Cut out the bad parts and munch out.. they are fine, and it does resemble,BER, Blossom End Rot also, so it usually resolves itself as the season marches on, Personally I wouldn't cover them, pick off the bad ones (they won't get any better, and as you say, it gives more room for new fruits, PS... Keep the moisture consistent, and you will fare better.

Any more thoughts? Yes indeed. Place mulch rings around those beautiful maples. In fact that whole area between the trees and the deck should be mulch. Mulch rings should be 5 ft radius from the center of the tree. Could be more or less for esthetics. Be creative. Make that whole area a flower bed. Make it curvy in front. Fallen leaves make a perfect mulch and you should have tons of them. Your trees have a nice root flair. Do not bury the root flair but keep the mulch pulled back a couple inches from the trunk. A lot of stuff will grow in those mulched areas. Start with annuals and a few perennial flowers changing things as you learn more about flowers and gardens. Maple leaves decomposed very well over winter especially if chopped up by a lawn mower. The remaining mulch is a fine dark brown almost black leaf mulch. I can think of no better mulch for those trees and plants growing there. And of course it free, every fall. Now for the grass issue. Once you outline your mulch beds, scratch up the soil where you want the grass with a rake and scatter a sun and shade mixture of grass seed. Then roll it lightly, or absent a roller, just walk on it pressing the seeds into the soil. Mulching the seedbed is a good idea but optional. Common mistake is burying the seed too deep. If you could spread 1/8 inch thickness of compost, peat, or garden soil, that would be good. Clean wheat straw is also an effective as a mulch for grass seeding. Most importantly, the seed bed must be kept moist until all the seeds have germinated and established roots. That means twice a day, everyday unless it rains. Fertilizer is recommended. Good luck with your northern lawn and gardens. Continue reading and posting your questions. I know you can have a beautiful lawn and flower beds there. No, a heavy frost will not kill the grass seedlings. Bill Hill

first.. they will heal themselves.. anything you dream up.. is contrary to nature .... so dont get any bright ideas of how lonely old you.. can do it better than mother nature ... now.. talk to me about planting depth .. and reflection of sun off all that stonework ... why do they look like telephone poles .. going straight into the earth.. where is the trunk flare????? loosen some of that mulch.. and find the root flare.. and take a few more pix ... while you are out there .. tell us about how the sun moves across that patio and rocks.. and where the sun is.. according to the scars ... and you might want to add prevailing winter wind direction ... to my use of the words.. sun scald is frost crack.. they are the same thing ... the sun.. heats one side of the plant ... repeatedly .. all winter long.. while the other side.. remains frozen .. or the bark goes back and forth from freeze to thaw... as the sun works across that heat retaining patio .... so what caused it.. was it the sun.. or the cold.. frankly it was both ... over.. and over.. all winter long ... not surprising that damage would develop .... and it probably didnt happen this winter ... perhaps the winter after transplant ????? when the plants were at the height of stress ... come next winter .... block the sun from the trunks ... so the trunks stay completely dormant... without the back and forth ... and that will help ... regardless.. you have to figure out if there is planting depth problems ... the fact that the crack.. if i recall right [closed pix already] .. goes right into the ground... it usually doesnt ... because the root flare would stop it .... good luck ken

No, not sun scald. It is likely a problem with nutrients. But from what you listed, it sounds like it could too much. I would suggest flushing your plants thoroughly and then laying off all ferts for a little while. But I wouldn't get too worked up over the deformation. They look healthy otherwise. Others may have different advice, but it sounds like you have been throwing a lot and a lot of different ferts at them. Bruce