| More Tree Care Information |
|
More information about tree care will be available in the upcoming August 2001 issue of Lawn & Landscape magazine in the issue's tree care supplement, Arbor Business. A link to this content will soon be available here once the issue goes online. |
WEST FARGO, N.D. - Landscapers, municipalities and nursery managers can all benefit from the time and labor savings that a tree spade attachment for a skid steer-loader can offer, but with such a wide range of tree spade sizes, determining which tree spade is best for a given application can be confusing.
Tree spades are often classified by the degree of angle of the spade blades, with common angles of 30, 25 and 22 degrees. Understanding the differences and benefits for each type of spade blade can help users do their jobs faster and more efficiently.
30-DEGREE BLADE ANGLE (THE CONE TREE SPADE). The 30-degree cone tree spade attachment is an all-purpose spade designed for use in a variety of soil types. Ideally, full extension of the blades will result in a cone with a 5- to 14-inch opening at the bottom (depending on the dimensions of the blades), allowing unnecessary soil weight from below the root zone of the tree to be left in the ground. The spade design is compact and lightweight for easy maneuvering, and the root ball fits effortlessly into a standard 30-degree nursery basket. The 30-degree cone spade should not be used in areas with sugar-sand soil or on heavily tap-rooted trees.
25-DEGREE BLADE ANGLE (THE MODIFIED TREE SPADE). A favorite among nursery workers, the 25-degree modified tree spade produces a wide root ball with a flat bottom, allowing trees to be easily stored and displayed upright. Designed to dig in heavier soils than the 30-degree cone spade, this attachment excels in loam and clay-loam soils, but should not be used in sandy soils. The 25-degree modified tree spade is designed to produce a root ball that fits in a standard 25-degree nursery basket.
22-DEGREE BLADE ANGLE (THE TRUNCATED TREE SPADE). Designed to allow nursery growers to dig in heavy soils, the wider blades of the truncated tree spade produce heavy, pot-shaped root balls that contain more roots and soil than other model designs. A standard 22-degree nursery basket accommodates the root ball for storage and transport.
Tree spades can be an indispensable attachment on a skid-steer loader, allowing trees to be extracted, transported and packaged without the user leaving the operator seat. The proper selection of a tree spade attachment increases productivity and efficiency. In addition, an open frame attachment will give operators optimal visibility for easy positioning of the tree.
The author is attachment business manager for Bobcat.
For more information on tree spades and other attachments visit www.bobcat.com.