Too soon to plant trees?

[TheGrey]

Wulf, by a Tree Ring, do you mean one of those plastic circles that go around the tree, leaving a space that will hold the water in and let it soak in?

[Jim B]

Yes, wrap around holloween, remove around mothers day.

Got it.

[BPTactical]

You want to plant a tree during the dormant season, the tree will be less stressed as it starts to establish. I would have planted a month or two ago.
A "tree ring" is an area approximately the diameter of the limb circle of the tree. This is known as the drip ring of the tree. Mulch this area, you may want to berm it as well. This will help the drip ring hold water better ensuring it reaches the critical feeder roots of an immature, non established tree.
Guy wires/ ties are a good idea as well for young trees given our winds. 3 guys at 120 degrees apart with one of the guys oriented to the northwest (prevailing direction of winds on the front range). A garden store should have webbing straps for guying trees, you want a wide point of contact with the bark. Don't do the dumb thing of running the guy wire through a piece of hose and then going around the trunk. You create a pressure point on the bark and stand the chance of effectively choking that area and above creating a weak point on the trunk.
Keep the drip ring moist but not soaking wet.
It usually takes about 2 years for a 3-4" sapling to become established to the point where wrap and guys are no longer needed.

[Jim B]

...and if you already have the tree, and the ground is soft enough that you can dig an adequate hole for it, might as well plant it.

You didn't mention what variety of tree you have to plant, but it's a good idea to protect it from wildlife.

I think that's what I'm going to do.

It's an October Glory red maple. Pretty small, but it's got a nice shape to it. Bark, trunk, etc. all look to be in good shape. If it survives, it should be a nice-looking tree.

It's in a fenced back yard, so no real worries about deer.

Should have gone to Dollar Tree

Do they sell trees?

I went to a few nurseries here in COS several years ago. IIRC, everything was $300+. Not for me...

[Jim B]

You want to plant a tree during the dormant season, the tree will be less stressed as it starts to establish. I would have planted a month or two ago.
A "tree ring" is an area approximately the diameter of the limb circle of the tree. This is known as the drip ring of the tree. Mulch this area, you may want to berm it as well. This will help the drip ring hold water better ensuring it reaches the critical feeder roots of an immature, non established tree.
Guy wires/ ties are a good idea as well for young trees given our winds. 3 guys at 120 degrees apart with one of the guys oriented to the northwest (prevailing direction of winds on the front range). A garden store should have webbing straps for guying trees, you want a wide point of contact with the bark. Don't do the dumb thing of running the guy wire through a piece of hose and then going around the trunk. You create a pressure point on the bark and stand the chance of effectively choking that area and above creating a weak point on the trunk.
Keep the drip ring moist but not soaking wet.
It usually takes about 2 years for a 3-4" sapling to become established to the point where wrap and guys are no longer needed.

I know the procedures for planting, I was just wondering if it's too early. (Sounds like it's not.) Previously, I hadn't put anything in the ground before May.

[earplug]

This climate sucks for Fruit trees and many Nut bearing trees.
I know Spencers has trees that they keep outside and they can provide lots of information.