Last fall I had a large plant/landscaping retailer put in two maples, 3 cherry's and I put in two pears. Despite good intentions, disorganization won out and all I remember is that the one is some sort of Sugar Maple and the other is not. The one that is not - leafed out about a month ago. The pears and cherries have leafed, bloomed and been chewed by deer. All the other trees and shrubs around here are getting very well leafed in.

The Sugar Maple hadn't done a thing but look dead.

Till yesterday when I noticed a few bud tips looking green.

Is this normal? Can I expect future decent performance given normal decent watering etc. or will this tree always be sort of sickly? Should I attempt to get a refund?

Thoughts?

Thanks,

Mary

Other background:

Zone 5, Nebraska (where its been warmer than my old zone 5 in Michigan for sure)

I really did not like the way they planted these trees, smalles hole possible, no looks for bound roots or root teasing. The maples were last and I finally convinced them to dig a slightly bigger hole. This in an area that had been packed to cement by trucks and is clay to begin with thought the other maple was probably in the worst spot of the two.

The reason I choose a sugar maple despite the reputation for slow growth (is that correct?) is as a sort of homage to my native state of Michigan. I'm kind of homesick.