Question
We have a friend that will has given us two red maple saplings apx 3-4 feet tall.  They are currently wrapped in a burlap sack and are being kept quite moist.  We would like to plant them in our yard.  What is your best advice on transplant and after care.  We live in mid michigan and the trees came from the same area.  Possibly not the ideal time of year for transplanting but the trees were going to be destroyed because of new construction.  We have open land and quite a bit of wind.  We would like to keep these beautiful trees alive and could use your expert advice.  Thank you for your help

Answer
Dig the new hole twice the size of the root ball and as deep. Fill with good top soil. Remove the burlap from the roots and plant as deep as the top of the root ball. Mulch around the tree with 3 inches deep of organic mulch not piled up on the trunk. And water every third day with 1 inch of water--place a pan under the tree and turn the sprinkler on and when the pan has 1 inch in it stop. Do this fro a month and then water every week with 1 inch. water if it does not rain.