Planting a tree in the fall while the soil is still warm and moist allows the tree to grow strong roots before winter freezing. Then, winter and spring rains provide the tree ample water for a healthy jump start in the spring. 
How to plant a tree:
- Visualize the tree full grown! Then plant it where it has plenty of room to grow and where it gets at least six hours of sunlight,
- Dig a hole 3X bigger in diameter than the root ball and as deep as the container. Make a mound of soil in the center of the hole to support the roots.
- Grab the trunk near the root ball and pull it out of its container. Loosen the roots by pulling the tree’s main roots loose from the soil!
- Place the tree in the center of the hole. Do not fertilize now wait until spring.
- Set the tree’s crown 2″ above the soil line, point loosened roots outward & downward in the hole. Root placement is important, otherwise years later you could discover the roots are strangling the tree and causing crown rot!
- Fill the hole halfway with soil, then water a few minutes. Once the water
example of slit pipe
is absorbed, fill the hole tampering as you go, water again thoroughly.
- Mulch around the tree, but do not allow the mulch to touch the trunk.
- Stake tree for stability and also protect its trunk from deer damage;a 6″ black corrugated-perforated drain pipe wrapped around the truck works well for this purpose.
ENJOY!… Carlotta Lucas