tree is on Mazzard (standard) rootstock (Dave Wilson)

is it too late to try forcing branches by 'scoring' with a saw ? I have never tried this before.

my inclination would be to cut main leader at 3' and train the new shoots outward 45-90 degrees to reduce vigor and hopefully induce more branches to form.

I think after reading through a lot of training methods, I will try bending it over into an arch and see if that will force some branches. I fear if I head it back again it will repeat trying a single leader.

HiI, Same tree same problem. not sure if this suppose too look this way? Any updates?

Hayden, yes I have lots of branches now. I did end up tying the tree over into an arch for 1 season. This did not seem to do much at first - just a slight increase in the number of leaves on all the branch spurs along the entire trunk. But by the next Spring these all lengthened to 3-4 feet long. I have released the tip now and have a strange but branched tree. The leader is slightly curved and leaning at a angle, and almost all branches are in the same 'plane'.

It looks like a tree trained to grow on a trellis which was originally planted at a 45 degree angle (see UPRIGHT FRUITING OFFSHOOTS (UFO) system).

Maybe I would have got branches anyway if I was more patient...

from today, same location