if you fert your lawn .. NEVER FERT THAT TREE AGAIN ... IMHO.. that would be double dipping.. the tree will get its roots under the lawn.. and get what it needs ... [and that has nothing to do with iron or anything else an oak might need in clay.. thats a soil amendment.. not a fert] ..... i dont understand.. why he told you to expose the root flare.. and then you dumped more soil there???? .. the root flare should be at ground level ... regardless.. with oak.. ignore it for 10 years.. but for watering for another year or two to get it well established .. and in 10 years.. it will be 20 feet tall ... at a min ... they simply do not 'appear' to ever grow.. but they do ... once they get a root mass down.. presuming you dont keep digging it up .. lol .. i like to say.. a tree is twice as big below ground as above.. so after transplant.. it takes a few years.. to grow that root mass as big as the tree above ... so that the tree can start growing like the weeds they are ... i mow the lawn with a rider .. the mulch ring would be at least 3 to 5 feet .. cant slow down or anything like that.. lol ... the mulch also retards evaporation.. keeps the soil cooler [which trees like] .. and more friable.. relatively speaking [looser] .... no downside to bigger ... and.. you can plant a few small annuals in the mulch ring for a spice of color ... presuming you can do that with a handle trowel and not disturb the roots of the tree to any great extent ... [and with a trowel.. i wouldnt even give it a second thought] patience is a virtue .. and dont love it to death .... ken

rayandgwenn: Thanks for the reply. Since the weather is nicer outside, I decided to move it outside the greenhouse. There were two worker in yellow and black suit buzzing around afterward. I will hand pollenated it also. Hopefully I can get some fruit this year.

The poor baby! Thank you for giving him a chance! Maybe, with a bit of fertilizer, he will surprise you? Linda

Definitely a Charlie Brown redbud, ha. It’s warm enough in your area so if it doesn’t start showing signs of life in two weeks, start calling seller. I have received dormant plants that woke up just fine but also some that never did.