If your soil is dry enough to dig plant asap. The cold won't bother an apple at all.

I have chipped through frozen soil and planted trees below the frost. Go for it!

Scott

Scott
Either you are still fairly young or just one tough old man.I at least wait till the post hole digger doesn't spin on top.

If the ground is thawed, plant it now. Or plant as soon as the ground is thawed. Apple trees are really tough.

the decision is made on whether it is still fully dormant..

or actively growing and leafed out ...

fully dormant goes in the ground ..

leafed out goes in a pot.. in the garage.. until its properly hardened off.. and frost/freeze issues are closer to being resolved ... and also involves a call to the seller asking why they sent an actively growing tree to z5 in mid-march ...and discussing that warranty issues will be their problem .... should it fail ....

ken

It was fully dormant so I planted it yesterday.