Last spring, I bought an apricot tree and planted it in my yard. I put cedar mulch around it, as well as one of those plastic things to protect from animals eating the bark. It is still alive and it grew leaves in the spring/summer. However, it doesn't seem to be growing at all. It is planted in full sun, but it gets a little shade later in the afternoon, say around 4pm. The soil is pretty hard with a lot of clay.

What do I need to do to get this tree growing?

Thanks in advance for your help.

It could be a lot of things. Where do you live? Do you have a picture? What did it look like last year before leaf fall?
John S
PDX OR

I live in Iowa - USDA zone 5. I just tested my soil pH with one of those cheap tests from Home Depot. Alkaline soil.

Last fall it looked fine. Full of leaves and healthy. Just small.

I would think that it would not have yet leafed out in the Spring yet there.
John S
PDX OR

Apricots prefer things on the dry side, and clay soils tend to be soggy. I would really try to find a sandier spot to plant the tree, or you may find fungus taking the tree out. They are really tough to grow in Western WA or Western Oregon due to brown rot, canker and other disease problems. Tend to break bud way too soon and bloom before frost is over.