On 05/04/2017 11:06, earthstick wrote:

It is a sunburst cherry on a colt rootstock which is semi-vigorous
(my mistake).

I have staked it towards the bottom after reading that a bit of
movement when it is windy will stimulate the tree to root quicker.

My suspicion is that there is too much root movement then, perhaps not
enough watering in and the tree has not managed to root down into the
ground properly. I'd stake it around 3-4' from the ground with a sturdy
stake and one of the thick rubber bands for tree support in a figure of
8. It needs some movement but I suspect it has got far too much.

I did nothing with it in the first year or it may have been 2 - can't
quite remember now. The existing branches grew longer but no side
branches. I read about trimming every other bud to promote side
branching so I tried that last year but still nothing. So this year
I tried trimming back some of the new growth on the two leading
branches. Looks like that will have no effect either.

How tall is it at present then?

There are no suckers coming from below the graft but I can see what
look like buds there. Will see what happens in the coming months.

That points to the rootstock fighting for its own survival and not
having enough energy even to sucker.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown