I've thought about this same thing, imagining that some day I'll get to build a house on a nice piece of land. I think it's definitely worth a try. Here's what I'd do: Pick the spots where the trees will be planted, and this spring build small raised beds, maybe 4 feet square, (one for each tree) out of 2X6 boards. Dig in some compost and fill the beds with compost or some other organic matter. By the fall, the soil will be really nice for several inches deep....rich in organic matter which will help with water retention as well as drainage, and loose and crumbly...ideal for root growth. Of course, if the soil there is already ideal, this isn't really necessary :) Order bare root trees for delivery this spring and pot them up in the biggest pots you can handle and transport. Maybe use rootmakers or smartpots to maximize root branching. In the late summer, plant the trees in the previously prepared beds. This way you will be transplanting essentially container grown plants, (which should minimize transplant shock) into loose soil that has good water storage capacity. Give them a good layer of mulch, like straw or wood chips. The trees will have the fall, winter, and spring to grow their roots before they have to face the rigors of a hot summer. With a good root system well on its way to establishment in good soil, they should be able to survive quite a bit of neglect. Good luck! Alex

It's finally stopped raining everyday here so I finally got my yard done tonight after work. Think I'm going to have to do my neighbors father-in-laws yard again, mower for his new 2520JD hasn't come in yet and his Craftsman is almost down for the count. I get some more seat time and could probably borrow that new JD if I needed to! He got a post hole digger with it that might come in handy one day.

Today I got back working on my planting peas projects. First I tore out all the Spanish Mucica pole beans as I need the space for peas. Wouldn't have torn out beans for peas but I tried these beans for the first time this year and hated them. From now on will stick to Blue Lake Pole Beans which I am also growning. Anyway, planted SUPER SUGAR SNAP and MAMMOTH MELTING SUGAR where those beans used to be. Then I planted NORLI peas in another spot. I still have CASCASIA SNAP and MAMMOUTH MELTING SNOW PEAS that are not planted yet and I don't have any engery left to do them today. I also need to finish giving the tomato plants Netunes liquid Seaweed Fertilizer as I did most of them the other day but ran out of Neptunes before I finished. My new supply came but of course yesterday it was raining all day so I didn't get it done yet. Should do it now. Maybe if I can get up some enery.

Wonderful! I'm so glad you got some rain too. We got a decent rain Sunday afternoon, not as much rain as I expected from the amount of thunder & lightening which went on for a long time. We got less than 1/2", but that helped. Lots of thunder yesterday afternoon too, but no rain til early this morning. My plants are already looking better though, & temps are supposed to be about 85 today! Hope you get lots of rain out of the system.