I have three years old apricot tree(Harglow Dwarf) that was all in flowers last spring despite abnormally cold and long winter. As suggested, I picked all the flowers to let the tree to develop, and it did - it doubled in size and looked very healthy by the end of the summer. This spring, however, I only see 2 flowers. When I inspected the buds closer, I found that undeveloped, small flower buds drop as I lightly touch them, as they would be dead. The winter this year was very mild, spring was early, but the buds didn't swell at any point... And then we had polar vortex in the first week of April when temperatures at night were at 17-20F for at least 3 days in a row, and generally whole week was cold. I also noticed that tips of highest branches look black and dry, like it is a frost damage, but only real frost we had this winter was that polar vortex. So my question is - did the cold made the damage to the tree, or it could be some other factors contributing to it?