Don't hesitate to plant the tree. Elmendorf suggests storing a tree no longer than a week. If the tree must be stored, cover the root ball in mulch and keep it moist. Do prune before planting, but not too much. Limited pruning, such as eliminating crossed branches or damaged limbs, is acceptable.
Leaves give trees the energy for growing roots.
Digging a hole for the tree may seem the simplest part of the job, but Elmendorf warns that attention must be paid to the dirty work. In general, foresters recommend that trees be planted in wide holes, at least three times the width of the root ball. The top of the root ball should be level with the existing terrain. The root ball should rest on firm soil and in most cases original soils can be used to fill in the hole. In most cases you shouldn't use peat moss or soil amendments because they act as a sponge and retain water, especially in clay soils.