Hello!
I bought a japanese maple in the fall of 2020 and planted it in my front yard to "replace" a blue colorado spruce that was dying and unyeildy. 8 cubic feet of earth around the maple's roots was replaced with good top soil mixed with some compost, with some mycorrhizae as per the botanist's advice. It was protected during the winter with some wind barriers to prevent freezing. It never grew and even seemed to become smaller since it was planted. I never dared to give it fertilizers to make sure I do not burn it.
Is there anything I am missing?
Here are some photos :
