[Lawn Lad]

We have a 5" crimson king maple (54" root ball, about 2,000 lbs) that we're installing next to an existing patio and established landscape. We're debating on what equipment to use to install the tree to minimize collateral damage to the yard.

We ruled out a NH Lx885 as not having enough reach to get to the center of the hole. So we've considered a crane or a back hoe as an option.

Ideally we thought we'd use the crane to lift right from the trailer to the hole, but we're not sure if we can get one close enough to the hole and in time, at a reasonable expense (sure, bigger crane from further away, but that adds significant cost). The other option would be using a back hoe with bucket to move the tree.

Either way I'm wondering about rigging the basket/root ball to either the back hoe or crane to move it properly so as to not damage the trunk, canopy or loosen the tree in the basket.

If anyone has any suggestions I would appreciate it. Any pictures would be better.

[Stonehenge]

Telehandler: http://www.jlg.com/telehandlers/index.asp

You should be able to rent one locally that can easily lift that weight as far out as you would need to, and you should be able to get one for no more than $250 a day.

[TrickyDick]

We've always used a backhoe with forks. You can do your digging, backfilling, grading, etc with it. If all you want to do is move the tree Stonehenge's idea is better than a backhoe though I think 250/day would be wishfull thinking around here.

[Lawn Lad]

Thank you for the suggestion on the telehandler. we'll look into in the morning, seems like a great solution. If we did use the backhoe, the one we have access to does not have forks, so we might as well look at the telehandler.

Using the telehandler - do you just fork the ball and move it that way, or would you rig it and hang the ball under the forks? If so, can the baskets support the 2,000 lbs of the ball? Any suggestions on how to chain the ball?

[site]

Most root balls are tapered fatter at the top and narrower at the bottom. You can slide the forks on the telehandler together so that they are wider than the bottom, but narrower than the top and lift using friction. Make sure they you put them together close enough so the ball doesn't slip through. If you are uncomfortable with that method you can fashion a basket with several large tie down straps. Start by looping one strap around the ball about half way up. You can weave it through the basket for extra strength. Sort of like the belt for your pants. Next loop four more tie down straps through your original "belt" at 3, 6 9 and 12 o'clock on the ball. drive in with the forks and hook two loops on each fork. Ideally the tree will hang perfectly plumb a couple of feet below the forks. If not set it back down and adjust the loops until it does. Drive to your hole and position it then back fill part way before releasing the loops. it should stand up straight on the first try.
I hope that is an understandable expaination. We have done it many times and it works really well. We have successfully done it with 10" caliper trees.

[TrickyDick]

We use chains attached to the cage cradle the root ball below the forks. Straps are probably safer but the chains are easier and work well if you're smart about where you hook the chains (don't try to hook them on the welds).

By the way doesn't a 5" tree with a 54" root ball weigh a lot more than 2000 lbs? That's probably a yard and a quarter or more of soil plus the tree. Has to be 3500 lbs easy.

[Lawn Lad]

Without doing the math, I'm not sure how much soil. Today when we picked it up at the nursery they used a NH Lx885 to move it around with no difficulty. So I suppose our machine will handle it just fine as well. While the telehandler would defintely work, we think we're going to try it with our machine given what we saw at the nursery today. We'll see how it goes. Thanks for your input.

[site]

the problem with chains is that they sometimes break the cage causing the tree to fall.

[Lawn Lad]

Reporting back on the planting.

All went as well as could be expected. We were doing the planting at my in laws, so not a bad test case for installing a big tree.

I transported the tree from the trailer to the edge of the hole with forks under the ball. Once next to the hole I put the forks above the ball with the trunk splitting the forks. We used 3/8" chain at four points on the cage with the ratchet binders to make the ball level when picking it up. We got it almost in the center of the hole with the skid steer, but not quite far enough, so the mini track excavator pulled a bit while I pushed with the forks until we got it positioned in the center of the hole.

All things went well, the skid steer handled the weight no problem, we just lacked the reach. A crane would have been overkill, a telehandler would have worked better. If I was planting on a job for a customer and/or if I had mulitple trees to do, I would probably try the telehandler.

The cage did break with the chains after the ball was more or less in position. I would opt for straps next time as well. I might also consider looking for some sort of webbed/chain type ball harness that would be easier to handle the balls - adjustable to size of the ball, with four point hook up. It would be easier than fighting the cage trying to get straps under and through it, and safer than chains on the cage which was easier than weaving a strap.

All things considered, I wouldn't be intimidated by installing a 5" or 6" tree in the future.

[Stonehenge]

Thanks for reporting back.