Rig to lift tree up with backhoe

[Drew Loker]

Hello.

I am needing to figure out how to lift a tree with a tractor attached backhoe to replant the tree.

A magnolia is 8-10’ that is leaning sideways in the soggy soil after a windstorm. I want to lift a little while I dig out the roots…it won’t take much, but I don’t know exactly what or how I should tie something on the tree and where and how to tie into the backhoe.

I also have a smaller 6’ fruit tree in a 25 gallon pot that I want to lift up and repot.

So what ever I come up with, it needs to move two trees we are trying to to protect from damage.

Any ideas?

TIA!!
Drew

 

[chim]

No experience but I wouldn't use any kind of choker for fear the bark would be damaged.

 

[bdhsfz6]

FWIW, two seasons ago, we had a row of 6 peach trees blown over to a 45 degree angle in a storm. The trunks were 4 - 6" in diameter. Rather than lift them, we used the tractor to pull them upright with this nylon net around the trunks:

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Once in an upright position, we covered the exposed roots with soil and tamped in place. That was 2 years ago and all are doing fine.

On a few occasions, we've repotted large plants with damaged pots by setting the plant & pot on top of the above nylon net. We then broke up the rest of the old clay tile pot and removed the pieces. Using the backhoe, we used the net to lift the root ball and set it in the new pot. Sometimes we couldn't pull the net out from under the root ball, so we cut off the part of the net we could reach and left the rest in the bottom of the new pot. This isn't practical though if you want to save the old pot.

I've seen nurseries use 3 or 4 guys to transfer large plantings from one pot to another by simply grabbing the trunk with their gloved hands. Professionals use mechanized tree spades.

 

[jfsawatzky]

I’m not certain about lifting the tree but what about a wide tow strap. could you wrap it around the trunk multiple times to distribute the stress and then try lifting a little?

 

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

FWIW, two seasons ago, we had a row of 6 peach trees blown over to a 45 degree angle in a storm. The trunks were 4 - 6" in diameter. Rather than lift them, we used the tractor to pull them upright with this nylon net around the trunks:

View attachment 3682440

Amazon.com: Flat Nylon Sling Hoisting Net, Loading and Unloading Heavy Objects 10cm Square Mesh Tear Resistance for Construction Rigging Moving Towing Hoisting Work Gear, Safety Lifting Net Straps : Industrial & Scientific

Buy Flat Nylon Sling Hoisting Net, Loading and Unloading Heavy Objects 10cm Square Mesh Tear Resistance for Construction Rigging Moving Towing Hoisting Work Gear, Safety Lifting Net Straps: Hoist Accessories - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Once in an upright position, we covered the exposed roots with soil and tamped in place. That was 2 years ago and all are doing fine.

On a few occasions, we've repotted large plants with damaged pots by setting the plant & pot on top of the above nylon net. We then broke up the rest of the old clay tile pot and removed the pieces. Using the backhoe, we used the net to lift the root ball and set it in the new pot. Sometimes we couldn't pull the net out from under the root ball, so we cut off the part of the net we could reach and left the rest in the bottom of the new pot. This isn't practical though if you want to save the old pot.

I've seen nurseries use 3 or 4 guys to transfer large plantings from one pot to another by simply grabbing the trunk with their gloved hands. Professionals use mechanized tree spades.

I'd say this is the ticket then put in a couple of posts in the ground to hold it for a while till it stabilizes. I did this on an apple tree I wanted to save.

 

[Drew Loker]

Thanks for all the suggestions! I guess I should have mentioned this is the 2nd time the magnolia has fallen over in 35mph wind. We put it in the ground in 2017...and was doing ok until about 2 years ago when straight line winds pushed it over. We re-staked until about a year ago, but it has not been doing well...and I recently determined that the ground is just too soggy were it is now. And then the wind pushed it down in 35mph wind again. So, I was going to take the opportunity to move it to a better spot.

I can get the Nylon Sling from Amazon, but how to I hook up rope to the backhoe to pull the sling with? I have a BX23s Kubota if that helps. I have just never attached a rope or tow strap to the boom...and can't seem to imagine how.

As for the apple tree in the pot, I can lift it up with my hands...it is that loose. I just need a way to lift it up and keep it up while I work some more dirt in to the bottom. I didn't pot the tree in the first place. If I could just figure out a way to protect the bark, get the backhoe boom to lift it up the tree a few feet, I can do this project.

Thanks!!

 

[Drew Loker]

Here is a picture of the trees in question. So, what I have so far is to wrap it several times with wide tow strap to distribute the area of pulling. But I am still scratching my head on how to attach to the boom. Over the top and back under the backhoe?

 

[2manyrocks]

Short axle strap could be wrapped around boom at the bucket and then use heavy d ring to connect to tree strap. https://www.harborfreight.com/3333-lb-capacity-24-in-x-2-in-axle-strap-with-d-rings-57271.html

The better method of lifting the tree would be to lift from the root ball underneath using the net previously suggested.

If you try using a wide strap around the tree trunk, I would suggest at least wrapping the trunk with a small moving blanket first. https://www.harborfreight.com/home/moving/moving-blankets/40-in-x-50-in-moving-blanket-58328.html

If you are using a strap with a loop at each end, you can wrap loop one around the trunk and then use a D ring to attach the other loop end around the bucket provided the edges aren't sharp and the strap is adequate for the entire load. I used a caribeaner to illustrate because it was easy to grab for this illustration. Use a suitable D ring for the load instead.

The tree could swing into the backhoe and be damaged or swing into you on the operator's station.