The 5 Best Deer Netting You Should Buy

Wildlife watching is all fun and games (pun intended) until you catch them foraging in your well-tended garden because winter is here. Deer are usually stressed during the winter in the northern U.S. and Canada. The cold stresses their metabolism, and as if that’s not enough, it’s challenging to find food and avoid predators.

How do they survive? Large herds of adaptable antlered animals move to “deer yards” or deer wintering areas to get food and cover until spring. By early spring, they have depleted their fat reserves. Thus, they look for nutritional alternatives in gardens, orchards, fields, and other green spaces while on the verge of starvation.

Winter Deer Damage

Damage is the resultant effect of deer browsing and foraging. This kind of damage most frequently affects spring-time new growth. However, it can happen at any time of the year.

Deer are routine-oriented and quite tenacious in their search for food. Uncharted territories are avoided in favor of the security of well-known foraging areas. They have a leap height of 12 feet, a length of 30 feet, and the ability to crawl through spaces as narrow as 7.5 inches.

Beyond beating you to your upcoming harvest, deer foraging in your yard poses a health risk to you and your loved ones. Deer ticks can transmit Lyme disease and other potentially dangerous diseases, which can be crippling if not identified and treated in time. 

The peak seasons of Lyme disease are late spring and early summer. Act before the growing season to deter deer visits and minimize damage. Netting, fencing, repellents, resistant plants, and regulated hunting are some strategies used to control deer browsing. 

Deer netting works similarly to deer fencing, because it physically separates the deer from your plants. However, it only wraps individual plants to prevent deer damage, compared to a fence that covers a larger region.

Installing deer netting keeps your plants safe and, by extension, preserves your hard work. We understand how much you cherish your plants, so we ranked a list of the best deer netting you should buy.

Best Overall: Jobe’s LG400171 Deer Barrier Fencing

Best Overall

Jobe’s Easy Gardener Deer Barrier Fencing

• Lightweight but durable design
• Easy installation
• 7-foot fence
• 300lb tensile strength
• Prevents deers, rabbits, and other small animals from accessing garden

Check Amazon

This lightweight yet durable deer netting is UV-resistant, reusable, and easy to attach to trees and posts. It shields your gardens, shrubs, and plants from deer and other animals. The 7 feet high and 100 feet long net is made with flexible polypropylene that doesn’t rust or rot like wood and metal. It blends well with the surroundings, thanks to its black mesh color.

Not only does it work as a deer fence, but it can also be used to delineate property. Posts should be spaced 6 to 8 feet apart along the boundary of the fenced area to protect your landscape and crops from deer damage. First, stretch the net between each post, securing the mesh with ties or staples. Then, it can be cut to the precise dimensions you need.

Although this product is long-lasting, it may become brittle over the years. In addition, it comes rolled and folded in half, which may make it hard to work with.

A user switched to this product from the Easy Gardener 6050 DeerBlock netting after it failed to deer-proof her garden last spring. “I tried the LG400171 Deer Barrier and found it much better. Deer sightings are common in my neighborhood, but this net is still going strong,” she stated.

Another long-time user shares her experience. “Deer often move along the wooded area that borders my backyard. I’ve seen as many as five at once. However, consistent and proper use of my Deer Barrier netting has seen my plants through many gardening seasons.

Pros and Cons of Jobe’s LG400171 Deer Barrier Fencing

Best for Small Spaces: Tenax 2A040006 Deer Net

Best for Small Spaces

Tenax 2A040006 Deer Net, Black

• Measures 7x100 feet.
• Made for enclosing small areas.
• Easily installed and removed.

Check Chewy

The 2A040006 Deer Net is designed to offer seasonal protection for yards and gardens. In addition, it works as a recyclable deer deterrent for small-spaced areas that need protection from deer damage.

Protect your shrubbery from Bambis, birds, and critters with this portable, easy-to-install, lightweight deer net. However, tension lines are required to achieve a reasonable outcome.

It has a mesh size of 0.63 by 0.75 inches and is 7 feet by 100 feet in dimension. It’s made with long-lasting polypropylene plastic and is safe from rot and UV damage.

Tenax recommends using signals to alert deer to the new barriers. For example, waist-height colorful bows hung on fences to increase visibility and reduce the likelihood of being struck by deer.

“For two years, I have been using this netting to protect my favorite hostas from deer damage. It’s easy to roll up and keep after the hostas are harvested,” a protective plant lover said of the Tenax 2A040006 Deer Net.

