I have an apple tree growing that has a very tall apex bud, about 3 foot of still-green twig branch, and the surrounding branches basically come off the very base. The tree is a stunted 4-year old that started recovering from root rot this year and shot up.

I don’t want to top/prune the tree, nor break the branch, so what design should I tie it into over winter for it to grow from in spring, considering this shape will be the heart of this tree forever.

(Is this a witchy enough outdoors question?)