My visiting deer are roe. They definitely browse rhododendron leaves, known to be poisonous to many. The damaged ends look like the way deer feed. But also a blunt instrument.
location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand. "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
Yew will recover from most things apart from having their roots sitting in water. I have cut them back to the ground and they grew back quickly. Usually when they look like yours it is down to the pruning...as already mentioned it could be using blunt shears or a hedge trimmer. Generally I go over mine with secateurs after cutting back and prune anything sticking out like this back to a fresh shoot. I would cut back anything looking unhappy and then give the plants a good feed with compost or manure. They should be fine by the spring.
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poisonous to many. The damaged ends look like the way deer feed. But also a blunt instrument.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."