I don't think I'd replace it -- but up to you. Looks vigorous enough to grow a new leader if the damaged part is dead. The good thing about buck-rubbing damage is you only have to protect it from, say, early Oct thru Dec or so. Better protect ASAP because they come right back again.

I hadn't considered removing the upper part and allowing a new leader to form. That's an option if the bare area doesn't or can't fill in. Yes, I'll have the tree protected by nightfall.

Thanks bengz6westmd.

imo ... stat spraying it NOW ...

and then wait until spring to decide what needs to be pruned off ..

you dont mention how long its been in the ground.. but if it has a mature established root mass... you might be surprised how fast it can regenerate itself ..

most likely ..if the bark was removed all around the trunk ... the part above will die .. and it will be properly pruned out after we find out .. in spring ....

tree and shrub time is counted in decades.. no need to do much of anything right now with pruning .... just get some deterrent on it ..

ken

Unfortunately, the tree was just planted a couple of months ago.

The bark is only damaged on one side, so I don't think the top will die. I'm more concerned with having a strange looking tree in the yard. Okay, if it's temporary and the branches will fill back in.

Another option would be to move it elsewhere and just put a new one in. Expensive, but not an eyesore.

Does deer deterrent spray prevent deer from rubbing their antlers on trees? I assumed it only prevents them from eating the foliage. I think the bucks have more than food on their minds this time of year...

Thanks

A cage is best but at a minimum put three tall stakes around it about six inches from the trunk.

tj

I have used heavy duty T stakes and heavy weight (70 lb test) fishing line set at three heights, run at random zigzags. Deer don’t see well in 3D, so they cannot be sure exactly where the line is. They may run into it, but do not know where there is a safe landing spot where they won’t get tangled, so they tend to avoid the area, even when it is the only green around IME.

Thanks everyone for your helpful replies.

@NHBabs z4b-5a NH - The tree is now protected with t-posts and fishing line. I've been using this method to protect my garden area with success. Simple and effective! Thanks

@Margaritaville (Zone 7b/NJ) - Thanks for the info, it's quite helpful!

From your experience, will the area now devoid of branches fill in? If not, might it be better to just cut it back to a little above the lower surviving branches and allow a new leader to form? Hopefully, this would allow the tree to eventually have the appearance of an undamaged tree.

Regardless of what you do/don't do, the tree WILL eventually fill in as long as the deer do not continue to rut it. As I said above, M.g. recuperate quite well from deer rut damage. Again, all my M. grandifloras seemed to be been rutted in some previous white tail rite of passage. It is what it is, Life goes on.