Transplanting - spading

[Mark]

Does anyone get much involved with planting or spading large trees???? Let's say deciduous over 4-5" cal. and evergreen over 16-18'???? If so, let's hear your process from digging to fert to staking?, etc. Anti dessicant used??? Amendments??? Just curious to see what's different from one guy to the next.

[Mbella]

Mark, we've only moved trees that large two times and used a sub. Do you use a sub, or do you guys do that in-house?

[Mark]

Mike
The spade we sub out as there's typically not enough work to keep one busy if we had one in house. We move quite a number of trees with him every year though. We've got about 100 large trees this size that we are starting thursday w/ him....about 5 weeks of work. The scary part is that's just the start. There will be another 100 atleast after this round.
When we can't access an area with the spade and want to move a tree I usually will work along with the guys and hand dig them. I've dug trees as large as 8-10" Cal. They are fun to do!

[GreenMonster]

Mark, let me guess where all those trees are going..... :)

Wow, hand dig 8-10" caliper. sounds like hard, unrewarding work. Sounds like slave labor you'll proably look to pawn off on one of your lowly subs. I'll be awaiting your call.

[Mark]

8-10" is fun as hell - i love digging large and or specimen trees

[Mark]

here we go with some biguns

[GreenMonster]

so Mark, how does this work? Obviously, you sub the spade out, I'm curious how much per day. More importantly, what is your source for the trees? How, and where do you secure and keep sources?

[Mark]

so Mark, how does this work? Obviously, you sub the spade out, I'm curious how much per day. More importantly, what is your source for the trees? How, and where do you secure and keep sources?

Word of mouth on the trees basically. Alot comes from our sub and his research. It can get a little nerve racking as I worry about people saying thanks but that's all I want to give you. Especially for bedrock. I also personally have contacts in Mass of guys who have large tree farms that are ready and raring to go...no questions asked. Sometimes people will call us and ask us if we are interested in trees they have. Last year we started our own stash of trees from local nurseries that we planted in a field for future use. In my experiences you can expect anywhere from 2-300 dollars per hour for a spade this size.
So you got any for sale???? Keep your eyes out for me

[GreenMonster]

the spruce in the pics, were those raised? spaded locally? They look a little too good to not have been raised.

I have 24 acres of mostly hardwood if you want to come look! I've been trying to pay the site work guys in firewood and loam, but they all seem to want cash :noidea: I never though to ask them if I could spade trees out for them, but I doubt they'd be interested in that either.

[Mark]

Trees in a forested environment don't spade too well. These (you paver geek) are actually fir not spruce!!!!!:boink: They are coming out of the Durham area from an abandoned x-mas tree farm. They're much nicer than I imagined them to be. These you see are the smaller ones. This afternoon began the ones that are as much as 6' taller and much wider and fuller! Soon to come are some P. strobus and some Picea - whites, norways, and blues

[GreenMonster]

fir, spruce, picea, abies, who can tell from the pic????

Prefer the fir myself. not so prickly (like you).

[Mark]

fir, spruce, picea, abies, who can tell from the pic????

Prefer the fir myself. not so prickly (like you).

oh that's humorous! Talk to your concrete guys?

[CaptainsLS]

Mark, I found these picts online (out on the islands). What is the maximum size tree that can be transplanted with the spade truck? Looks like this tree was way beyond the capability. Look at the excavator compared to the tree, lol.

[Mark]

Wish I could see what size ex that is so I could judge better how big the tree is. See now that is fun! The problem with spading a tree like that is not only it's size but when you get limbs of a tree that are that size there is no way to tie them up tight enough to move via that method. Again, a tree that size is unspadable anyway.
Trivia question - - - which tree would be an easier spade...a pin oak or a red maple????

[Mark]

Still going....we've been hindered by rain but things are looking pretty good. This is all in an effort to re establish the screening to the neighbors house. The balsams have exceded 30' in height in some instances

[Mark]

one side complete - approximately 50 trees plus a bunch of shrubs

[Mark]

now on to another side of the property

[mrusk]

I don't F'N get your market mark. Are these lake homes for hedge fund managers from Greenich CT?

[Mark]

I don't F'N get your market mark. Are these lake homes for hedge fund managers from Greenich CT?

If I told you whose house this was I'd be shot

[Mark]

it's still Bedrock

[mrusk]

I don't care where the houses are I am just curious to where the people are from!

Gots to be hedge fund $$.

[Mark]

nope try again

[Mark]

Some large deciduous material going in for a couple weeks. Who can name the tree in the last pic???

[mrusk]

This is crazy!

I don't know what to say.

[Mark]

It will only get crazier....monday we have 9"caliper trees showing up. Potentially just one tree per tractor trailer. Most trees are 6" and better. I'll get a pic of the river birch we planted last week sometime. It is absolutely awesome. Once you get a system down in installing trees this size it's very easy although the other day the wind decided to pick up to the tune of 50 mph while we were dangling a 6" cal maple over the slope down to the water. It took 6 of us to hold the tree upright while it was being supported in the hole. Good times!
So, are you a plantsman at all Matt? ANy guess on the last tree

[mrusk]

What are you doing like a mil in plantings alone?

[CaptainsLS]

Is that tree deciduous Mark?

[Mark]

yes and yes

[Mark]

Found a pic of the Betula nigra 'Heritage'

[CaptainsLS]

I haven’t a clue. I cant see any specific foliage nor can i see any fruit or nuts. I'll guess its some kind of Gum?????

[Mark]

not much of a better view but here you go...not a gum....look at the foliage if you can

[CaptainsLS]

I’m lost. Is it a Redwood?

[Mark]

I’m lost. Is it a Redwood?

DING DING DING DING DING DING!!!!!!! :dance: Metasequoia glyptostroboides - Dawn Redwood - "Lost" - my azz!!! :)

It's a zone 4 plant and we're in 4a/5b - technically it should live but this is a very exposed site - I'll be shocked to see it thrive

[CaptainsLS]

Wow. I thought the foliage looked needle like! I bet that bark and trunk are quite spectacular! I bet you guys are hydrograssing under all those trees aren’t ya…. :pop2:

Now since I won the “Name that Tree” contest, talk to me about that granite drip edge! Did you guys install that? How does that get done, just set up over the veneer and it’s support shelf? I love that look when granite meets cedar shingles.

[Mark]

Wow. I thought the foliage looked needle like! I bet that bark and trunk are quite spectacular! I bet you guys are hydrograssing under all those trees aren’t ya…. :pop2:

Now since I won the “Name that Tree” contest, talk to me about that granite drip edge! Did you guys install that? How does that get done, just set up over the veneer and it’s support shelf? I love that look when granite meets cedar shingles.

Yes, an all around cool tree.....bark, trunk shape, texture, etc. Why would you ask if we're hydroseeding around all the trees? I hate seeding through trees because it's number 1 a maintenance issue, number 2 it takes water and nutrients from the tree, and number 3 if you let the grass grow up through them it eventually shades out the lower limbs. The LA wants to seed through them but I think I have him convinced not to go that route. Especially with a feature tree like the Metasequioa, mulch around it and let it be a focul point that is clean and standing alone.

We did not do the granite in the pic you see. There were 3 masonry contractors on this job. But yes, it's a full 8" veneer with the granite mortared to the top and the joints done w/ NP1