Hello forum-

I was out of town for an extended period of time and my husband failed to keep up with my spraying of repellent on the shrubs. I came back to find all my very, very mature Rhodies stripped to the bone, my holly (which I pruned into a tree shape last year..very nice look!), goldthread cypress, my big tall yews and even the ivy which I planted 5 years ago and trained to grow up and cover a most unattractive retaining wall (I had deer netting and stakes there but apparently it fell under a heavy snow) munched leafless.

All of these plants encircled my house and there is no way to ignore what looks like the bombing of the botanicals. I tried pruning a bit today but it seems so hopeless.

May I impose on this forum for hope and some instruction on how to possibly salvage these shrubs?

PS---Only the Rhodie which is two stories tall has any leaves remaining...yes, at the 5 foot line.

Thanking you in advance,

A sad soul,

Lucinda