Sympathetic, since I have a really bad time establishing many of my plants. One evenings snacking by a rabbit can total a small plant and set it back a year. Liquid fence is a truly obnoxious spray I have been using. Made me gag, with the smell. Seems effective. Company guarantees it works, but I have not had to challenge their claims. I think it's expensive. I get the concentrate and dilute it. Usually re-apply after really heavy rains, not being sure I need to. Stems cut at an angle would usually be a rabbit. Straight cuts might be a deer.

Cage your small deciduous shrubs in rabbit fencing. I use green wired fencing at 2 foot tall. I can usually take it down in the summer, but must use it in the winter/early spring ... until the plants get large enough so that rabbit damage is minimal.

planted bush early summer. now, sept. 18, i have a single purple branch growing straight up. should i trim it?

Tomwolt,

I'd trim it before next spring. As long as the shrub has leaves, it is storing energy for the winter and beyond.