Question
I believe that deer are eating the leaves off our shrub (every day there are fewer leaves and there are plenty of deer in the area).  Will the leaves grow back?
I live in sw Ohio. We are having an especially cold and snowy winter. We planted the shrub this past fall at the edge of a row of established pine trees. Two nights ago a small group (5 or 6 ) of deer slept under the pines.

Answer
Hi Kathy

It's likely that the deer are eating your Rhododendrons - the leaves are very unappetizing! Unless there are sign of disease on the plant (discolored patches on the leaves or obvious fungus on the stems), I think the weather may be responsible for the leaf loss.  You might have to cut the plant back a little in the Spring to encourage new growth.  Rhodies are fully hardy so I would advise you to just keep an eye on things until later in the year.

Gill