Question: Following a recommendation, last year I pruned my native persimmons and paw paws to harvest height, treating them like orchard trees. This seems like a colossally bad move, judging by how they've responded. The paw paw is dead, though it did send runners out all around the main. The persimmon looked dicey all winter but came back this past year, though it's now sending shoots off the top because of being topped off. I feel terrible about this and wish I had not listened to the advice. Should I just let these trees heal themselves at this point? I have removed the broken branches from the persimmon (mainly from raccoons getting at the fruit) but have otherwise let it be. Thanks in advance for your input.
Question: Following a recommendation, last year I pruned my native persimmons and paw paws to harvest height, treating them like orchard trees. This seems like a colossally bad move, judging by how they've responded. The paw paw is dead, though it did send runners out all around the main. The persimmon looked dicey all winter but came back this past year, though it's now sending shoots off the top because of being topped off. I feel terrible about this and wish I had not listened to the advice. Should I just let these trees heal themselves at this point? I have removed the broken branches from the persimmon (mainly from raccoons getting at the fruit) but have otherwise let it be. Thanks in advance for your input.