Trees Damaged By Brush fire

Question

We have trees around our property damaged by brush fires. Some are growing again, but instead of a main trunk, they have lots of branches growing out of the stump. Will these trees ever look like they did with a main trunk and branches growing off higher up? Or, will they never again grow as they once did?

Answer 1

The suckers can be pruned and shaped into tree shapes, but it can take a number of years. If you are not seeing growth from the canopy and only from the base, then the top is dead and this is the tree's last ditch effort at surviving. It will be easier to simply remove the trees and start new, but with patience and effort, you can make the suckers take on a tree shape.