If it was me,...cut limbs clean on the trunk, paint with Doc Farwell's heal and seal, possibly next spring it will push out new branches along the trunk.

On a peach you shouldn't cut anything off if you want to have hope of regeneration- which is highly unlikely if there are now no leaves on the tree. If there is any hope it will probably send out some new growth in the next few weeks, but peaches don't reliably send out new buds from old wood.

Peach trees have a short lifespan compared to other fruit trees- some varieties shorter than others and soil type and climate also factor in but it sounds like this peach tree was on last legs and its time to plant another.

I wish I could remember who wrote about peach trees being more like tomato plants. He said something to the effect that you can't plant a peach tree and expect to pick the fruit with your grandchildren.

Guess that would depend on the age of your children when you plant the tree. I've been feeding my grandson my peaches this weekend.

harvestman,

Yeah, after I posted that I thought someone would call me on it:)

I have a 25 year old Madison peach that is going as strong as ever- lots of vigorous shoots capable of producing very large peaches. I think in the home orchard certain varieties on certain sites can be productive for at least 50 years here in the northeast.

serkhab,

Can you post a picture?

You can use the trunk as a rootstock to propagate another peach tree. it is faster than just planting one. One of my fig trees was useless because it's figs never ripen and fall down prematurely. I cut all the branches except a foot of the branches and 4 feet trunk and propagated buds of one of my stars fig trees on it. I am happy it worked and produced sweet eatable figs, I am not an expert and if I can do it ant body can,