Best time to plant a tree in south Louisiana

What are the classifications of trees?

We will be discussing three different types: 

Deciduous Trees
Basically trees which drop all of their leaves in winter.  Examples would be maple, ash, elm.

Evergreen Trees
Trees which hold onto their leaves and stay green all year.  Examples would be southern magnolia or Douglas Fir.

Tropical Trees
Think of these as trees or plants that have to be cut back or die if the temperature drops to freezing for more than a few days.  Examples would be palm tree, banana tree.

When is Tree Planting Season?

Autumn
This is the best time to plant a deciduous tree. Between mid August to mid-October is the best time for a tree's root development.  Planting a tree at this time will allow for the tree to adjust and come back strong the following spring.

Winter
When a tree is dormant, as in the leaves have all dropped, is the best time to transplant a tree.  There is the least chance of the tree dying due to the stress of being transplanted.  Be sure to water your plant if there is an absence of rain.  Even though the tree has lost it's leaves, water is still needed to sustain it.

Spring
Spring is a great time to plant a tree, especially evergreen trees.  The temperature is still generally mild for a long period of time and there is plenty of precipitation.  There is a danger of root rot and fungus in areas having excessive rainfall.

Summer
New tree plantings should be avoided during this time of year.  You should wait until the average temperature drops below 90 degrees.  An exception to this would be tropical trees, such as bananas, and tropical plants in general, as summer is an excellent time to plant tropicals.