Anyone have any experience using a tree spade to dig and move a tree?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Anyone have any experience using a tree spade to dig and move a tree?

Posted: 9/2/2008 6:53:45 PM EDT

Just curious if anyone has any first hand experience moving trees with a tree spade? I am interested in moving/potting some very big trees and wanted some advice from someone that has done it before. Thanks

Posted: 9/4/2008 3:56:49 AM EDT

[#1]

After college I was working for a landscaper and wewere using a skid loader with the tree spade attachment. they can be moved and moved successfully. I do not know how big of a tree that you can actually pot, but my advice would be to contact a landscaper or an arborist(maybe at a local university) to find the best method and the best time of the year to do this.

Posted: 9/4/2008 4:47:42 AM EDT

[#2]

Thanks for the input. I have a area that was allowed to grow up naturally and has thousands of different varieties of hardwoods that are from 10 to 30 feet tall but are too thick and was curious if I could possibly transplant them to pots to sell them. Thanks for the help.

Posted: 9/4/2008 7:33:18 AM EDT

[#3]

Prep work is needed over a year or so to prepare larger trees for moving.

Crown pruning and root pruning are needed to try and get a compact root ball.

Keep in mind the normal root spread is considered to match the crown spread.

While a spade truck can remove a decent volume, it often is still smaller than the crown.

Posted: 9/4/2008 10:00:06 AM EDT

[#4]

Quoted:
Thanks for the input. I have a area that was allowed to grow up naturally and has thousands of different varieties of hardwoods that are from 10 to 30 feet tall but are too thick and was curious if I could possibly transplant them to pots to sell them. Thanks for the help.

Trees that size are not put in pots to sell. They are dug and carried to the new location and put in the hole. Success is not the best, and especially without doing the prep work (think nursery) to make them viable.

Bottom line: what you are proposing will not work. Sorry.

Posted: 9/4/2008 5:33:06 PM EDT

[#5]

I appreciate the honest advice, At least I will not waist my time. Thanks

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Anyone have any experience using a tree spade to dig and move a tree?

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