I have the above mentioned tree and it appears to be dead. It has no leaves on it but suckers continue to grow from the bottom. Does this mean it can be saved?
Depends on what you mean by 'the bottom'. If the new growth is above the graft, then it will (all things being equal) re-grow. If it is below the graft (probably the most likely scenario) then the new growth is rootstock (I'm supposing it would be Black Locust), and you are now the owner of such.
I am not quite sure what you mean. Does this mean the tree is no longer viable? Or that if I cut it the suckers will grow into something else (ie, a Black Locust). I am a bit new to grafts and root stocks so am quite ignorant in that regard. In fact I am having a similar problem with an Aspen tree as well. Would the same thing apply?
Your Twisty Baby locust is/was composed of two parts: the roots and lower section of stem are (almost certainly) a black locust which has had its top cut off, and a cutting (scion) from a Twisty Baby grafted onto it. You can locate the graft on your tree (will appear, to varying degrees, as a junction or scar where the top section meets the rootstock) and see if the new growth is below the graft-which means the rootstock/black locust is regrowing, or above the graft-which would mean the 'twisty baby' part is regrowing. At any rate, lightly scratch the bark of the top portion with a fingernail and see if there is any green (cambium). Where there's green there's hope. An aspen (or any other tree) would only be considered in a similar vein if it was also a grafted tree.
I checked the tree for a a graft line or scar but could find nothing. Could it be below the ground? The suckers are growing from just above ground level to about a foot to a foot and a half above groind level. I also scraped the surface of the bark and it looks dead. What do you think would happen if I just cut the tree and let those suckers grow? The aspen does not appear to be grafted either and there is no green beneath the bark. The suckers on this one are quite close to the ground. It is a Populus tremula "erecta". Same question, what do you think will happen if I cut it? I truly appreciate your advice.
Perhaps the graft is buried, or it might be grafted up high--in which case the graft union will be a few feet above the ground. This tree is sometimes propagated by tissue culture as well; if that's the case with yours, then it would be growing on it's own roots, and the new growth would be twisty as well. Yes, cut back the dead growth, and no harm letting the suckers (or one of them) grow a while: you'll soon see whether it's twisty or not, and in the case of black locust, spiny. Same with the aspen (sorry, not familiar enough with the tree to know if grafting is typical...); cut dead part off, select a sucker to be the new leader, see what it becomes...
