Q: I have a native persimmon tree at my home and my Golden Retrievers love the fruit. I noticed recently there wasn’t any fruit on it this year. I had a gnarly companion tree cut down this spring and was wondering if that could have affected the persimmon bearing fruit.

A: Removing one tree could certainly have affected the fruiting of another persimmon nearby. Persimmons have male (pollenizing) and female (bearing) trees. You might have removed the pollinator tree. On the other hand, drought can affect persimmon fruiting too. I don’t know where you could buy another male-flowering tree. Your best bet might be to attract pollinating insects who could bring pollen from persimmons in woods nearby. Plant lots of pollinator-friendly abelia, holly and crimson clover near your tree.