Question
Hello,
The town where I reside had planted, at my request 3 Austrian Pine Trees which, just after 4 months, the needles turned brown (they were planted WITH the burlac sack and wire all-around the roots). When I say "brown" I mean very dark orange color almost brown!.

I requested a replacement from the town and, re-planted them with NEW Austrian Pine Trees - I cut off all around the  tight wire but, still were burried with the burlac sack around them (I made sure it was loose all-around the roots).

When the old Austrian Pine Trees were removed, I noticed that one had water at the bottom of the hole and was still GREEN (green needles not yet turned brown) whereas the other two pine trees had dry holes but, brown needles!.

Anything I should add to the NEW Austrian Pine Trees (planted on September 15, 2014) in order to guarantee survival?.

Thank you,
Mike.

Answer
Sounds like a combination of plant method and clay soil. In Clay soil when a hole is dug Especially if an auger is used the sides of the hole are smooth and the hole itself resembles a pot in the ground. This pot will hold moisture and fill with water and will drown the root system of the tree. Also the smooth hard surface of the hole will block the root from expanding outward. If the hole is just large enough fro the root ball of the tree then the roots can not grow and over time the tree starts to loose foliage and die.
The proper method would be to dig the hole twice the diameter of the root ball and as deep and fill the hole with good top soil or potting soil not the clay soil dug from the hole. Also if an auger is used punch holes around the sides and bottom so that the water cab drain form This "pot". This will keep the hole from holding water. And do not fertilize the tree for the first year. Fertilizer applied early will burn the roots.