If I am being asked to rephrase my questions...   

My 6 year old peach tree lost around 70 - 80 % of the leaf and flower buds over the winter, nipped by the protracted cold and multiple freezes.  This left many two-foot-long sections of branches denuded of buds.  The tree has now (May 27) flushed out with new leaves, but the leaf growth is thin compared to previous years.  Some of these bare, pencil thin "whips" have a small cluster of leaves growing out of their outer tip.  Many others have no leaves and a blackened tip where the die-off occurred.   Question:  Should I leave these denuded whips - which would have been the productive wood this summer - or cut them back to the first green leaves?  Most still have their greenish-brown bark and a green cambium layer but I don't know whether they are still a healthy, productive part of the tree.

Simply put, I want advice for pruning away winter bud-die off.

Hello, and thank you for contacting us.  What a pretty peach tree you have - overall it is a nice shape and appears healthy other than the damaged buds and twigs.

Your pictures do suggest that this tree has winter frost damage although it's hard to diagnose without seeing the tree.  It appears to be several years old, but still young and possibly this is the coldest, wettest winter it has endured.

A general rule in pruning trees in the Rosaceae Family (apples, pears, peaches) is to prune in winter or before budbreak in the spring in order to avoid fire blight.  However a second general rule is to prune out dead or damaged twigs and branches when they occur or are noticed.  When pruning fruit trees, make sure your pruner is sharp and disinfect the blades with 90% rubbing alcohol.  Disinfect the blades again after each cut.  All dead material should be cut below the damage a couple of inches or back to slightly above a healthy bud.  Cut back the denuded twigs similarly, especially those that haven't leafed out at the tips.  The safest course would be to also removed those that have leafed out at the tips as well.  It may not be as productive a year this summer, but these prunes will contribute to healthier future years.

Here is a link to CSU information about fruit trees in general.  It also contains links to pruning and other information.  https://cmg.extension.colostate.edu/Gardennotes/771.pdf.

Another resource that we offer here in Jefferson County is our Fruit Tree Team.  They will visit your property to inspect your trees and make suggestions.  To request a visit, contact the Jefferson County Extension Master Gardener Call Center by email at <personal data hidden>.  The cost is $25 per hour, and an hour is generally plenty.

Wishing a healthy recovery of your trees!
Jeffco Clinician Annette

Annette,

Thanks for your reply.  I wasn't sure if I was using the web site properly.  I've requested a visit from one of your agents.  I also wondered if you've heard questions from other fruit tree growers about bud die-off - or winter fruit tree damage?  It would be good to know if others in Jefferson County had comparable experience with their fruit trees.  

Thanks for your comments.  I plan to do some pruning today and will follow your advice to limit the tree's exposure to damaged wood.

Best Regards,

Bill Parsons

Hello Again,

I hope I can follow up on questions you addressed in May. The question is can peach tree branches with leaf clusters at their tips regenerate leaf or fruit buds along barren branches?

As I showed above, most of my donut peach branches had bud frost nip which caused them to lose all of the fruit and leaf buds along the majority of the brach except for a cluster of leaves at the branch extremity. If I prune these branches inside the leaf clusters - closer to main trunk or scaffold branches - can buds regenerate next year along the remaining branch or at the stub?

My photos are not uploading but I believe my question is clear enough to communicate the problem. Unless I can regenerate buds somewhere along the current branches, my peach becomes more and more wispy and thin, the leaves further and further out along the remaining branches. Is it possible to reverse this? If pruning can have any effect, would you give me some tips on how to do it -- where to cut?

Thanks, Bill Parsons

Hi Bill,

Apologies for the delay in response. I believe you are in contact with our Fruit Tree Team to schedule an appointment to discuss these concerns, so I will let them take it from here!

Hania

Hi Bill,

Perfect! They are working to coordinate members to conduct the visit, so they should follow up with you shortly.

Thank you!

Hania