If deer are treating your garden like an all-you-can-eat buffet, you’ve probably tried various tactics to make them stop. But have you tested cinnamon yet?
The answer is yes – cinnamon can effectively deter deer!
Its potent, spicy aroma drives deer away and makes them avoid areas where it’s used.
In this article, you’ll learn:
- Why deer dislike cinnamon so much
- The best ways to use cinnamon as a repellent
- Tips to maximize cinnamon’s power
- Other smelly repellents that work
- Humane deer deterrent alternatives
While fencing and store-bought repellents have their place, cinnamon is an easy, all-natural option.
Keep reading to discover how to harness the deer-repelling qualities of cinnamon. Soon your landscape will be off limits to those midnight snackers!
Why Cinnamon Repels Deer
Deer have an excellent sense of smell. Anything with a strong, unpleasant odor will make them turn up their noses.
Cinnamon has a very powerful, spicy fragrance. And apparently, deer can’t stand it! When they catch a whiff of cinnamon, they’ll go the other way.
Research shows cinnamon oil has these deer-repelling effects:
- Masks inviting food smells – Cinnamon disguises the tempting scents of plants, flowers, and trees that attract deer.
- Causes avoidance – Deer will actively avoid areas where they detect cinnamon smells.
- Triggers instinct – On an instinctual level, deer seem to view the cinnamon scent as a danger or threat.
So cinnamon’s potent aroma triggers deer’s natural instincts to stay away. But how can you harness cinnamon to protect your own yard?
Using Cinnamon to Repel Deer
Want to put cinnamon’s deer-driving power to work in your landscape? Here are some effective application methods:
Cinnamon Sprays
Making a DIY cinnamon spray is an easy way to repel deer.
Try this simple homemade spray:
- In a bowl, mix:
- 2 beaten eggs
- 8 oz milk
- 2 tsp hot sauce
- 1 tsp dish soap
- 1 tsp vegetable oil
- 20 drops cinnamon essential oil
- Add 1 gallon of water and mix well
- Pour into a spray bottle
Spray this solution thoroughly on plants and foliage deer like to snack on. Reapply weekly or after rain.
You can also buy pre-made cinnamon repellent sprays. Look for ones containing cinnamon oil for best results.
Cinnamon Sachets
Place little sachets or mesh bags of cinnamon sticks around your garden. Position them near vulnerable plants or high deer traffic areas.
The smell will permeate the air in that zone, driving deer away. Replenish the sachets as needed.
Cinnamon Mulch
Use cinnamon-scented mulch around garden beds and trees. The lingering fragrance will keep deer from grazing in those areas.
Redmond Cedar Mulch contains cinnamon and other repellent oils. This creates a long-lasting protective barrier.
Tackle Problem Areas
Target extra cinnamon repellent at the specific areas deer frequent.
For example, spray it along commonly used deer trails around the perimeter. Or use more sachets and mulch around often-munched plants.
Concentrating the scent where deer travel and feed maximizes its effectiveness.
Maximizing Cinnamon’s Deer-Deterring Power
To get the best results from cinnamon:
- Use a concentrated amount – Don’t dilute cinnamon oil too much in homemade sprays. Opt for high concentrations.
- Reapply frequently – Cinnamon’s smell fades, so reapply every few days to a week. More often in rainy weather.
- Combine it – Mix cinnamon with other smelly repellents like garlic, peppermint, or egg solids.
- Use proper technique – Thoroughly coat all sides of foliage, stems, and tops of plants. Don’t just sprinkle lightly.
- Use various methods – Employ multiple tactics like sprays, sachets, and mulch.
With consistent, proper application, cinnamon can keep the deer away for good!
Cinnamon Also Repels Other Pests
It’s not just deer that dislike cinnamon. This aromatic
Here are some other critters cinnamon repels:
Ants
Ants detest cinnamon. Sprinkling cinnamon powder where ants enter your home creates a pungent barrier. The smell drives them back outside.
Cinnamon oil also repels ants. Add a few drops to cotton balls and place them along ant trails or potential entry points.
Mosquitos
Mosquitos aren’t fans of cinnamon either. Burning cinnamon essential oil in an oil diffuser or candle releases a smoke that repels mosquitos.
Grow cinnamon plants in your yard to deter mosquitos from high-traffic areas. The scent lingers on the foliage.
Raccoons
Raccoons’ sensitive noses also dislike cinnamon. Use cinnamon sprays, sachets, or mulch to keep raccoons away from trash cans, gardens, and other areas.
Rodents
Mice and rats turn up their noses at cinnamon too. Sprinkling cinnamon powder where rodents travel or enter buildings provides a pungent deterrent.
Cinnamon’s strong aroma overwhelms rodents’ senses, encouraging them to avoid treated areas.
Insects
Many insects and pests like bed bugs, roaches, and termites dislike cinnamon. The smell can deter them from infesting your home.
Use cinnamon essential oil or place cinnamon sticks around potential entry points. This creates an aromatic pest repellent zone.
So cinnamon can do double duty repelling both deer and other annoying pests! Employ this versatile, natural repellent throughout your home and landscape.
Other Smelly Deer Repellents
If deer still sneak past the cinnamon, try amping up the stink! Deer dislike these other pungent smells:
- Peppermint oil
- Garlic oil or garlic powder
- Putrescent egg solids
- Marigolds
- Lavender oil
- Citrus peels
Mixing cinnamon with these can create an ultra-potent deer repellent combo.
Spray or sprinkle these substances straight. Or add them to your cinnamon sprays and sachets.
Overwhelm those deer noses for maximum garden protection!
Humane, Eco-Friendly Deterrents
Along with smelly repellents, use these gentle deer deterrents:
- Physical barriers like fencing, netting, or tree trunk protectors
- Automated scare devices like motion-activated sprinklers or noisemakers
- Harvest plants as early as possible to minimize exposure
- Use repellents selectively to prevent habituation
The goal is to scare deer away without harming them or the environment. Maintain a peaceful coexistence using safe, eco-friendly deterrents.
With smart repellent use and proactive measures, your yard can be deer-free without any hurt feelings!
Cinnamon’s powerful scent makes it an easy, all-natural way to protect your landscape. Harness its deer-driving qualities using proper techniques for lasting results.
Pair cinnamon with other smelly repellents and gentle deterrents. Soon the deer will get the message to dine elsewhere and leave your yard alone!
