Insight pls? 1/2 dead Japanese Maple & furry pests...

hippie4yahweh

Hi there! Any advice/ tips would be greatly appreciated...

We have a little Japanese Maple in the backyard that I planted 3 years ago. It was around 3' tall when planted, it's now just over 5' tall. It's been doing wonderfully for the past few years, but this spring only 1/2 of it's grown back!

Should I prune the dead (by dead, I mean no leaves, no buds, just twigs really- that's officially dead, right?) stuff off? Do you have any reqs on a website or video that I could learn to prune from?

 

Also our yard is overrun with rabbits and possums. The rabbits eat everything (everything!!!) except for my hostas. It looks like a lawnmower went over my beautiful orange azaleas as a result. And the possums torture my poor pup! Any suggestions for getting them to go bother someone else? Sadly, my neighbors aren't in to gardening and have no outdoor structures, so our yard is like the local animal hangout. Ugh.

Help? Please? Thank you!!

rochella

http://www.ehow.com/how_4843511_rid-possums-squirrels.html

This isn't for rabbits, but I bet some of these tips would work as well. 

 

http://www.tree-pruning.com/ 

This is a step-by-step guide; perfect for dummies like me! 

~NB~

http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/structuralpruningflash.shtml

 

emschott

I use Liquid Fence to keep the rabbits and deer from eating my flowers.  They will eat everything- including the hostas- right to the ground.  You'll get more bang for your buck if you buy the concentrate.  Beware, though- it smells HORRIBLE.  Just like vomit.  After it dries, no big deal.  But while you spray it on, you'll be gagging.  It's worth it though.

hippie4yahweh

Thanks for the links! I will study up on the pruning, and consider asking H nicely if he'll pretty please spray some Liquid Fence LOL