When can I prune large column arborvitae? The bottom branches have been damaged by deer.

Question

I  live in east central Iowa.  The row of arborvitae have been severely damaged by deer.  The deer have eaten all of the green and rubbed against the bark so the bottom 5 feet no longer have any green.  When can trim out the bottom branches?  I would like to have the entire row of arborvitae removed but they are shared with a neighbor.  She will not consent to having them removed..

The arborvitae are about 20 feet tall.  The bottom 5 feet do not have any green foliage. Just a lot of branches with nothing on them.  The other 15 feet has foliage.  There has not been foliage on the bottom branches for several years.  What can I do to salvage the arborvitae/

Answer 1

You might need to fence around it.  Fertilize in the spring.  It might come back.  Mix up 2 tablespoon of dish detergent and several drops of hot sauce and spray where they are eating............respray when it rains.  They do have spray at Walmart for deer & rabbitts.