My Craig’s Crimson cherry (planted bare root this past winter), which I cut to 16" upon planting, did not branch out very nicely, having only one branch coming out at the very top, and two branches coming out just above the graft, (the graft is about 4" above the ground). I’ve attached a photo taken a couple month ago when the branches first started. The branch on the left seems to be safely above the graft, but the branch on the right has me concerned. the scar between the rootstock and the tree seems to run along the underside of that branch, but it is so close to the graft that I’m worried it may end up having the character of the rootstock. Given that the graft scar runs below the branch am I safe assuming this branch is of the tree and not the rootstock? This branch is likely to become a major scaffold branch, so I want to be sure.
(BTW, I’m ok with having branches low to the ground. The tree is in a raised box, and I’m trying to keep the trees small, as per backyard orchard culture)
