This past winter, weather was more severe than usual, damaging or killing a number of well-established woody plants.

Management for a freeze-damaged tree is as follows:

- Freeze-damaged trees will sometimes put out sprouts which will die off later. So, don’t prune until the end of August when new sprouts are more likely to continue to grow.

- When you prune, remove dead wood at a point where live wood begins.

- Don’t dig out rotted wood because that will extend the damage further into the tree.

- Don’t fill the hollow part with cement or other similar material.

- Don’t apply sealer.

- Don’t fertilize this year because that will decrease the tree’s resources needed for recovery.

“Training and Pruning Your Home Orchard” discusses many kinds of home grown fruit trees.