Wait until the tree is totally dormant, before you do the job.

I had never heard of that proverb, but apparently there is this:

"There is an old gardener's axiom: a 25-dollar hole for a 25-cent plant."

(from southsoundtalk.com)

"Wait until the tree is totally dormant, before you do the job."

And how do I know this?
Do I sing it a lullaby?
Should I listen for snoring?

You might want to read up here again..

The planted Tootsie Pop Test.

I wondered where I posted that, I forgot it was here in GardenWeb. I guess I am picking up where that one left off.

Tap root or no tap root, the tree is very healthy yet it will easily fall over if I did not have the supports.

Will that destroy it? Maybe but I am sure that when we get a hurricane or severe storm, the tree is a gonner anyway. OTOH, it just might pop over and then I can go back out and stand it up again. (:

I guess that early December is still too early.