With that array of suckers, you might want to look into "pleaching curly willow". I can't see enough to suggest a way to get a decent looking tree out of that. You always could root a cutting or five and start over while you practice what you pleach. ;-)

tj

The suckers are going to each want to be a tree. At this point I would be concerned cutting all but one sucker is going to leave you with a strange lot of wood down there.

yep.. that strap did it ...

cut down all but one.. and see how it reacts ...

i suspect ... its going to be a long hard road.. to restrict it to one trunk .. now that it has gone this far .. and the base is not going to be pretty ....

what pops to mind.. does this thing root as freely as any other willow .. if so.. start 3 or 4 twigs .. in a pot ... and if they have rooted by fall .. get rid of this monstrosity ... and plant one of the rootlings ...

one thing for sure.. as it is.. its working its job of being a sight block for the house behind.. maybe it is perfect the way it is ... though i would take out the big dead part ...

if you want to kill it all.. cut to the ground.. and apply a stump killer ... and kill it.. before you remove it ... make sure the roots are dead.. before you start removal ...

ken