Growing deer populations in many areas across the U.S. has led to an increasing number of problems with deer damaging and sometimes destroying home gardens and ornamental shrubs.

After several years and many damaged and lost plantings, in desperation, my sister and her husband spent several weekends installing 6-foot high fence to virtually surround their home, located in a wooded college town in Connecticut. At my property in another small Connecticut village, hordes of local deer practically denuded mature ornamental evergreen shrubs last fall and winter. It got so bad that I had to wrap all of the shrubs with fine netting and spray all of the shrubbery with an oil based cayenne pepper spray. It dried on the needles with a long lasting wax-like coating. The overall effect made the ornamental plantings look less attractive, but at least now they have a chance to recover and survive. Two seasons in succession of new growth foliage being eaten off of mature plants and shrubs can cause serious stunting and in some cases, total loss.

To add insult to injury, here in the Northeast, providing more food for the local deer population (even unintentionally) can result in many more deer. This threatens not just the health of our gardens and shrubs, but our own health, because more deer means more deer ticks and hence more chances of contracting Lyme disease.

Click here for an article from The Gardeners Network that features a variety of means to discourage and/or prevent deer from using your garden and shrubs as a smorgasbord.

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OK, so you are ready to change your focus to fall projects, including leaf raking and disposal. But there are still ways to improve the health of your lawn for the next summer season. Work that you do now can strengthen the root systems and top growth of your lawn before snow flies, making it better prepared to come out of dormancy next spring greener and thicker than ever.

Here’s the 9-point autumn plan to improve your lawns prospects for next season.

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An outdoor rug can be the perfect addition to your deck or patio. They instantly make your outdoor room seem more inviting, and can be softer under bare feet than stone or wood. Check out my top ten picks below:

Tributary Mantua 7’10” x 10’10” Bayou Indoor/Outdoor Rug from Home Depot. $259.

Panache Textured Weave 7’10” Round Roux Indoor/Outdoor Rug from Home Depot. $179

Patio Collection 7’10” x 11’1” Fleur-de-Lis Red Rug from Lowe’s. $130

9’ Square Frontenac All-Weather Area Rug from Home Decorators (other sizes available). $189

7’10” x 11’ Domain All-Weather Area Rug from Home Decorators (other sizes available). $206

5’x8’ Montage Indoor-Outdoor Rug from Crate & Barrel (other size available). $159

5’x8’ Poly Stripe Outdoor Rug from Pottery Barn (other sizes available). $199

5’x8’ Chunky Outdoor Mat from Pottery Barn (other sizes available). $179

5’11” x 9’ Momeni Brown Area Rug from Rugs USA. $169

7’x10’ Anji Mountain Village Ebony Bamboo Rug from Wicker, Teak & More. $259.95

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Now that spring is finally here, it’s time to think about how to make your second home yard and landscaping more beautiful and easier to maintain. With the near-record drought in the Southeast and soaring temperatures in the desert Southwest, owners of vacation homes in those areas are looking for ways to decrease both yard-related maintenance and water usage. A recent article in the New York Times provides some helpful hints on gardening in a dry landscape, otherwise known as ‘Xeriscaping’.

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The USDA Forest Service has a great article titled “Basic Instructions for Restoration and Native Landscaping Projects”. The State of Minnesota, Department of Natural Resources came up with the guidelines. Here are a few from the list:

#2. Gain an understanding of the native plant communities in your area.

#4. Get to know your site. This includes learning about existing plants, sun exposure and drainage and soil moisture.

#7. Create a wish list of species for your site.

Visit the USDA Forest Service site for the complete list.

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