How big of a PHD?

[jr838]

I will consider that. If I dril an extra 6" or so I could spade the hole square pretty quickly and let it fall into the bottom. Will look more into this.
Any references?

I would rather use a backhoe, using a post hole digger sometimes slicks off the walls of the hole and it acts like a pot that roots won't penetrate resulting in a tree that's root bound

 

[Fxfymn413]

I had to use the BX2660 to dig a hole with the 24 inch auger bit when the L model couldn't maneuver around to reach the spot I needed the hole in. The BX worked just fine in clay/small rock soil.

I use the 24 inch auger to plant shrubs/trees all the time. It is also really handy to use to mix soil supplements such as peat into the hole before placing the tree.

 

[Angler]

I used a 24 inch on my Kubota that supposedly has 24.1 PTO HP. No problem on my heavy soil, did break a few shear pins (bolts) when hitting a decent sized rock though.

 

[dnw64]

I haven't dug deep there, but down 12-18" with a shovel is nothing. And lots of wells are just a piece of 2" pipe with a well point on the end driven down with a backhoe... Totally different than my 60 years of experience in VT!

 

[qualsite]

I'd just scoop out a wide hole with the front loader about half the depth of the pot [should be really easy in sandy soil], pull it out of the pot, rough up the root ball a bit, set it in the middle, then fill in the hole with some fertilizer and compost, mixed with the removed soil in your front loader, then dumped back in the hole. Don't over supplement your native soil, otherwise the roots won't want to leave the cozy new pot you made them and venture into the regular soil where they really need to live. Tree roots don't like clean augered holes, which can just end up being a pot drilled into the ground for them to rot in, although not so much with sandy soil. Trees appreciate a mounded planting anyhow, rather than sinking into the ground for the crown to rot... and they will always sink after planting. Not so much a worry with good draining sandy soil, but with our clay on top of hardpan, they need all they help they can get during planting. For watering, I use 1/4" dripline on a hose that I move from tree to tree, looped around the tree. Just keep the water from puddling on the crown by not planting too deep, and force the roots outward by watering away from and around the new tree... make them look for the water and they will find it. Just enough water on the existing root ball to keep it healthy, but still wanting more. Also, if they are grafted trees, ensure that the graft is never buried.

 

[homey53]

I’ve read that square holes are better for planting than round ones.

And triangular shaped are better yet.LOL

 

[Fixastuff]

And triangular shaped are better yet.LOL

Outside the box thinking. Pentagram holes grow the fastest but downside is plants are now evil.

 

[homey53]

Outside the box thinking. Pentagram holes grow the fastest but downside is plants are now evil.

 

[sandman2234]

I would also like to mention that when you start drilling with the PHD, don't let it feed itself. Make sure that it is pulling the loose soil up and out. I had a very small tractor digging post holes at a friends house and he just let the auger screw in, and it lifted the front of the tractor. He pushed the clutch in to stop the front end from going up, and it slammed the front end back to the ground. A couple times of that and we got out some shovels to dig the auger out. Tractors don't have a reverse gear for the pto!
David from jax