Chinese Fringe Tree Damage My Snow Load

Q: My ten-year old Chinese fringe tree was severely daaged by snow load. What should be done now? 

A: First, make clean cuts where any limbs broke from the tree. If all you have is a stub attached to the trunk, make your cut at the outer edge of the swollen bark ridge where the limb emerged. If the break is toward the end of a branch, make your cut a half-inch beyond a healthy side branch. Second, use a razor knife to trim off any bark that has been pulled away or which has tattered edges. No tree wound dressing is needed. Depending on how much sun reaches the cut places, new sprouts may appear in spring. Make a calendar note to look at the tree in June to decide if a few sprouts should be removed to decrease crowding.