Trees are particularly vulnerable to damage if growth has started. In the spring the bark is easily injured. Lift plants from underneath the rootball with the appropriate equipment. If plants must be held or stored on the landscape site, it is best to place them in a location protected from the wind and sun. Do not let the roots freeze or dry out during this time.
Supplemental irrigation is critical for the nursery stock during the growing season.
Protect them at all costs. If you have poor or compacted soil create a good root zone by amending the soil removed with a sandy-loam topsoil and aerifying the soil as deep as possible. The addition of organic matter provides little or no advantage to the planting hole in good soils. This makes room for future growth and increases aeration to the backfill. If poor drainage conditions cannot be corrected, don't plant a tree or shrub in the area, unless it can tolerate these conditions.