Got given a Maqui berry tree. It looks a healthy plant but is basically one long stem with leaves I am wondering if I should chop the top off of it when I plant it. It's about 4 foot. anyone got any tips for going one in South Australia. Hot dry summers cool winter 350mm in winter
Sounds like you have been gifted what we call a WHIP. Whips are first year tree sprouts and they will fill out in two years from planting. Once you have side branching you can think about pruning, if you were to "top" the whip, then you have set in stone the shape of the tree as well as the height of the trunk.