Delivered Post Hole Digger Issues

[guitarman]

I have a Jinma 454 and planning on getting a phd but going any bigger than a 12 inch auger

 

[guitarman]

My phone won't let me edit was supposed to say not going to get any bigger than 12"

 

[Professor Marvel]

concerning using a PHD for planting trees- about 20 years ago my friend and I put in about 200 saplings trees by using a PHD. The trees grew poorly. I later talked to another friend that owns a nursery about it. He said when we used the PHD we had in essence pot bound them. He said the post hole was kind of glazed so the roots stayed enclosed. He said we should have taken a shovel to the post holes when we were done and scar up the edges before we put the trees in. So that way the roots would be able to break out of the hole.
I makes sense to me but I have no way of telling if they would have grown better.
Just a thought. Somebody here probably knows for sure.

 

[guitarman]

Just my thought that it would depend on the soil

 

[Professor Marvel]

concerning using a PHD for planting trees- about 20 years ago my friend and I put in about 200 saplings trees by using a PHD. The trees grew poorly. I later talked to another friend that owns a nursery about it. He said when we used the PHD we had in essence pot bound them. He said the post hole was kind of glazed so the roots stayed enclosed. He said we should have taken a shovel to the post holes when we were done and scar up the edges before we put the trees in. So that way the roots would be able to break out of the hole.
I makes sense to me but I have no way of telling if they would have grown better.
Just a thought. Somebody here probably knows for sure.

I should mention that my soil is red clay in Va. Good point Guitarman

 

[guitarman]

I have some areas of clay here always takes a bigger hole filled with good mulch other areas have good black soil can just dig a hole plant but I always fill back up with a good mulch

 

[Oldoak]

concerning using a PHD for planting trees- about 20 years ago my friend and I put in about 200 saplings trees by using a PHD. The trees grew poorly. I later talked to another friend that owns a nursery about it. He said when we used the PHD we had in essence pot bound them. He said the post hole was kind of glazed so the roots stayed enclosed. He said we should have taken a shovel to the post holes when we were done and scar up the edges before we put the trees in. So that way the roots would be able to break out of the hole.
I makes sense to me but I have no way of telling if they would have grown better.
Just a thought. Somebody here probably knows for sure.

Yep, excellent point. I was about to mention that issue just before I read your post. That was explained to me years ago when I started my apple and pear orchard. Ended up digging holes with a small backhoe.

For planting trees, I found it easy to auger 3 or 4 holes right next to each other in a circle pattern, then just shovel out the remaining dirt left between the holes. Only going 20-24" deep, there won't be much dirt left in the hole.

That idea by LS mt125 owner may be a good compromise. Or if the 24" auger works for you, you could always rake the sides of the holes with a garden pitchfork while planting the trees.

 

[Btown]

For future reference generally when it is advertised for Cat 1/2 compatibility it is made for a 40-70 hp tractor, not a small compact 24 hp. If it is made just Cat 1 you’ll probably be ok.

 

[Scrambler82]

Just a note, I contacted a guy in SoCal Area, he rents his Skid Steer and himself out for $500/8 hours and the cost of rental of the Post Hole Digger Attachment; he says no more than total 750 for the day for everything.

I asked how many holes can he put in, he replied 40 or so, depending on ground hardness.
He stated if I wanted to do the job on a weekend he could put in two days, approximately 80 holes maximum, for an additional $250 and if we rent on Saturday Morning we could keep the Skid Steer PHD Attachment for the weekend.
Total cost for maximum of 80 holes, will be $1000.

Not sure I could even work with him for the 40 holes little lone 80 holes in two day; that sounds like a lot, not to mention the gourd around dear is like cement for the first 10 to 15 inches.

I need 30 holes minimum, 40 holes would be a great goal so I got back to him I will contact him when I am ready, I need to mark the holes so to reduce delays.

Thinking on the process..., buy a PHD for my light weight Max28, wear and tear on the Tractor and myself (71 this year), I think it will be a good deal. Work all day Saturday, rest on Sunday.

So where I am going is as stated in another post, renting can be a far better idea than the hassle of everything needed to complete the job yourself.

