Question
Hi Tom,
Last year at spring time I purchased a Marsh Grapefruit Tree. It established itself real well but we had an unusually cold winter here in North Central Florida last year. It lost all its leaves and died back about a foot. But the new growth is underneath the graft line. Does this mean that the tree is no good? I also have a sucker coming up on my bartlett pear tree just below the graft line also. Is this also not good and should I throw away the grapefruit tree and break off the sucker on the pear tree or leave them. I have heard that if its below the graft line that the fruit will be no good. Is this true? Please help.
Thanks so much!

Answer
Hi Betty,
Thanx for your question.  Suckers and other growth coming from the below the graft line should be removed or they will take over.  If the graft is dead, I would destroy the rootstock.  Remove the suckers from the pear tree.  If you allow suckers to take over, it will result in a totally inferior plant.  I hope this helps.
Tom