Pros and Cons of the Tenax 2A040006 Deer Net

Best for Fruit Trees: Feitore Deer Fence Netting

Best for Fruit Trees

Feitore Deer Fence Netting

• Keeps deer out of gardens and also can be used to protect crops and plants
• Lightweight but heavy-duty
• Rust- and rot-proof
• Tangle-proof
• Easy to customize the size
• Affordable price

Check Amazon

Feitore thinks you deserve to enjoy the fruits of your labor (pun intended). Their deer fence netting is suitable for fruits such as blueberries, tomatoes, figs, strawberries, and cherries. 

It has a sturdy polypropylene build that prevents rust and decay. In addition, it is reusable for extended protection from deer damage. 

It features a custom-made “reinforcement” band which includes additional strands on the top and bottom edges to keep the netting in place. 

It is available in an easy-to-use roll to cover individual shrubs or your garden by securing it to stakes or posts (not included). However, it may tangle when unrolling.

Unlike other brands, the 1.9cm mesh of this net is square. As a result, it has a much shorter installation time and lower labor costs. 

This product is versatile as it can be used for birds, chickens, and rabbits. It comes with 50  free zip ties and 10 metal U-shaped staples.

A user finds the reinforcement band to be their best feature. In their words, “it prevents wind and other elements from tearing out the ties as readily.”

Pros and Cons of the Feitore Deer Fence Netting

Best for Arborvitae Trees: Deer Netting Protection For Arborvitae Trees

Best for Arborvitae Trees

Deer Netting Protection- for Arborvitae Trees Up to 10' Tall.

• Contours plants to maintain a natural appearance.
• Allows light to reach plants while still offering protection.
• Easy installation and removal.

Check Amazon

Deer can’t help but tiptoe into your yard to nibble on your flora due to the limited foliage that accompanies winter. They are often seen snacking on the sweet-tasting bark of trees like arborvitae during this time of the year. 

Deer have another use for arborvitae trees. Male deer shed their velvet on their antlers in the late summer. The deer hasten this process by rubbing against trees, which can seriously harm the bark.

Now, you know why your arborvitae seems to be deer’s favorite wintertime snack. So how do you prevent deer damage? This 18-inch-long and 5-inch-high netting from Deer-Deterrent is your go-to for protecting arborvitae. It covers an arborvitae tree up to 5-inch in diameter.

It comes in a natural green color to preserve the organic appearance of your garden. Square holes no bigger than an inch allow plants to breathe and absorb sunlight energy. 

The installation is easy, with cords and snap hooks. It can be removed and reinstalled as the need arises. 

The netting positions itself as a viable alternative to repellants that often need to be used to achieve a tangible result, not to mention the accompanying horrible chemical smell.

The downside? It may not be able to withstand wind storms.

The Deer-Deterrent netting for arborvitae trees “is perfect for my natural fence. I’ve had to use repellents to keep deer away, but not anymore. It’s a 10/10 for me,” a satisfied user said.

Pros and Cons of Deer Netting Protection For Arborvitae Trees

Best for DIY Installation: Dalen Deer X Protective Netting for Gardens and Landscapes

Best for DIY Installation

Dalen Deer X Protective Netting for Gardens and Landscapes

• Advertised as being non-toxic and animal-friendly.
• Designed with the user's experience in mind.
• Available in two sizes: 7x100 feet and 14x75 feet.

Check Amazon

There are many perks to using the Deer X protective netting for your gardens and landscapes. For one, it comes with a money-back guarantee. It’s made in the USA with polypropylene and UV resistance to enhance durability and an enjoyable user experience.

The installation doesn’t need specialized equipment or technical expertise; you can simply do it yourself. 7″ x 100 and 14″ x 75 are available to suit your specific needs.

It is delivered in a folded form rather than rolled, making it challenging for some people to spread out. The other major difficulty is getting the black netting to stick to the evergreens because it catches on other nearby plants and objects.

According to one user, his family has used this netting for two consecutive seasons to protect their sunflowers, and it has never failed them.

Pros and Cons of the Dalen Deer X Protective Netting for Gardens and Landscapes

Choosing the Best: What To Look For

Durability

You don’t want to keep replacing your netting every year. Instead, choose UV-resistant polypropylene nettings that guarantee longer protection.

Slack

Many deer nettings are made with polypropylene mesh. Be sure to leave some slack during installation. Pin excess net (if any) to the ground. Prevent deer from pushing under some perceived space between the ground and the netting.

Up Next…

• Deer Poop: What Does Deer Scat Look Like?
• Deer Lifespan: How Long Do Deer Live?
• 7 Best Ways to Keep Deer Out of Your Yard This Summer