Question
i have a japanese maple tree about 4ft  tall and due to the weight of the snow, three main limbs which connect to the trunk came off! Now it looks like the entire center is missing. Can i do anything to preserve the tree itself where it broke off and will it grow back since it is not a branch but the entire limb?

Answer
A tree this young will grow back. It may look a little lopsided for a year or so but it should recover. Make sure the broken limbs are cut off and any loose bark split near the wound is removed. Prune the broken limbs back to about 1/4 inch of the trunk-do not prune flush with the trunk. This will allow the tree to heal over the wound. I would also fertilize the tree with 10-10-10 fertilizer at the rate of 1 lb of fertilizer per inch of trunk diameter scattered around the tree and watered in good. If you apply the fertilize just before a rain storm you will not have to water it in.