By Odyssey
South Yorkshire,
United Kingdom 
I HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT YOUR SITE AND I AM A LITTLE CONFUSED.I HAVE A CORDYLINE IN MY FRONT GARDEN IT IS 35YRS OLD IT HAS BEEN AFFECTED BY THE SNOW AND COLD.TODAY WE HAVE HAD GAIL FORCE WINDS AND IT HAS NOW ONLY A FEW CROWNS LEFT ON WE HAVE NEVER BEFORE HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT.THE TREE HAS SPLIT INTO ABOUT 8 BRANCHES THE TRUNK IS REALLY WIDE.SOME WEB SITES SEEM TO SAY LEAVE IT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS BUT YOUR SITE SAYS IF THERE IS ROT IN THE TRUNK CUT IT NOW THE OTHERS SAY LEAVE UNTIL SRING CAN ANYONE HELP I AM VERY SAD AS ITS BEEN PART OF OUR GARDEN AND HOME FOR THE PAST 35YRS.
4 Feb, 2011
Answers
THANKYOU THATS MADE IT A BIT CLEARER
4 Feb, 2011
It's always best to leave any severe cutting until spring - however, if the rotting is really bad, with oozing, dripping, orangey stuff pouring out, this rot may spread and cause more damage. If all you have is a few soft spots in the trunk/s, then leave them alone and see what happens in the spring - you may by then decide you have to cut the trunks back to healthy areas because those soggy areas are now really bad. You may find the plant throws out new shoots up the trunks, or from the base, or both, as spring and summer progress.
4 Feb, 2011