I may have mentioned this last year, but perhaps it bears repeating.
We learned from our neighbors that a flimsy black screen can be effective in discouraging deer and since we have a good sized urban population of whitetail and mule deer we need it. In fact, deer hit my boulevard apple pretty hard this spring, dern 'em.
It’s black plastic and comes in rolls 7’ x100’ for cheap. We bought green plastic ridged poles to hang it from and a roll of green twist tie material. What worked for us: remove from box, roll out a measured amount plus a little, and cut. Unfold and lay flat- a driveway would be nice, but a lawn works well too. Put a pole at the beginning and twist-tie it in and commence to rolling it back up.
Have poles in place around your garden or trees. We drove sections of pvc pipe in the corners and along the runs.
Put the first pole in and start unrolling. If you have a partner who can tie as you go along it doesn’t take too long to hang it. This fall you can undo it all, roll it back up, and use it the next season- we’re on our third year.
As I noted it’s flimsy. But it’s tough and apparently invisible to deer, and when they bump into it they choose to move on rather than push through it. I’m still waiting to find a tangled up buck in it some day, but it hasn’t happened yet.
I think it’s either this product or one a lot like it:
http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Gardener-6050-DeerBlock--100-Foot/dp/B00004RA0N/ref=sr_1_2?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1464222012&sr=1-2&keywords=plastic+mesh+fencing
http://www.lowes.com/pd_510599-23132-208513___?productId=50119481&pl=1&Ntt=plastic+garden+screen
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Mark, I used the same exact product to cover my trees from cicadas. I had a devil of a time working with it but I didn’t use the method you used. I wish I had. I don’t actually need it for deer now. I fenced in the majority of my trees with electric fencing.
It’s a bit frustrating to use, but if you’re willing to be a little OCD for a while it can work.
Our hassle with it is that during the season plants grow through the mesh, and we tend to capture some of those when we remove it in the fall. So it can be messy without a certain amount of fussiness.
A plus though is that often you just can’t see it, so there’s an esthetic advantage in that.
I may have to resort to electric fencing. We’ll see. Right now we’re considering building moveable frames that sections of the mesh can be stapled to and therefore stored without rolling.We’ll see!
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That stuff is nearly invisible. My dad stopped by and asked when I was going to cover the trees. I told him I already did! Haha
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Yep, I gotta get me some of this stuff. Didn’t realize it was so inexpensive. Any chance it would stay up supported about 18" off the ground, so I can get my mower under it?
The deer have been hitting my two trees with apples on them hard but been leaving the non-bearing trees alone. 
Sulfur was keeping them away, but with the daytime highs at 87 today and the low 80’s the rest of the week, I suspect I would get significant leaf damage if I went back to using it.
I think so. I haven’t used it that way but I wouldn’t hesitate to try it. I did once stymie a very persistant squirrel by wrapping it around an apricot branch. But it’s difficult to use that way, and the branches grow up to fill the space so it’s a less than perfect solution.