That is a tragic story, indeed! I have done this very procedure many times, so have courage. You can go about this two primary ways: the first is simply to repot the entire tree; the second is to cut off the healthy top and root it, and also repot and hope the trunk and rootmass survive. I think it is imperative that you use a free-draining potting mix. I use bark, perlite, lava rock, and just a little potting mix as a binder/moisture retentive ingredient. And when I say "a little potting mix," I mean less than 10% of the overall mix. If you can't mix your own, I recommend a fine-grade Orchid Mix, to which you will probably add some coarse Perlite. Repot keeping the roots moist at all times, thoroughly water and saturate the new mix when done, and place the tree in outdoor shade if available - no direct sun. Keep the mix uniformly moist with light waterings for at least a week after repotting. You can either repot the tree first, and the cut the top off....or you can cut the top off and repot the tree all at once. It's a bit of a gamble, as I don't know the vitality of the tree, but I have confidence from repeated experience that the top will root (if it is healthy as you describe). I place the cut top in a vase/jar of water, and I wait for white root primordia to appear. As soon as they appear, I transfer the cutting into a container of the same moist, free-draining mix, and I keep it moist while the cutting continues to root. I use #1 nursery containers.

Let us know Susan how it works for you. Good luck!! Oh too bad redwolf. Maybe you could play paint with the white stuff. Paint a happy face on your hand. Make it "talk" etc. Then paint one on her hand. Don't make any notice of the splinter. In fact do a face on each of your hands and each of hers (starting with the nonsplintered hand). You could maybe even put in some food coloring in it so that it doesn't look white - then maybe she won't connect it with the first white stuff. Hope you can get it out this way for her. :) Redribbons - yes make sure you have baking soda for the thorns. Seil - it's STILL snowing. :( Carol

Many fruit trees (and maybe other plants, too) are alternate bearers - they alternate between a big crop one year and a smaller one the next, then repeat the cycle. Japanese persimmons and olives are two that I have experience with. Sometimes you get two bang-up years in a row; I had about 250-300 fruit on my Fuyu persimmon last year and this year looks about the same. Avocado may follow the same pattern. They look yummy!

and of course.. we dont chop anything off.. we properly prune them ... never leaving stubs.. cutting at the branch collar etc .... you should get a good pair of hand shears .. and a pruning saw .. the investment is well worth the money.. especially if you have more shrubs and trees around the house ... saw... something like this: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=folding+pruing+saw&t=ffcm&ia=web shears something like this: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Bypass-Pruners-8-Professional-Sharp-Bypass-Pruning-Shears-Tree-Trimmers-Gardening-Scissors-Hand-Pruner-Garden-Shears-Clippers-for-Garden-Yard-Work/130427864 are you new to the home.. note the lack of grass around the base .. im thinking last year someone went to town on this thing to clean it up .. and part of what you are seeing is a result of such ... an id of the plant on better pix.. might help ... some trees.. there is a goo you put on the cuts coming out of the ground to dissuade more of such ... gal can bring us up to speed on that ... also.. if its a flowering tree.. timing of pruning might be important ... nothing healthy dies from pruning alone.. so just get it done.. when the time comes ... you might want to mulch under the plant to reduce weeds.. or plant some grass seed .. but just leaving bare soil is an invitation for weed city ... the ID will also help us decide if you can easily garden under it.. or if that might be a PIA .... ken