Question
In the fall of 2001 I planted a seed from a sweetgum tree in a pot.  It sprouted the following spring and now the tree is 24 inches high and is in a pot that is 14 inches tall and 7 inches diameter.  I live in Southwest Ohio, and I am considering planting the tree in the ground since it is now 4 years old.  The tree has spent each winter inside the house from the time the outside temperature fell below 38 degrees.  
I would like to know if it is old enough to plant in the ground and which season of the year is a good time to plant it, spring? or fall?   I wonder if I should re-pot it in a bigger pot and wait another year to plant it.  

Answer
Now is a good time to transplant it out doors. Either do it now or wait until early next spring. The main thing to remember is to dig a whole large enough. Make the hole twice the size of the pot the tree is in now. The depth should be about the same as the pot. Fill the hole back up with potting soil. Mulch around the newly planted tree. Water daily to a moist soil for about a week then water as needed, depending on if your area got any rain. Since the tree has a good root system you should not have any problems.