Joe; If you start branches too low the fruit is gooing to be dragging in the mud when it is ripe!If you are starting a vase type tree start your branches at one meter or so to an outward bud! It is going to take three years to start the framework that will support the weight of a heavy crop of thinned apples! Since these trees are grafted on a dwarfing root stock they will need some type of support! You dont want your nicely shaped trees to blow over with the first big wind storm which is sure to come! One way to prevent that is to keep your trees super low but not too low! You could tie semi-permanent props on all 4 or 5 of your main scaffold branche s so the tree cannot blow over. You need to spread out your manure application ring as your tree grows taller.Your root have got to spread out to support the tree. If you keep putting the manure close to the trunk they will not want to leave! The roots will grow out as far as the tree is tall. Dont hold them back! Always watch your leaves! You cant grow apples without leaves! Learn to anticapate what is going to happen and then prevent it! Learn from experts in other countries. The weather is not the same but the principals involved are very similar! You need to learn contantly to keep ahead of insects and diseases. Good luck with your farm!
