On a newly planted tree most anything can happen. You don't know how much chilling or heat it's received this winter and spring. What matters is what they do next spring. Hopefully they'll bloom together after established.

Is there a certain point in time where I should start to worry if it hasn't leafed out this year?

Yes, when the bark is no longer green if scratched. Eight days is way too soon for concern.

Thanks fruitnut!

I have had trees that took 2 months or more to leaf out after transplanting dormant.

Even next year the Goldrush will be behind the crab. My Wickson crab is now at 1/2" green and many apples are still fully dormant. Not all crabs leaf out early but nearly all of them do.

Scott

I hope the blooms persist long enough so there is overlap whenever the Gold Rush has adapted to its new environment. If not, I guess I'll be adding another late blooming apple tree somewhere in the backyard even though I didn't plan on it. :-)

Make sure you spray it. GoldRush is highly susceptible to Cedar Apple Rust. And we have high pressure from it in our area.

Thanks for the heads up! Apparently, I'm going to have to spray it and my Asian pear with fungicide. I have Immunox and I will be applying it. I have to work out the application schedule.

Went out today and saw the first leaves emerging on the Gold Rush. That''s always a welcome sight on a new transplant. :-) My wife probably thinks I'm crazy for spending time each day after work going from plant to plant in the backyard and patiently examining them for growth and problems.

I do the same thing. And, yes, my wife thinks I'm crazy.

If you bought it bare-root - it could be later to leaf than normal.

1. it might have been in cold storage until a few days ago when they shipped it

2. Just due to root disturbance, bare-root transplants can take longer to leaf out