Planting 40 Norway Spruce 5' - 6'

   / Planting 40 Norway Spruce 5' - 6'
  • Thread Starter
#21  
Thanks, guys. Will discuss further with the wife and current owner. I'm on very good terms with the present owner, and think the likelihood of any furture owner cutting these trees is very low, given where I'm planting (along my side an existing hedgerow, yet still on his side of the line). If I plant on my property, they'll be 50 -70 feet from the current hedgerow, meaning there will be in effect two hedgerows separated by 50 -70 feet of some sort of lawn. Also, that would be right at the bottom of the hill from my house down to his lot, meaning the trees would need to get taller before they'd do any blocking (the property line is the low spot in the lay of the land).
 
   / Planting 40 Norway Spruce 5' - 6' #22  
How about buying the empty lot? Then you will know what kind of guy the new owner is. ;)
 
   / Planting 40 Norway Spruce 5' - 6'
  • Thread Starter
#23  
Believe me, I tried! Wife would not go for it, after buying this place, even though I had the owner down to what he had paid for it in 1994. After seeing how much trouble the current owner has had with selling it over the last 2 years (the lot is really too wet for a yard and house), she feels vindicated.

It really kills me to see a house going in back there (was a beautiful 7 acres of woods, giving us privacy), but seeing as she hasn't spent enough time outdoors to even know where our property lines are, it doesn't seem to bother her as much as it does me.
 
   / Planting 40 Norway Spruce 5' - 6' #24  
Winterdeere,

There may be other soultions since you are on good terms with the current owner, map out the area of land where the trees will be planted example 30' W x 200' along your property lines and maybe include some of your land as well.

Then have it surveyed and set this aside as a conservation easement Conservation easement - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia or some manner of a prescriptive easement that you both agree upon.

It is apparent to both that the trees will enhance both property values, so if you agree to install the trees, and he agrees to do the easement (consult a land attorney for best option) this may be the best solution.

Carl
 
   / Planting 40 Norway Spruce 5' - 6' #25  
I have planted many 100's of trees like this and a backoe or an auger involves a horrendous amount of labor. You will be exhausted after 5 trees. I would find someone with a skid steer and tree spade on the front. Have him dig the holes and leave the dirtpile in row so you can easily pick it up. You can rent one as well for maybe $400 a day delivered and picked up.
This is still a lot of work but wont ruin the ground like a backhoe will. The only issue would be rocks or ledge where you live.
 
   / Planting 40 Norway Spruce 5' - 6' #26  
If you could find a skid steer with tree spade, I do believe that makes a lot of sense however your list of rental equipment did not include this. Therefore I vote for a mini-ex, you can dig holes very quickly with one of those however depending on soil conditions, it will likely dig up whatever sod/grass there is. The benefits though in digging in speed to a tractor with a BH is quite a bit though so you have to decide what you would rather do, dig fast and repair or dig slower and hopefully not repair (again depending on soil conditions, a tractor can make a mess as well). As for planting on the other property, the worst case I can think is that they may cut down some or all the trees.
 
   / Planting 40 Norway Spruce 5' - 6' #27  
The advantage of the tree spade is the tree will wind up at the right height in relation the the ground, being neither too high or too low and the dirt pile will be an easy to move chunk 'o dirt. Actually, you should hire someone with experience to transplant for you.

A backhoe will never dig the same depth hole twice and much hand work will be required to get the right depth. Some will settle too low and you'll have to lift them later. The loose surrounding soil from this method, that you will have to shovel by hand, means the trees will have to be staked. That's four posts per tree, pieces of hose, twne and labor. No staking with spade and tight root ball. Then there's the remaining pile of dirt that will have to be hand-shoveled. Not for me.

I could plant those trees in a morning with a tree spade on a skid steer and not really be tired enough to skip lunch.

Oh,if these trees are balled and burlapped and natural rope and natural burlap is used, don't even unwrap them, just make sure to cut the rope around the trunk. It really doesn't matter all that much and saves labor. Just water heavily the first summer and make sure they do not dry out for the next two years. Screw that part up and they die.
 
   / Planting 40 Norway Spruce 5' - 6' #28  
A skilled operator with a mini excavator can do less damage than a skid steer. A tracked machine applies less pressure per square inch than wheeled vehicles. The key is to make wide turns not pivot.
 
 
 
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