For the remainder of 2026, we want to make sure you’re prepared for the upcoming winter season! Tree preservation and the health of your plants are going to be one of our top priorities, and one of the best ways you can prepare is by using deer spray. Deer will be all over your yard during the winter, eating away at what you have, and it’s something that could cause harm to your trees and plants as you prepare for the spring season.
Last year’s winter saw many people’s trees succumb to damage from these circumstances, and we want to make sure this next winter we don’t see it happen again. When food becomes hard to find for a deer during the winter months, they are more likely to start looking at other sources like ornamental trees, shrubs, and evergreen plants. With the protection you need from deer spray, it’ll be hard to keep them in good health the way you want to.
In this blog, we will break down why you need to use deer spray on your trees before winter so that they can survive going into spring.
Why Timing of Using Deer Spray Really Matters
If there’s one component of this process you should keep in mind before using deer spray, it’s timing it right so it lasts through the whole winter. The recommended time to use deer spray is around late October. A professional application with this timing in mind will establish the best protection you need before the most extreme of winter weather conditions arrive.
For us at Bradley Tree, the type of deer spray we recommend you use is DeerPro Winter. According to its product label, just applying it one time to your plants and trees will leave you protected for approximately three to six months (keeping weather conditions in mind). For people who live in the state of New York, we are listed on its label as a place where the spray is allowed for use on ornamental trees from October through March.
How DeePro Winter Animal Repellent Works
DeePro Winter is designed to prevent deer from chewing on your trees. It’s a taste deterrent (using Thiram as an active ingredient) that leaves a bad taste in their mouths. This spray acts as a treatment that is intended to discourage animals from feeding on the portions of landscape that you choose.
The label calls for a thorough amount of coverage along the twigs and foliage of the trees that need protection the most, and this helps with applying enough so that there’s runoff. For everyone reading this who’s a property owner, the right kind of professional application can make this so much better for you, as it will meet the right requirements and give you the best results. Read more on the DeerPro website about this spray to learn more!
The Need to Protect Your Landscape and Not Ignore It
There’s an incentive to protect your yard and not let it continue. In the last few years, there has been an uptick in deer damage to people’s trees that we’ve noticed. Your trees and ornamental shrubs are important to protect! There are some plants that could take years to reach their mature size. It makes it even more frustrating for those who don’t want to lose those shrubs when deer repeatedly feed on them.
Damage is going to affect the appearance of everything, but it can also create additional stress on already vulnerable vegetation. It’s a much better strategy to hit this NOW instead of waiting for spring to come around and address the concerns then. If you give us a call, we can help you establish a long-term plan that you will be able to follow each year, and trust us, it works!
When factoring DeerPro Winter into this, remember, it’s a professional-use product. The label notes that it’s required to be applied under favorable drying conditions when temperatures are around 40°F and higher. There are also restrictions on how you are meant to apply it relating to the frequency of its use, the weather conditions, and so on. DO NOT APPLY TO FRUIT TREES AND PLANTS!! That one point alone is why it’s best for a professional to be involved in this process.
The damage that your trees and plants will be under from deer is much easier to prevent than it is to repair in the next spring and summer seasons. By treating them now, you will provide a way for them to last much longer, and that’s what’s important to us. If you have any questions about DeerPro Winter, or anything else related to this topic, give us a call or reach out through our contact form. We look forward to helping you with this!
Deer Spray Before Winter FAQ
When is it appropriate to apply deer spray to my trees before winter?
For the best winter protection that lasts for months, apply deer spray (specifically DeerPro Winter) in late October. This lets it stay on through the worst winter weather. The timing of application is very important!