I have a two year old Edward which is planted in the ground. The main trunk is damaged due to a lateral limb breaking off. I plan on pugging the tree in the spring and would like to pug below the damage. However, there is no vegetation (i.e. leaves) below the damage so my question is:

Will I kill the tree if I pug below the damage (leaving no vegetation), or should I pug above the damage (leaving vegetation) and hope that lateral shoots form below the damage at which time I can then pug the damage off?

Thanks.