Regrowth After Freeze

Question

In the greater New Orleans area we had a pretty significant snow and freeze in January 2025. My lemon tree lost all the leaves. It is showing new growth around the base of the tree. Will this new growth eventually grow into a tree that bears fruit ? My concern is the new growth is coming from the root stock and possibly below where the tree may have been grafted

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Answer 1

When new growth is that low, it likely is coming from the rootstalk. It is generally recommended to remove those right away. It could grow into a lemon tree of sorts, but would be something inferior to what you had and may never bear fruit. You may want to wait another month and see if any new growth emerges from the branches above the graft before declaring it dead. You also can scrape off some of the bark to see if there is green below. If so, it is still alive.

Here is more about what to do for cold damage:

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/HS1275

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/tips-for-saving-cold-damaged-plants.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/why-cold-affects-plants.htm