Anyway, that was a couple of months ago. The tree had two main trunks, each of which was about 1 foot in diameter. The remaining stumps are about 2 feet tall. I went to visit the tree today, and I was glad to see that there are a bunch of new sprouts coming out of the trunks, so hopefully that means the tree will grow back.

Here's my question: Should I pinch off all the sprouts except the one that looks the biggest at this point, or just wait?

Thanks for any info.

Thanks for your input, fruitnut and rayrose, as well, You-all gave opposite advice, so I'll have to ponder the matter over some more. :)

"If you only allowed one sprout to grow then the tree would put all it's energy into that one sprout."

Thanks, milehighgirl. So I shouldn't be unduly concerned about picking the "wrong" sprout at this point? :)

"I agree with MHG and others why grow 50 sprouts?"

Well, maybe because sprouts taste so good in salads? ;)

"I would grow the one or two strongest looking sprouts per trunk and cut the others off. You will need to cut the sprouts off once a month or so for awhile....Growing one or two branches will allow the tree to recover to a fruiting tree again in 3-4 years or maybe sooner."

Thanks, Clark. OK, so that means to leave at least 2 sprouts, or up to 4. I think the tallest one in the photo above is a good bet.

second.. that is the utility easement that it is planted in .. the utility has every right to clear the lines ... that is why it is called an easement ... it on your mortgage documents ...

all trees.. continue to grow upwards.. they only stop growing up.. when they die ... to say it was 50 feet.. and not going to grow any higher... is not consistent with how trees grow ...

if you lived in snow country ... where a 2 or 3 day power loss in winter is possible .. when its zero outside ... you would not be happy.. if the utility did not proper clear lines to insure power .. especially if its an ice storm ... we kinda have a different view up here in MI ... about proper maintenance of utilities ..

as far as i am concerned.. the only thing they did wrong.. was not kill the stump ...

ken

"The sprouts might be too tender to survive the winter, well, maybe not in GA, but still, I'd wait until next growing season to do anything."

OK, thanks, Sarah80--maybe I'll just hold off till next spring.
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copingwithclay wrote:

"With all the potential sprouts coming up, even if some grafts fail you will have multiple other shoots that could respond well to your grafted scions."

Thanks for the interesting idea, copingwithclay.

"i am wondering of this is an invasive callery pear ..."

What is a callery pear?

"no where is it stated it was a fruit bearing plant ..."

It did bear fruit.

"and being self sown under a power line.. sure brings a birds butt into thought ..."

I don't know whether it was self-sown--I just know it's probably at least 50 years old.

"second.. that is the utility easement that it is planted in .. the utility has every right to clear the lines ... that is why it is called an easement ... it on your mortgage documents ..."

Can you please tell me why, for the past 35 years, they never had a problem with the tree, and in fact never even attempted to trim it?

"all trees.. continue to grow upwards.. they only stop growing up.. when they die"

Are you saying that no fruit tree has a maximum height?

"... to say it was 50 feet.."

Huh? Who said that?

"and not going to grow any higher... is not consistent with how trees grow ..."

In the past 35 years, it hasn't grown much taller. So, if it was getting taller, it was doing so very slowly, and the tree was not even close to reaching the power lines.

"if you lived in snow country ... where a 2 or 3 day power loss in winter is possible .. when its zero outside ... you would not be happy.. if the utility did not proper clear lines to insure power .. especially if its an ice storm ... we kinda have a different view up here in MI ... about proper maintenance of utilities ..."

If a tree is a genuine threat to the power lines, I can understand. But if this tree was such a "threat," then why did the power company completely ignore it for 35 years?

"as far as i am concerned.. the only thing they did wrong.. was not kill the stump ..."

Heh heh. I'm glad they didn't. ;) Besides, they seem way too lazy to do a thorough job anyway. They cut a bunch of branches, left them lying all over the place, and then didn't bother to clean anything up until we nagged them, and they did a good bit of littering as well.