on a set schedule all season. Best for properties with shrubs, flower beds, evergreens and young trees. Priced per property as a recurring service.

8 Questions to Ask Any Deer Repellent Company

1. How often do you spray?

Repellent wears off as plants grow and weather breaks it down. Look for visits every 3 to 4 weeks during the growing season, with a schedule that continues into fall and winter for evergreens.

2. Do you treat the whole property or only the plants I point out?

Deer move to whatever is unprotected. A full-property application, excluding the lawn, closes the gaps.

3. What is in the repellent, and is it safe for kids and pets?

Ask for the ingredients and how the product behaves once dry. A good formula dries clear, has little to no odor and is safe around people, pets and beneficial wildlife when applied as directed.

4. Will it hold up in rain?

Weather resistance is the biggest difference between professional products and most store-bought sprays.

5. Is deer control your main business?

A company that only does deer repellent trains its technicians on deer behavior, browse patterns and seasonal timing. Ask what share of their work is deer.

6. Is there a free trial or free first visit?

A free trial application lets you see results on your property before you commit.

7. What is your guarantee?

Get the guarantee in writing. Know what happens if you are not satisfied and how refunds work.

8. Is your office local?

A nearby branch means faster scheduling, re-treatments after heavy rain and technicians who know local deer pressure.

Red Flags

• No set schedule, or service only when you call
• Spot treatment of a few plants instead of the full landscape
• No written guarantee
• Vague answers about the product or its safety
• Deer spray bundled as an afterthought to tick or mosquito service

How Deer Guys Answers These Questions

• Schedule: applications every 3 to 4 weeks, adjusted through the seasons
• Coverage: the entire landscaped property, excluding the lawn, with misting equipment and perimeter spraying
• Product: natural ingredients, made fresh, dries clear, virtually odorless and weather resistant
• Focus: deer repellent only, since 2002. We do not sell tick or mosquito spraying
• Start: a free trial application
• Guarantee: if you are not happy and discontinue service, we refund the cost of your last application
• Local branches: Matawan, NJ; Blauvelt, NY; and Glen Cove, NY

Find your town on our New Jersey, New York or Long Island service area pages, or start a free trial.