Sorry to hear about your mice damage Del; I definately understand your
frustration. One ray of hope though, in my experience Evans cherry suckers
quite readily so the plants may not be dead.
One note. Last year I had to protect my trees because of the grasshopper
infestation and I used regular milk cartons and also a milk carton with a
silver foil coating (from monarch manufactoring). Of my cherries, 15 were
destroyed from mice when they ate through the milk cartons, no mice got into
the foil coated ones. I'm definately not using regular milk cartons
anymore.
You are correct, it is easy to protect central leader type trees with wrap,
but what about bush type plants? (Saskatoons, currants, etc.) I think
pruning is crucial ensure that these bushes are indeed that, bushes. Not 3
or 4 main trunks, but 20, 30, 40 minor ones. What is a couple branches
girdled when you have many more? The ag rep here recommends when planting
saskatoons in the fall to prune them to the ground after going dormant. In
the spring, they sucker out quite nicely and studies here prove that they
are much more productive. 2 winters ago, I had major damage to some
cherries by rabbits, right down to the ground. Last spring they came out
like gangbusters and I expect them to surpass their neighbors by next year;
and be more productive. We'll see how the 15 that were eaten this winter
will respond in the spring.