I have no idea what kind of tree/shrub this is, but over the past few weeks, it has been decimated. The first 4-5 feet up appears to have been eaten by something, but I'm wondering if it's some sort of disease. One of the pictures shows a close up of some of the blackened leaves. Any ideas of what it is, or how to treat it? Thanks in advance!

Zone: 7
Pennsylvania

Got deer? (Odocoileus virginianus)

Deer was my first thought, too. It looks like a Juniper, and deer love Junipers in the winter. Here are a couple of pics I pulled from the internet as examples.

Must be deer. If I start spraying it with deer repellent, will the foliage grow back?

Usually KInda-Sorta.
Best to just trim the trees up to the that level.

They usually nibble on shrubs like this during the winter when there is a lack of food. I wouldn't waste my money or time on deer repellent. Personally, I wouldn't trim the shrub up to that level either; it will look horrible. I would put some kind of temporary fencing around the shrub. It doesn't have to be too high...just far enough out around the perimeter to keep them from eating the lower part.

And then your shrubs will forever be 'in jail' - I think you have to consider all your options (prune, don't prune, replace with fence, replace with deer resistant shrub). This is a very familiar site here in the Pacific NW, commonly referred to as penis-trees (sorry).

Bonehead said:And then your shrubs will forever be 'in jail' - I think you have to consider all your options (prune, don't prune, replace with fence, replace with deer resistant shrub). This is a very familiar site here in the Pacific NW, commonly referred to as penis-trees (sorry).

Only in "jail" for the winter when the damage is done, and you are not outside to enjoy them anyway. You remove the fencing in the Spring when the deer have plenty of other food and put it back just before the next Winter.

MoonShadows said: Personally, I wouldn't trim the shrub up to that level either; it will look horrible..

That depends on how they come back.
I have seen too many over the years with ugly scars because they kinda-sorta came back.They stick out like a sore thumb.

MoonShadows said:

Only in "jail" for the winter when the damage is done, and you are not outside to enjoy them anyway. You remove the fencing in the Spring when the deer have plenty of other food and put it back just before the next Winter.

That wouldn't be so bad then. I think my sister leaves her jails up year-round until her fruit trees gain enough height to be out of their range - must depend on what else there is for the deer to forage on.