Planters Planting Seedling Oaks/Methods for digging the holes for planting

[Zig]

Last year I planted a lot of little trees all around my property all by hand. I also planted several hundred shrubs all by hand. With the trees I actually dug a small hole and did it the old fashioned way with a shovel. The shrubs, I used the middle tine of my 5' box blade and dropped it all the way down and drug the rows this way. I had to clean them out a little but easier than only a shovel.

I have really rocky ground and have to use care. I have looked at a middle buster 3pt to plant a new crop of trees this year. I have thought about getting a longer shank tooth for my box blade but do not want to tear it up as this is not what it is meant for. Will a middle buster be too large a hole for the seedlings and shrubs? Any other thoughts on this subject. I do not have a post hole digger for my tractor and am trying to limit expense. A middle buster is a fairly reasonable priced 3pt attachment, but wanted someones opinion on using them to drop and dig a small hole for the bare root seedlings. The trees will be randomly spaced all over the property.

Any thoughts will be appreciated.

[murphy1244]

I plant all my trees by hand, sometimes 200 a year.

[boggen]

"transplanter" is what ya looking for. one person on the tractor. and then 3pt hitch implement, that has like a potatoe plow or middle buster on it. and right behind that, a seat were someone else sets, and a table or basket, that holds trees or plants or shrubs, and then after that a "closing wheel" that brings the dirt back into the path you made with middle buster or like. and at same time moves that dirt up onto the roots of the tree / shrub to hold it in place.

a transplanter, the potatoe plow / middle buster. is a tad more complex, and gives a "channel" that person on seat. drops the trees / shrubs / etc.. down. kinda holds dirt back so what ever can be dropped down, and then the discs / closing wheels brings the dirt back over the roots, and gives a little bit of compaction to hold things.

there some descent youtube videos out there. and most websites give fairly good pictures.

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if you are just wanting to cut down "hand digging" due to placement is not in straight line, but here and there. get a 3pt hitch "post hole digger" and just measure max depth, and just spray paint a line on the auger / bit. the paint will eventually wear off. then get some of that paint that you can use on yards without killing the grass. (what folks use to mark electrical, gas, telephone lines located underground) for placement of were you want X tree or X shrub. to help ya line up were to drop post hole digger.

[jeff9366]

You need a clamp-on Bucket Spade for your FEL.

Mine is from Bucket Solutions.

My tractor is a Kubota B3300SU = 33-hp/1,900 pounds. Nothing much lighter will be satisfactory to shove the Bucket Spade. On the B3300SU it works great.

http://www.bucketsolutions.com/Quick-Attach-Spade.html

[k0ua]

You need a clamp-on Bucket Spade for your FEL.

Mine is from Bucket Solutions.

My tractor is a Kubota B3300SU = 33-hp/1,900 pounds. Nothing much lighter will be satisfactory to shove the Bucket Spade. On the B3300SU it works great.

Tractor Forks, Bucket Forks, Loader Forks

I built something similar.

James K0UA

[71bronco]

Ummm, I think he said he's planting seedlings. I just use a shovel, stick it in the ground as far as you can and wiggle it back and forth. Then put the tree in and stomp the crack closed then go to the next one. I plant about 100 blue spruces a year this way.

Jeff

[murphy1244]

Ummm, I think he said he's planting seedlings. I just use a shovel, stick it in the ground as far as you can and wiggle it back and forth. Then put the tree in and stomp the crack closed then go to the next one. I plant about 100 blue spruces a year this way.

Jeff

That's close to what I do, man I do a lot of planting to mess around with a PHD.

[TripleR]

For seedlings, we always just used a tree planting spade, it is pretty quick once you get into a rhythm, my son and his cousin planted hundreds this way.

[Botabill]

I've plant thousands of bare root seedlings over the years and always used a hand shovel and a V cut to set the seedings in. Some aare 60 feet tall now. The bigger holes you make means you have to back fill more dirt tamp and water. There are 3 PTH planting machines that tree growers can rent you if you are planting a large area that is relatively flat and easily cut through grass. How ever you do it... keep up the good work and blessings on you.

[upnorth21]

From 1988 to now we planted over 10000 trees, first 9200 by hand last year my buddy spent the money on a post hole digger , I wasn't there but did he think we were nuts doing it the old fashion way oh yea. I would rent one if available and try it out then if you like it look for a used one. He was telling me it goes alot quicker just having to fill up the hole with some loose dirt, rather than shovel dirt he thought he got a better survival rate, maybe due to less air pockets in the dirt.