Can you tell if the original was a grafted tree, and what you're seeing shooting up is what you want?

I liked your idea of 5 shoots - this last 8 months has been brutal for fruit trees along the front range, so it may not be anything you're doing wrong.

How would I tell if they are growing from a grafted tree?

Most grafted trees have a distinctive swelling or bump where the original graft was - on my fruit trees, now 10 yrs old, its about 4" off the ground, but I've seen plenty of trees that were planted too deep. That same bump should exist, even if buried.

I'm no expert on crab apples, a quick google shows that many flowering varieties are grafted, and the genus is also a candidate for root stock to graft other stuff.

Thats not much help. :)

The shoots are unmistakably crabapples. Hopefully someone out there has some tips for me to try...

Are the original trunks of the trees still alive? If they're dead, have you removed them? If you haven't already, I'd cut them off before the suckers get very big.

The suckers that grow may not be the original plant. If the trees were grafted and the mother plant has passed the suckers may be from the rootstock, a different type of crabapple than mama.

I'm with David. Clip out the inferiors and leave yourself with a few to let grow on a bit. I wouldn't bother with fertilizing or anything other than water when needed. Mother Nature gave them the best possible start with this rain. There's nothing for you to do but step back, watch what comes up and prune off what you don't want . With a little luck you'll end up with a new crabapple tree. Patience. It has been a rough year for trees.

I see. No, the trunks are gone, only roots left. Thanks for the suggestions.

Mark, after you've picked 4-5 shoots to try and protect, then you might want to let them get 4 feet high then prune them back by half - makes for a sturdier plant.

Again, if it is grafted, you don't know what you'll get.

Thanks for everyone's comments and information. I'm OK with not knowing what I'll get from these trees, because after all, I didn't even purchase or plant them myself. The element of surprise will add to the enjoyment of growing the trees, especially after all of my efforts thus far.

I've removed the winter chicken wire barrier and trimmed the bundle of spring suckers back to 5 shoots per tree. They're only about 12" tall thus far. I will water them deeply with trickling hose, as needed, throughout the summer in hopes of getting some sturdy shoots by the fall. In the past, the pencil-thin shoots have only had leaves running up the length of the stalks, but if they have branches or "off-shoots" by the time they are 4' tall, then I'll prune them back by half. Happy growing!