 

[Seven Gables]

A 25 hp tractor is too small for a 24" auger for more than one reason. Just a little ground resistance and the 3pt won't lift it out of the hole, hanging as far back as they do they've got a lot of leveridge on your 3pt arms. Another big issue that you've got to consider is the much increased outside edge tip speed which drastically increases with auger diameter. You should only need to run your tractor engine at a very low rpm just above idle max, any more than this that 24"er will be going too fast. 25hp is not enough torque/ hp especially at low rpm. I've got a 24" auger much like you've purchased and use it with a 4830 ford (62pto hp) which is about what u need size wise to handle it properly. B

 

[yooperdave]

A 25 hp tractor is too small for a 24" auger for more than one reason. Just a little ground resistance and the 3pt won't lift it out of the hole, hanging as far back as they do they've got a lot of leveridge on your 3pt arms. Another big issue that you've got to consider is the much increased outside edge tip speed which drastically increases with auger diameter. You should only need to run your tractor engine at a very low rpm just above idle max, any more than this that 24"er will be going too fast. 25hp is not enough torque/ hp especially at low rpm. I've got a 24" auger much like you've purchased and use it with a 4830 ford (62pto hp) which is about what u need size wise to handle it properly. B

Just planted 8 - 3' to 4' 200# Meier Spruce Trees with the 24" auger.

The forks worked well for removing the trees from the truck and moving them around.

The 24" auger was a perfect size for planting this size of tree.

The very last hole went too deep so I could not raise it out of the hole. I then used a 4,000# hand winch which I attached to the top of the ROPS and was able to quickly raise the auger out of the hole.

A local contractor wanted $250 to plant each tree + the price of the tree. We already paid for our PHD and plan to get more trees.

I put the forks on the ground and lifted up the front while drilling. I ran the engine around 1,500 rpms.

Yooper Dave

 

[Seven Gables]

Like to see some pictures of what ya got goin? Congrats on makin it work, maybe I underestimated the LS. B

 

[Oldoak]

Nothing like reporting first hand real life experience and results. Good that it's working out for you. :thumbsup:

 

[yooperdave]

Like to see some pictures of what ya got goin? Congrats on makin it work, maybe I underestimated the LS. B

You can see some of the trees in the background.

Yooper Dave

 

[Seven Gables]

Very nicely done and beautiful spot you've got there, thanks for pics. That looks like a nicely built phd, if u don't mind me asking what you have to give for it? Mine is probably 40 yrs old. I looked up Sobieski, your bout straight across the lake from me, I'm near Williamsburg MI. B

 

[yooperdave]

Very nicely done and beautiful spot you've got there, thanks for pics. That looks like a nicely built phd, if u don't mind me asking what you have to give for it? Mine is probably 40 yrs old. I looked up Sobieski, your bout straight across the lake from me, I'm near Williamsburg MI. B

I bought the phd and augers on Amazon. It was less expensive by more than $100 than buying from Tractor Supply 40 minutes away - including delivery to my door which worked out well. It came on a pallet and my tractor has forks so we were good to go.

Putting the phd on the tractor was another issue. Several minor modifications were needed to get an acceptable fit.

Yooper Dave

 

[sd455dan]

I bought the phd and augers on Amazon. It was less expensive by more than $100 than buying from Tractor Supply 40 minutes away - including delivery to my door which worked out well. It came on a pallet and my tractor has forks so we were good to go.

Putting the phd on the tractor was another issue. Several minor modifications were needed to get an acceptable fit.

Yooper Dave

Great that you got it to work Dave, -looks like reversing the 3 point pins direction in the U frame and mounting up the 3 point arms from inside worked well.

The LS XJ2025 did a great job spinning that 2 foot auger. Impressive and great looking work:thumbsup:

 

[nyone]

Just planted 8 - 3' to 4' 200# Meier Spruce Trees with the 24" auger.

The forks worked well for removing the trees from the truck and moving them around.

The 24" auger was a perfect size for planting this size of tree.

The very last hole went too deep so I could not raise it out of the hole. I then used a 4,000# hand winch which I attached to the top of the ROPS and was able to quickly raise the auger out of the hole.

A local contractor wanted $250 to plant each tree + the price of the tree. We already paid for our PHD and plan to get more trees.

I put the forks on the ground and lifted up the front while drilling. I ran the engine around 1,500 rpms.

Yooper Dave

$250 per hole plus the tree sounds like the "i dont want the job price"

Here you can rent a mini excavator for roughly $400-500 per day. With 2 people setting trees and back filling you could dig the holes faster than you could get trees in them.

 

[ning]

A couple years ago I rented a tracked skidsteer with a 36" auger to put in holes for 50 trees.
Got all of the holes dug in under 2 hours; was in the $200 half-day rental with round trip travel & loading time.
Figured a 36" hole would avoid root problems.

 

[Seven Gables]

Definitely 250 per hole sounds like the I don't want the job price, I'd feel like a thief at 100/hole. When I'm planting replacement cherry trees I'll auger and plant 100 a day or more with one helper. B