growing a new tree from a live sucker branch

Question

Is it possible to grow a new tree from a live sucker branch, on an otherwise dead tree? We have 2 year old fruit trees which died from deer rubbing the bark. The fruit trees still produce suckers. Can you train the sucker to produce a new tree without digging it away from the dead tree?

Answer 1

I would not recommend this and I will tell you why. Most fruit trees are grafted. When grafting, a tree with highly desirable characteristics (such as good tasting fruit) is surgically attached to a tree that has a better stronger root system (which we refer to as rootstock). The suckers growing at the base of your fruit trees are likely going to be of the rootstock so you will not get a clone of the fruit tree that just died but something much different.