Ok cool, thank you so much. I feel like I can relax now that I’ve had someone with garden knowledge confirm that my tree is fine!

While it is difficult to judge distances from your pictures, there is something wrong with your tree. It is too close to the fence. While small now, it will grow into a tree with a crown that is at least 10' in diameter. It looks like when the tree reaches a spread of about 6' it will be in the fence. At their growth rate this will be in a couple of years.

The spots on the trunk are lenticels. Google them.

second pic... why are all those leaves off the tree???

did they fall off due to transplant stress??? .. did you plant it fully leafed out ...

how are you watering.. and how are you verifying there is sufficient water at root depth ...

was the tree potted when you got it ... did you bare root it ... or did you plant the whole gob of potting media ?? .. what is your native soil ... and does it properly drain???

i hope you didnt pick them off because you thought there was a problem ... every leaf is a food making machine.. to grow the roots.. to get your new tree established ... so its usually best to leave all the leaves on ... even if slightly damaged.. they can still process sunshine into food ... btw.. its stressed.. fert is not a proper response at this time....

frankly.. it still looks pretty good.. just perfect watering .. and hope for the best .. and try not to love it to death ...

if you move it right now .... you will stress it further.. but sometimes you gotta do.. what you gotta do ... if you could rig up some shade for a week or two.. after the move... it will help reduce stress related to the replanting ....

i would not expect an actual crop on the tree for 2 or 3 years ... it needs to grow the roots ... to support the crop ... it might work out faster in your zone... but if you expect such.. and it comes in sooner... then you will be happy ... lol .... rather than worrying when it doesnt happen ....

ken

https://sites.google.com/site/tnarboretum/Home/planting-a-tree-or-shrub

In my experience all apple trees are diseased. Nevertheless they produce bushels of apples for 100 or more years.

It’s a healthy tree. It can be pruned away from fence as it grows

Thanks everyone for the advice. I appreciate it! I’m just going to leave it where it is, make sure it gets adequate water, and prune it later. Thanks again!