With regards to your Navaho plant if I read your question right, you were simply curious about the "branched stick" (probably about 8-12" long) with the one bud on it. As long as it has a viable root system attached to it, you should be fine as the new primocanes will grow for next year's crop from the crown/root system. The "stick" you are referring to is the plant's "floricane" and may even produce a few berries this year from that bud. Remember, blackberry plants for the most part are 2 year cycle plants. The first year it will produce a primocane (i.e., the stick) which will form new buds (i.e., the bud) in the fall which after its winter rest (now) and it gains enough chill hours, will open in the spring and produce new growth with blossoms forming on the ends of that new growth. So, you should be OK if there is a viable root system attached to "the stick". As far as your rabbiteye's go, I would recommend pruning your plants back 25% right after you plant them and remove all buds this coming spring. Pruning the plant back allows the root system to acclimatize to its new environment without having to work so hard right off the bat once its ready to wake up. The reason for removing the blossoms the first year goes along with that same theory. My friend last year decided not to remove the blossoms from his rabbiteyes because he wanted to take the berries to the fresh market and make his money back from purchasing the plants; and he did and then some! However, because of the weight of the berries and the weakness of the plants that first year (i.e., because the new plants were focused on growing the berries rather than the growing the plant itself), most of the plants after harvest were leaning over with their canes and leaves a "stressed" yellowish brown in color rather than strong and upright and a good healthy green. In addition, and this is the most important part since the buds form in the summer and fall for next years crop, the buds were either very small and not very healthy looking or simply non-existent. This year, my friend bought some more blueberry plants and the first thing he did was prune them back approximately 25% and he plans to remove all the blossoms when they appear in a few weeks. I don't want to take anything away from jellyman's or fruitgirl's write-ups, but this has been my experience down here where it gets HOT in the summer. Hope this helps.

Cut the dried off vines off near the ground and fertilize and water and they should put up new growth. They do not need to be grown from seed every year. They are very long lived perennial vines.

Looks to be what many are experiencing from the harsh winter...many dead branches on several landscape trees. We had to replace a few...and plan on winter protection this coming winter. Just to be safe... A local nursery can come out and take a look. But, I would say a high percentage rate of what your seeing is winter damage.

According to Mel, before planting in the same square, you need to add a trowel full of compost. That should revitalize the soil. No need to do an extensive dig. Just work it in with a claw and then plant. Keski