How much have they grown?

What's around them now? Grass or mulch?

Alex

Don't think adding soil around the tree is prudent. Just add a good layer of mulch, fertilize and irrigate if needed, and keep the weeds down. Other than the soil aspect, your plan sounds good to me. You should be able to make these trees grow and fruit.

I agree with the fruitnut. Pruning, too, is an important factor in blossom and fruit set. Now's the time. Misterbaby.

It may be helpful to add some compost below the mulch- not much more than an inch thick and at least in a 5' diameter circle. It should be light and fluffy stuff like what forms under oak trees beneath nearly rotten leaves. This is what the mulch turns into over time and the feeder roots really go to town here. Putting it out now will speed the over all benefits of mulching.

I agree that bringing in soil is not a good idea after the fact if the soil is capable of supporting tree growth. If you haven't protected the trees from weed competition you wouldn't know what your soil can do unless there's other established trees in the same soil nearby. If so and they're doing well (any non-swamp species) than your soil should be adequate.

Nearby large trees can also stunt the establishment of fruit trees. If there were substantial tree roots in soil when you planted these trees than that would be the case.

the apple trees are about 4-5 ft, but single main stem & very few branches. All are on dwarf B-9 stock. Center stem still less than 1/2 in across. Just found apple invoice, & they have been planted only 2 yrs. Cherry is much larger, 10ft and more developed. I've trimmed them each once or twice. There is a large maple 35 ft north, and large oaks (tall,not wide) 40 ft east. There is grass around part of area. My mulching before has been just enough to cover the dirt. Have been researching (this forum) on how to be a better fruit grower, and appreciate the help.

B9 is a full dwarf rootstock that needs irrigation during even short dry spells. They still need to put out some vigorous growth to be productive and can easily runt out if stressed. It is common to get some fruit the second year, but only if they are properly cared for.

When trees runt out the only hope is to cut out most of the short knotty wood and encourage straight vegetative shoots until tree returns to adequate vigor, combined with adequate water and nitrogen.

Is this a good time to trim or wait till big freezes over (it's going down to 20 tonight)

Both would be good times. Don't prune immediately before temps drop to below negative 25 F.

If you live where 20 degrees is a cold winter night you never have to worry about temps. in deciding when to prune. There is some speculation that early pruning can rush apricots prematurely out of dormancy but I've not seen actual research on this.