The deer are getting incredibly bold in Boylan Heights too, Fran. They seem to use the old rail corridors to move right into the historic districts.

When I was planning our garden renovation, I looked at the cost of historical iron fencing, but the height you need to actually stop a deer is astronomical and completely ruins the historic character of the front yard. I decided to focus on deer-resistant varieties instead. It was much more cost-effective than trying to build a fortress.

I have a couple of rental duplexes near Southeast Raleigh where the deer come right up from the creek beds. Hung soap bars do work temporarily, but you have to use the highly scented brand, and you have to replace them after every heavy rain storm.

For my own yard, I just use cheap wire cages around the young shrubs until they get established. It is not the prettiest solution, but it keeps the tenants from complaining about dead landscaping.

If you are going to try chemical repellents, I highly recommend documenting which plants they target and when. I keep a detailed log of my Garner garden. They ignored my hydrangeas all spring and then suddenly stripped them in forty-eight hours last July.

I suspect it correlates with local rainfall and the availability of wild forage. Monitor the damage before you spend hundreds of dollars on commercial sprays that might just wash off in the next thunderstorm.

Historically, the gardens in Oakwood relied on physical boundaries that fit the architectural era. A proper picket fence, constructed of cedar or heart pine and painted to match the trim of the house, can be quite effective if it stands at least six feet. However, a determined deer can clear even that if they are sufficiently motivated by hunger.

I prefer to use hand tools to maintain dense, woody hedges of native holly. They provide a natural barrier that complements the plaster and brickwork of our historic homes without looking like an industrial enclosure.

Fran, the soap trick works for about a week until they get used to the smell. The NC Extension office publishes a wonderful list of deer-resistant plants. You want to look for things with fuzzy leaves, strong scents, or milky sap.

Try replacing those hostas with native ferns, lungwort, or wild ginger. They love hostas because the leaves are tender and sweet, basically deer lettuce. If you plant a buffet, they will come.

Thank you all. Dale, a six-foot picket fence would certainly get the historic commission talking on my street, though I do love the look of a proper cedar fence. I think Jolene is right about the deer lettuce.

I am going to head down to the farmers market on Lake Wheeler this weekend and see if I can find some of those native ferns to replace the sad remains of my hosta bed.