most efficient woodland planting methods.

[Matthew Storrs]

Well got 1200 40/60 bare roots to plant next week. Normally do this sort of work by hand, this time I'm thinking of using my mini digger with a small 6" bucket on to dig all the holes (hardly even a scoop with the digger- just flick the turf over 6" deep) and have someone following behind planting and back filling, plus another following with the stakes and guards.

I'm in two minds whether I think it will be quicker using this method with the digger versus everything manually.

What system do you use- those who plant woodlands?

Cheers

[Matthew Storrs]

Oh sorry- could a mod very kindly move this to the right section- didn't realise I had clicked climbers talk!

[Stubby]

Have not done it for years but used to just make a slice with a spade put it in and tread it down ....

[Matthew Storrs]

Yes that would be the quickest, I prefer pit planting on the whole, more fail safe I reckon.

[A Pettersen-Firewood&Chip]

Well got 1200 40/60 bare roots to plant next week. Normally do this sort of work by hand, this time I'm thinking of using my mini digger with a small 6" bucket on to dig all the holes (hardly even a scoop with the digger- just flick the turf over 6" deep) and have someone following behind planting and back filling, plus another following with the stakes and guards.

I'm in two minds whether I think it will be quicker using this method with the digger versus everything manually.

What system do you use- those who plant woodlands?

Cheers

 

Would a post hole borer not be cheaper and better than a mini digger??

[H-A]

There is a special spade for the job.

 

Treaded Tree Planting Spear | Premier Spades | Spades | Bulldog Tools

 

 

Look on you tube how they use them, sort of wack it in the ground wiggle about plant tree.

 

H-A

[Matthew Storrs]

Yes but the spade is basically notch planting, because the ground is pretty solid and thin I would prefer to dig a small pit to break up the soil a bit for the roots.

I'm not so sure on the post borer idea. Firstly I don't have one so I'd have to hire- whereas I will be having my digger on the job anyway for other bits. Also I think the trouble with borers is that if the ground is wet, I would spend time getting the soil off the auger flight all the time, I thought with the digger bucket I can just flick a sod over and the person planting can crumble it in back around the roots. I guess I will try manual and machine and see which is quicker!

[Jimbob87]

Yes but the spade is basically notch planting, because the ground is pretty solid and thin I would prefer to dig a small pit to break up the soil a bit for the roots.

I'm not so sure on the post borer idea. Firstly I don't have one so I'd have to hire- whereas I will be having my digger on the job anyway for other bits. Also I think the trouble with borers is that if the ground is wet, I would spend time getting the soil off the auger flight all the time, I thought with the digger bucket I can just flick a sod over and the person planting can crumble it in back around the roots. I guess I will try manual and machine and see which is quicker!

 

Diggers more comfortable and dryer

 

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Arbtalk mobile app

[openspaceman]

Have not done it for years but used to just make a slice with a spade put it in and tread it down ....

 

Piecework using ranging poles' 1+1s, about 1000/day and up to 1500/day beating up a failed planting but had a lot more energy at 24.

[arbwork]

One Man Post Hole Borer - Hire Now from Jewson 1200 most likely just use a spade, you can use hand held post hole borer such as in link , if using compost spread on augured soil this then gets mixed as you backfill , 12000 then worth it!