On Mon, 7 Nov 2011 10:35:28 -0500, Gary Brown wrote:
Last week's snow storm broke the top of a pine tree that has
some sentimental value. The top is not completely off, just
bent down. Is it possible to fix it? How?

If the wood is broken, take it off just below the break and a new leader will
establish with most conifers. If you get multiple leaders forming, select one
and prune out the rest.

If it's just bent over, do what you can to get the rest of the snow knocked off and try to keep it knocked off this winter and it'll probably be just fine.
If you can't get and keep the snow off, it'll still probably be just fine,
depending on the species, though you may have to do some remedial pruning in
the coming years: www.mttreefarm.org/Forestry-Tips/storm.pdf

But right now, except for trying to knock more snow load off when possible,
you're basically in wait and see mode till next spring.

Same basic advice as I gave Cheryl... if this is an important tree, and
you don't know what to do, consider a consulting arborist.

Kay