Clean any loose bark, broken limbs, etc. Prune the branches left back to just above a node. Prune as needed next spring or next fall. I think your tree will be fine in no time. I know how you feel (mad enough to kick whatever-ate-your-tree's butt), but I don't think the setback is nearly as bad as you think. What would concern me the most is any damage done to the trunk (under the tube). We can't see that in the picture, so I can't speculate on whether the damage will be likely to cause problems. You may want to add a wire cage around your tree before it's really too late!

Oh yeah, I'd remove that bamboo stake and mulch wide, not deep, around your tree if you haven't already.

Thanks brandon. The trunk was knawed, not deeply tho. I just thought the wrap would prevent any further damage. The stake was on it when I purchased the little tree, and I was worried about wind blowing it over this winter as it had a shallow root system, not much of a ball. Yep, I mulched deep but also wide. As soon as I can dig away the snow layer I'll try to remove some or should I wait until a warm up in temp? Why I didn't put a wire cage around it like I normally do young shrubs and trees, I don't know. I'm off to do that now.

Not very good at pruning trees, but I'll try to do as you say in regards to that.

Did you mean I should prune it now?

Rather than focusing on pruning etc. what you really need to do is put in a wire enclosure to prevent additional animal attacks.

I would go ahead and prune it, just to get it done. Optimal pruning time will be anytime between now and budbreak in the spring, so there's no particular rush except just to get it off your to-do list. If you're not familiar with how to prune, you might do a little web surfing, but it's not complicated. The depth of mulch can vary depending on what you used, but with products like fine bark chips or shredded mulch, 3" to 4" is usually about right. I usually thicken the layer a little more towards the outer limits of the mulched area. It's also a good idea to leave 1" to 2" of unmulched area right around the tree's trunk. This will keep the mulch from holding moisture up against the bark which can cause pest and disease problems and it discourages rodents from using the mulch as a cover while gnawing on your tree. Rake the mulch back from the trunk before you put your cage on, but wait for a warm (comfortable for you) day to fine tune your mulch.

I managed to put a tomato cage wrapped with chicken wire, around the tree. But it's 18 degrees here today, and the ground is frozen solid; so the deep snow is holding it up until there's a bit of thaw and I can do better. Can't rake leaf mulch, altho I did not heap it up around the base of the trunk in the fall. Since it had next to no root ball, I was advised to plant it more shallow - not bury it; so that's why I laid down extra leaf mulch.

I could learn to prune, just intimidated.

I had a rabbit eat a Golden Shadows Pagoda dogwood back to just a couple of buds and it recovered well. I think your's will be fine.

David

Thanks for the tips and encouragement guys.

Rabbits gnawed my flowering dogwood last winter. It was 2 years old, and it sprung back to the size it was previously and then some. It was quite surprising how quickly it bounced back in the springtime. Good luck!

I saw this post and I just had to comment. My Pagoda Dogwood (Golden Showers) was not eaten, but the rabbits didn't leave much else untouched in the week I have been gone. My God they're MONSTERS! I've never seen such damage. They are treating my yard like a buffet. I have a lot of conifers and I've never seen damage like this before. I was worried, at first, that the cold would kill things, but instead the rabbits are getting them. All the lower branches on my Cedrus and Picea omorikas have been eaten. Oakleaf hydrangeas eaten above the snow line. Japanese maples have bits and pieces taken out of them. The bottom foot of a few holly trees are completely gone. They even took a few bites out of some picea abies and pungens. Henry Hicks magnolia virginiana had its bark gnawed all the way around it too. Very depressing. Repellent is not working either. AHHH... I'm so mad, I'm about ready to stay up all night with a gun and watch for them. :)

Schoolhouse -

In my experience pagoda dogwoods, which are native here, are quite rapid growers compared to other trees, though if yours is variegated that may not be the case. I've had trees get to 4-6 feet and well branched in just 3 years; those were volunteers the birds planted in my garden. I wouldn't be too concerned about needing 15 years to get a good sized tree.

nhbabs, it's not variegated. Hooray for that at least. Thanks, I'm feeling better already.

Today, I see two tiny buds along a surviving branch and one on the trunk (!).

Schoolhouse, glad to hear your C. alternifolia is recovering. I bought 10 of these little trees from the NH nursery 2 years ago, now I feel fortunate that no critters have munched on them.

It could help that I have a cat who has a taste for baby rabbit. ;)