Q. I have set out a large number of fruit trees and they don't seem to be growing. Some of the trees have been out 2 years. I have never tried to grow fruit trees before and really don't know how to care for them. The reason your young fruit trees have not grown may be poor soil conditions such as heavy clay, rocky soil, low levels of fertility, etc. Often it is poor weed control or trees which froze or dried out at the nursery.
Adequate moisture is also critical for growth.
However, fertilizer is not always the key. Apply a 3-inch thick layer of mulch around each tree to cover the soil over the root system. Avoid growing grass around the tree for several years until it is well established. Proper pruning and training is important to shape the growing trees. Pruning at planting encourages the vigorous growth of numerous scaffold branches.