[Lardman]

Can the mess I've made of this be sorted ?  It's a cheap aldi tree (James Graves I think) but when I pruned it to espalier it I didn't leave 3 buds - only 2.     I thought I might be able to regrow the leader from the vertical you can see but it doesn't seem to want to make an effort.

I think there are my options.

1. Wait and see if the vertical does pick up.
2. Cut the vertical and leave the tree with 1 tier - seems a waste of space.
3. Cut the vertical and 1 horizontal and see if another more suitable shoot appears.
4. Cut everything right back to the trunk and start again.

Im inclined to try option 3 and cut the horizontal on the left hand side back to the trunk, annoying as it's the one with fruit most buds on this year but it may redirect growth to the vertical which I can then winter prune to reshape the espalier.

[Norfolkgrey]

I wouldn't cut it again now until it goes dormant. However, I would expect to be able to grow a new leader from the vertical like you mention. I should imagine you just need to wait a bit longer. 

[mumofstig]

It'll deffo try to grow a leader- either the vertical that's already there will put on a spurt or one the buds nearest the trunk on one of the horizontals will become a leader.

Just leave it be till it makes up its mind 

[Lardman]

Just leave it be till it makes up its mind 

It's been doing that for over a year... that pathetic vertical is it's managed. I'll give it until the end of the season if that's the consensus then, but after that I'm having at it.