This thread is getting more and more personal - it sure does belong to conversations side, but since it is here, I will go on. Jane, sorry to hear about your problems with deer (no, really). Could this have something to do with deer having nowhere to go for food, as people extend their habitat further and further? Hummm...As you seem to be very (un)fortunate to live near an area that still has wildlife, I say you have options: 1. Move to a city with tons of concrete...not much wildlife there...seriously. Before you know it, zoos will be oh so excited over a baby deer born in captivity and have dozens of vets running around with itÂ. 2. Put a big sign for deer to read: "Zis* is human land. Deer watch out or else" - I bet the hungry deer will understand, stop targeting your juicy plants, and go back to whatever leftover forest it has, to look for food. Worth the try.... As for the global warming...Well, issue too personal to even start on here...On Florida Gardening, there was an interesting thread on it: GW Balance and the people helping out...I do not know if I will agree with it. We destroy the balance by destroying habitats, driving away natural predators, and then get into this rage over too many squirrels and rats. Too many of them - sure....Too many people and not enough forest? I will let you decide. Touchy topics, and no way you can have a peaceful thread discussing these "non-orchid" items. How are we expected to find middle ground if, for example, I do not agree with approximately 62 million people on major issues such as gay rights and global warming...And you think we can talk it out about squirrels...Ich dont sink so* Having said all of that, please understand that some of you find things funny that might actually be offensive to others...There is funny, and then there is funny Ahh, hell with it...I am off to watering orchids. Now that is fun. Olya * - misspelled intentionally

You could try a basal bark application of herbicide to the trunks to kill the shrub. This involves painting the trunk with a herbicide mixed with an oil carrier of some sort. Google "basal bark treatment" to get more info. Or, if you prefer not to use herbicide, you can continually remove the new green growth until the plant is eventually exhausted of resources. I say go for it, sounds like a cool project to make a bottle tree. If it doesn't work out as you like, you can always remove the stumps later, or cut them down level to the ground.

I know how frustrating it is to deal with the critters and fruit trees, but if you hang in there it does get better. The trees find their way around the gopher runs, and the gophers eventually leave them alone. I had two really rare heirloom apple trees that were about 2 years old, and one day one was shaking violently from a gopher, I snatched it out and put it in a big pot until it got its roots back. Then I started planting perennials in a double layer of chicken wire (which eventually rots, but they get about 18 months that gives the roots a good advantage) and surround the roots when planting with gladiolus bulbs down at gopher level, about 6 inches, at least 5 bulbs. Daffodil bulbs work, too, but they finish early and the gophers will push them back up. So a combo of gladiolus and daffodils works with a spring/summer active bulb growth. And they are a really colorful addition as well. they multiply, making a barrier about the roots at gopher level. And I make sure I kill the gophers and moles as well, but they still come back. Daffodil bulbs are at the stores in the fall, now. Then covering the fruit is well worth it. Grape growers put stretchy netting over the grapes for the same reason. But sheet curtains and bedsheets are easier to get on and off.

haaahaha...i now don't feel so bad knowing that a family of squirrels has taken up residence in my garage. good thing my garage is not attached to the house. but they have torn a huge hole in the back of my garage, and it seems that they are not even scared of me anymore. when i go in the garage, the mother squirrel does not even move from her spot up in the rafters. i swear today that one of them was waiting for me on my back porch....wtf?? thankfully my husband has just bought a giant assault rifle type pellet gun and is excited to use it. the squirrels have done so much damage to our garage, i almost feel like we might as well tear it down and build a new one. they have ripped down ALL the insulation, and the holes are ridiculous. so...good luck to all you squirrel hunters out there...and just remember...they might be cute..BUT THEY ARE STILL RATS!!!!