Shrub pruning question

[ToddG]

I have 75 each of wild plum, elderberry, and silky dogwoods planted and was wondering should I keep them pruned back so they stay in the browse line? If I don't prune, will they eventually get to tall for the deer to browse on?
Thanks,
Todd

 

[bwoods11]

I might on occasion, cut a dead limb, but have chosen not to prune much.
We did a mass wildlife planting, so maybe in a smaller setting, I could see pruning.

 

[bueller]

Is your goal cover, browse, or both?

I'd say if you planted those species without protection and they are getting above browse height that you must either have low deer density or lots of food available.

 

[ToddG]

They are protected now but was just wondering will they eventually grow above browse line when I remove the cages.

 

[bueller]

They are protected now but was just wondering will they eventually grow above browse line when I remove the cages.

I would let them get above browse height and then take the cages off a couple a see what happens. I did that with mine and they hammered the heck out of them. Any that weren't above browse height were pretty much browsed and rubbed to death.