Shrubs dying off.

[Duvaller]

I've wondered for ages why my Azaleas, Acers etc were dying off and traced the problem to them getting ring barked. Something has been chewing them near the bottom of the stem. Any ideas what's doing it?

[Jules-and-Boo]

no, but you could cut a plastic bottle down it's length and wrap it around the base of the plant to protect it.

You could even dig it into the soilto stop any surface crawlers / slugs etc

[dulwichrat]

Might be my nephew Nigel. Always saying he wants to be a beaver when he grows up. Got his whiskers in the clouds that one.

I'll have a word.

[tomdhu]

Almost certainly squirrels.

[uncleglen]

Agree- squirrels- they did for my ceanothus