Tree Planting- Auger or Bucket

[Paddy1000111]

Hi Everyone, 

 

As the topic says really. I have to plant a load of Beech trees and the ground is pretty hard. I want to plant it with an auger really, makes the whole job quicker and easier but I am concerned about root compaction with only a small area drilled as opposed to digging holes for each one. Anyone got any experience with using an auger and the effect it had on the saplings? 

 

Thanks!

[Khriss]

Is this hedging Beech or standards / root ball ? Plus wot soil is it ? I would be rotavating clay soil with lime to break it up . They love sandy soil . K

[dan blocker]

 

6 hours ago, Khriss said:

Is this hedging Beech or standards / root ball ? Plus wot soil is it ? I would be rotavating clay soil with lime to break it up . They love sandy soil . K

As Khriss says there’s a big difference to whips, bare root, potted, root balls? If the ground is already hard then an auger could just polish/ glaze the hole sides making it difficult for routes to grow and develop beyond the confines if the hole. As far as I’m concerned the hole size needs to be at least twice the diameter of the pot or root ball. If they’re hedging bundles dig a trench if the grounds hard and mix in some compost, if pots or balls use a digger and mix spoil with compost. Obviously if you have access for  a digger, otherwise spade, shovel and bar? . That’s  just my opinion.

[Paddy1000111]

I'll be using a digger regardless, bucket or auger! I've dug posts by hand in the past and I promised I would never do it again. These are going to be specimen beech and not hedging. The soil is rather dense sandy soil anyway and it is well drained so beech should be perfect for it! 

I guess bucket it is then. I was going to dig a 1.5-2M square about 2-3 inches deep and then dig the hole for each one. I was thinking it would allow for mulch to be placed around the bases and keep it tidy?

If you can't tell tree planting isn't my forte! 

[Matthew Storrs]

46 minutes ago, Paddy1000111 said:

I'll be using a digger regardless, bucket or auger! I've dug posts by hand in the past and I promised I would never do it again. These are going to be specimen beech and not hedging. The soil is rather dense sandy soil anyway and it is well drained so beech should be perfect for it! 

I guess bucket it is then. I was going to dig a 1.5-2M square about 2-3 inches deep and then dig the hole for each one. I was thinking it would allow for mulch to be placed around the bases and keep it tidy?

If you can't tell tree planting isn't my forte! 

Just use a small bucket. I’ve tried an auger in the past and it’s neither quicker and for some reason doesn’t seem to bring up enough soil for backfilling- a little bucket- one scoop and a nice little pile produced ready for tamping  around the tree.

[Paddy1000111]

Bucket it is then! I have to rent an auger anyway for installing a load of posts in a barn but I was hoping I could make life a little easier and do the trees with it too. 

Would you bother with digging a 1.5-2M square a couple of inches deep to allow for mulching? I was thinking that for a tiny little bit of extra work I could create something that looks quite smart! 

[dumper]

8 minutes ago, Paddy1000111 said:

Bucket it is then! I have to rent an auger anyway for installing a load of posts in a barn but I was hoping I could make life a little easier and do the trees with it too. 

Would you bother with digging a 1.5-2M square a couple of inches deep to allow for mulching? I was thinking that for a tiny little bit of extra work I could create something that looks quite smart! 

Any area for mulch is good the rougher you make the hole the better clean sides and 90 degree angles look good but don’t help root penetration much more than a round hole,you don’t say what the surface is,if grass then a mulch mat would stop the competion from grass then mulch on top to look good I would put a water tube round the tree halfway down the rootball depending on size they might require water during dry periods some good rotted manure well mixed into the back fill will help, then look after them more trees die from neglect after planting than from being planted wrong

[Khriss]

Yes. Plenty of mulch always. Would disagree with water tube, a drip feeder is better but out at the edges as it makes fine roots reach out fr water. Gives bettr root establishment. K

[Paddy1000111]

Sorry dumper, the hole for the tree would be round, the 2/3 inch deep mulch square is at the surface. I'm only making it square as it's easy to dig with a large leveling bucket. Digging circles is a little inconvenient ?. Watering is my main concern with them actually. They aren't near any water supplies by about half a mile. The only thing close is a lake so I guess petrol water pump but it's not exactly convenient and will have a hell of a head pressure up the hill 

[dumper]

Square is much better use a toothed bucket not a grader to dig hole the worse you drive the machine the better rough un even holes are good, can you put a water tank half way up slope to reduce head.?  any bit of 50mm duct or land drain will do for water pipes