First close the gate. You can certainly cut them back, the Lirope should be
cut before the new growth starts which is probably now. If you don't the
leaves that are half munched will just stay that way and when the new growth
comes out it will really look ragged. I don't have a fence or a gate and
some years they eat the Lirope and some years not so mine usually have a
ragged look. With the ferns I assume you will cut each leaf back
individually and not cut the crown and all. You will probably see some new
leaves already forming as warm as it has been.


"Andyd" wrote in message
...
Before you answer "They are evergreen, why would you want to do that?"
please read the rest of the post.

A gate to my garden was left open and some deer got in and hosed
several things that I don't usually cut back in the winter, Holly
Ferns and Liriope (as well as Oak-leaf Hydrangea, which I will cut
back, and some other things that are not an issue). The Holly Ferns
have been generally stripped of all leaves, the Liriope are now half
the height they used to be, and obviously munched and odd looking.

Should I just cut these back to the ground and let them start from
scratch, or just let them go as is? Maybe I should be cutting them
back annually, I don't know, but they have gone years with no trimming
and they looked (past tense) great.

Thanks.

andyd