Another suggestion... Doric Dragon shantung maple from Metro Maples. Grows to be around 25-30' tall and 8-10' wide after maybe 10-12 years. Available in the fall of 2010 if you want to wait till then. It'd be a good one if you have 2 story house and there's not very much space for branches to grow out over the roof when it's so high. You didn't specify where you live so October Glory may not do well esp in alkaline soil (From Dallas to San Antonio). October Glory can get quite big in good acidic soil.

I will pay attention to the soil more than just watering it on a schedule-my soil isn't clay and I didn't plant it so I'm unsure if an amending hole was done. The wind has been crazy here for the last two weeks, so yes with the rain has come some powerful winds (hailed once too) plus I'm in a new housing development so there isn't much blockage right now. It leafed out great, I thought yeah I'm a good green thumb for a first timer, and then it rained and froze one night, but I was unsure about that being the problem. All my neighbors trees don't look like this so I thought I did something to,cause it. The trunk is bound to a bamboo stick, and if can tell you it's needed-the tree would have broke without it bc of the crazy wind. Thanks for your help on this-not sure what to do :)

inform the seller.. and ask his advice ... and i see you did ... is it warrantied??? insure proper water for up to 3 years ... it will recover.. if it gets re-established ... and begins to thrive ... the crack is in the bark.. not in the trunk ... see link for watering suggestions ... ask whatever you dont understand ... healthy trees heal themselves ... encapsulate... no goos ... no fert.. no incantations... no nude dancing around it.. it will take care of itself ... presuming it was not potted at that size.. your biggest problem.. is not knowing what happened to the root mass on digging it for transplant ... but all you can do.. is water properly ... ken Here is a link that might be useful: link

If the hole is filled with water, I would suggest that your water table is very high...or that the tree is planted in a low spot (and water drains to it )...or that there is a hardpan a few inches below the root ball and the water cannot drain...or you are over irrigating. Planting too deeply is a very common issue, but water should NOT be in the planting hole, regardless. The usual rule for planting in clay soils is to plant high. Don't amend. Clay soil does not need to be amended, in most cases. Do you have that famous hard, red Georgia clay? Which is among the best agricultural soil in the nation? Without amendments of any kind? I ask this because I, too, am now living in an area with heavy red clay. I am ceaslessly amazed at the way plants of all kinds thrive. One must simply plant properly, water conservatively....and stand back. I'll attach a planting guide for you to review, along with the comments I've made above. From my experience, water at the bottom of the planting hole typically means poor drainage for one reason or another. Solve that problem. Here is a link that might be useful: Planting Guide