Field soil looks dried out, as often happens. For best results get the tree thoroughly re-moistened first and then read and follow these. (Give it time to soak up the water before cutting any roots).

https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/403/2015/03/bb-root-balls.pdf

https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/403/2015/03/Planting-fact-sheet.pdf

Thank you Embothrium. I was worried about that too, but the clay is wetter than it looks. I checked it with a moisture probe. The process has begun.

Roots are not as delicate as most might think. I remember my father yelling "Don't disturb the roots!!!" when trans-planting the garden veggies when I was a kid. If he would have been there when I made a juniper bonsai from a nursery stock, or when I root pruned my potted JMs, he would have passed out!

I would water it real good for a few days and on the last sunny day before you get a string of cloudy/days, I would rip off all the burlap and wire, hose off all the clay and plant the tree.

Be certain to keep the roots moist and out of direct sunlight. Use an old bath towel or too sprayed with the hose to cover what you're not working on. Also, be certain there are no large voids in the dirt when you plant.

You might get a bit of transplant shock, but in the long run the tree will be much better off without all that crap on the root ball.