[wbmkk]

Early this year, about February I planted two apple trees on my new allotment. The varieties are Jonagold and Bramley Seedling. At the time I asked for some pruning advice in an earlier thread, see below ..
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=112608.msg1285652#msg1285652

Although the trees have leaves I don't think they have actually grown at all this year.

Is this normal ... maybe they are getting their roots ready for a bumper growth next season.

thanks !

[Nobbie]

I think it's fairly normal, also judging by the pictures you originally posted the trees had put on a lot of new growth the previous year that they need to support after the shock of being transplanted. This will be worse for bare rooted plants. Keep the soil around the tree clear of grass and weeds as these can have quite a detrimental effect on growth. I planted a Bramley seedling in a lawn once and it never really got established before I got bored and removed it after three years. In hindsight I should have left a bare area of soil around it.