Select the right time of year for planting the tree.

You want to give your plant the best chance at growing and surviving. Planting at the right time of year is a key factor in this. Planting times will vary depending on the plant and where you live.

You will usually want to plant your tree when it is dormant, or not flowering, during cooler or colder times of year.

Again, this will vary depending on where you live.
If you are not sure of the best time of year to plant your tree, consult your local University Extension Service or similar service. Each county in the United States has a University Extension Service and many countries, including India and South Africa, have them as well.

Prepare the tree for planting.

Once you’ve purchased your tree, you need to prepare it for planting. This will help ensure that you’re planting the tree properly and that it will survive. The process is slightly different for a small tree and a large tree.
If the tree is a sapling, turn it upside down gently to get it out of the container. If it is in burlap, wait to cut it off until you’ve planted the tree in the ground.
If the tree is beyond the sapling stage, cut through its packaging. If it is in burlap, wait to cut it off until you’ve planted the tree in the ground.
If there is a wire basket or wiring on your tree’s roots, remove it with wire cutters so that it doesn’t grow into the roots and kill the tree.
Keep as much dirt around the roots as possible and don’t move it more than necessary to keep the roots from drying out.
Don't leave a tree's roots out of its container or burlap for too long because this could damage or dry them out.
If you’ve decided to plant a seed instead of an already growing tree, follow this step. Growing a tree from a seed means germinating the seed, planting it at the appropriate time and taking close care of it. This method will take than transplanting a tree from a container. To get a seed to germinate, you may have to use scarification. This means that you break the seed coat and allow moisture to penetrate so that the plant embryo can begin germinating.
Once the seeds have germinated, plant them in an individual container or a seed tray. Move the trays or contains to a brighter location that is well ventilated.
Each type of tree has different seeds with different needs, so make sure to follow the instructions accordingly for the type of tree you are planting.

Know that if you are planting a tree from the seed of a fruit that you will not get the same kind of tree.

For example, if you are planting a seed from a Golden Delicious apple, you won’t necessarily get a Golden Delicious apple tree. You’ll only be able to tell once the tree fruits. If you want to grow a tree that yields a certain type of fruit, it’s best to buy one from a nursery to help ensure that it has good rootstock and that you get exactly the fruit you want.