I think the main thing in getting them to live is to get all the little air bubbles off of the root system when planting. I place the tree in the hole and begin adding dirt a little at a time and pulling the roots back to their natural position as I go. Continue until the roots are covered, but the hole is not completely filled. Pour in about 2 gallons of water until it is standing slightly. Tamp around the root system very gently until the air bubbles disappear. Then finish filling in the hole with dirt. I don't like to put any foreign matter in the hole because the object is to get the roots to grow outside the hole in time. Sometimes you can get a bowl or pot effect if you make it too nice in the hole.
You have to spray the trunk for borers in August (in Alabama) or they will not last very long. (But not the first year as they will not be big enough for borers).
I put about 4 oz. ammonium nitrate in the spring, after the tree starts growing, in a circle about 18-24 inches from the tree (outside the dug hole). In following years I use 13-13-13 at a little higher rate.