How big of a PHD?

[dnw64]

In sandy South Jersey soil, could my 23 PTO HP handle an 18" auger? I'm assuming that as long as I feed it slow it would be OK, but how slow is slow? Slower than digging by hand?

I will be planting approximately 50 trees, and really don't want to be wielding a shovel for all that, even if it is easy digging...

 

[leonz]

You want a small tree transplanting auger not a standard straight auger.

Otherwise rent a small tracked excavator for one day and be done with it.

 

[old and tired]

I use a 12" and dig down deeper, no problem and I've got rocks to contend with. Guessing you'll be fine!!

 

[not2old]

I use a 12" and dig down deeper, no problem and I've got rocks to contend with. Guessing you'll be fine!!

I have the same experience with my GC2610. No real problems until you hit a large rock that doesn't fit between the blades.

 

[M59]

In sandy South Jersey soil, could my 23 PTO HP handle an 18" auger? I'm assuming that as long as I feed it slow it would be OK, but how slow is slow? Slower than digging by hand?

I will be planting approximately 50 trees

The important part that you have not provided is the tree root ball dia. Root ball dia drives the hole dia and as Leonz says a tree auger ( tapered auger ) is best for planting trees, shrubs, etc. as it provides space for you to amend the soil and loosens immediate soil for good water uptake to provide plant greatest opportunity to thrive.

 

[4570Man]

An auger doesn’t take much power. This machine delivers 13 gpm or so which probably equals half your PTO power and it’s no issue at all.

 

[dnw64]

You want a small tree transplanting auger not a standard straight auger.

Otherwise rent a small tracked excavator for one day and be done with it.

These are really small, and in plastic pots. Waiting on confirmation as to what is available, but it looks like probably 2 gallon which are 8-9" in diameter. It seems conventional wisdom is twice the width so that's why I was thinking 18".

I also have a backhoe for my tractor, which was my original plan, but I was originally thinking more mature trees (then I found the cost...).

 

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

I often dig 12" holes for our fruit trees when planting them. I go down and if I want a slightly larger diameter hole I ease forward and backward a few inches. This wallows out the hole achieving the softening up the soil for the new plant/tree.

 

[nyone]

Theres a saying that goes for a $20 tree you want to dig a $40 hole. This means the better the hole you put the tree in the more likely it is to survive.

For 9in pots I would be tempted to use a 12in auger and dig way deeper than needed. Then widen the hole with a shovel and put the spoils in the hole. You may want to add some organic matter to sandy soil to help keep the moisture in a new tree.

Trees really dont like to grow out though machine groomed sides of the hole.

In 2020 I planted 50 12-16in norway spruce in nasty clay. Started the job with a mini ex. Finished each hole by hand and added organics. Watered in the dry time of the summer each week and there 6' tall now. So a $1.25 tree is now about a $250 tree in 5yrs.

 

[dnw64]

For 9in pots I would be tempted to use a 12in auger and dig way deeper than needed. Then widen the hole with a shovel and put the spoils in the hole.

Good concept. Thanks!