may is too late for me up here in MI.. so its too late in TX ... i like to have them in the ground 6 to 8 weeks before the heat of summer ...

i do not know the precise timing for TX ...

we prefer to plant DORMANT trees... so they have some time to grow some roots.. before they leaf out ...

and to get truly good fruit trees.. you mail order.. DORMANT trees ..

i would NOT buy bigboxstore trees in may.. and hope they have been properly taken care of since spring ... [or ever actually...lol]

so ID the proper planting time.. get all moved in.. and plan for then ... i am sure you will have plenty to do before planting time

ken

Thanks... I'll plan to mail order then, and plant in the winter.

I imagined planting all kinds of things (peaches, plums, pears, apples, pomegranate) but the 1/10 acre already has 5 HUGE pecan trees (not that I'm complaining...) so maybe it will be good for me to have time to live there and really think about how I want to use my limited space :)

Since you are in 8b, you can get started and go with Anna and Golden Dorsett the main stay for Southern apples. I would only plant one of each unless you have a huge demand. The Anna is a great all round apple for fresh eating and baking. Its pollinator, the Golden Dorsett is a good but not great apple for fresh eating but not for cooking.If any are left at the nursery they will be in pots so you can plant them anytime.

Then mail order additional bareroots come late fall.

I've researched the best varieties for my county through the Texas A&M extension and they say fuji, gala, granny smith, pink lady and mutsu, so I'll probably go with one of those.