Seedling Planting Tool

[Log Man]

What is the best seedling planting tool?

I have 10.5 acres to plant in Dec. 2012 - Treated Pine Seedlings.

Thanks in advance.

 

[madhatte]

This oughta get you started.

 

[forestryworks]

I like the dibble bar myself.

 

[madhatte]

I'm partial to the long narrow shovel... mainly because that's what the crews around here use, so it's what I inspect with. That's only a few weeks off, by the by, and I'm kind of dreading it. Don't like getting up an extra hour early.

 

[Log Man]

Up Early

I'm partial to the long narrow shovel... mainly because that's what the crews around here use, so it's what I inspect with. That's only a few weeks off, by the by, and I'm kind of dreading it. Don't like getting up an extra hour early.

I know the up early part. For several years I taught on site classes at company's for their third shift people (Maintenance). Up at 4:00 am - travel - classes started at 6:00 am - the hardest part was keeping the employees awake before they got off at 7:00 am.

 

[slowp]

WHAT!!! Nobody mentioned the classic, old school, wonderful HOEDAD?

Design Your Own Hoedad With These Forestry Suppliers Quality Parts!

I bought one at the swap meet and I used it to plant blueberries with the other day. Yup, I can still swing it and hit a rock.

Just remember...brown side down, green side up...I think I have that right.

 

[madhatte]

We have maybe 50 hoedads in the warehouse from who-knows-when. Haven't seen one used in at least 15 years.

 

[floyd]

Treated? Age? plugs ? An auger makes a nice hole for a plug.

Hoedads are for ground one can reach out & touch.

This numbass over by Kirkland wanted us to go up & down 70% ground. He looked straight out of forestry school.

I was not fast. maybe 400-500/day so I would stay back & straighten out the line. He thought I needed to be with the speed freaks.

I dint last long on that crew.

 

[madhatte]

This numbass over by Kirkland wanted us to go up & down 70% ground. He looked straight out of forestry school.

I know the type. I've inspected for them before. Lot of unhappy planters. Reprod surveys a year later always tell the true tale.

 

[slowp]

If planting behind and augur, look for an excellent planting/tamping stick. A round end is best.

 

[floyd]

Back then I preferred the auger. We had scalpers, auger operators, & planters.

One of these days I need to see if I can find some of the ground I planted. I haven't planted much at home. Select cuts have encouraged natural seeding.

 

[forestryworks]

I guess augering holes for seedlings depends on soil type?

Seems like it wouldn't work too good here in our clayey soils; roots could get bound in the augered hole.

I'm gonna experiment with bare root this year.

 

[slowp]

All I remember, is that augurs broke down frequently and did not do well in the rocks. I did not run one. That was a job for the tall people. We had one guy on the crew who had a knack for repairing the saw heads.
They were chainsaw augurs. We had better survival rates in the areas planted with augurs. We don't have clay in this part of the state. The volcanos have taken care of that issue.

 

[floyd]

Work good in clay. Have to be careful tamping. Rocks can be bad if too big. Otherwise the auger spits them out.

Power unit was a chain saw.

 

[lmbrman]

does the site necessitate hand planting?

I see no machines mentioned, just curious- I hate hand planting more each year

 

[Fuzly]

I have a real nice dibble bar that my Dad talked one of his Forest Service buddies out of years ago. Job Corps welding class made them real heavy duty. The weight helps the tool do the work and stand up to our numerous rocks. I've planted a few thousand with it.

As lmbrman mentioned, machines are often an overlooked option. DNR and several county forestry departments rent them at very reasonable rates in Wisconsin. You need access to a decent size tractor. Don't know the terrain or if that is an option in your area.

 

[lmbrman]

about one day's work for this planting tool :msp_smile:

 

[slowp]

I overlook machines because most of the ground I planted on, was about 2 or 3 feet away from my face which would be a little bit too steep for a machine. Steep ground is good. There's less bending over.

 

[rwoods]

What is the best seedling planting tool?

I have 10.5 acres to plant in Dec. 2012 - Treated Pine Seedlings.

Thanks in advance.

Depends upon your terrain and soil conditions. If your terrain is level a machine planter will knock it out in a hurry. IME*: sandy soil - a light flat blade dibble; clay and/or rocky soil - a heavier pointed trianglar blade dibble.

If you're careful about snakes and little hands, my father's approach worked well for him - he worked the dibble and I or one of my brothers placed and held the seedling. When we got stronger and heavier, he switched to pointing out where he wanted them, explained his required spacing and said "get to work."

Ron

*I have not planted seedlings in 30 years so there may be other options available today. But I do remember that the standard issue pointed triangular dibble was a lot heavier (and tiring) than the flat blade dibbles we used down in sandy Florida. But if you have a lot of clay or rocks, a flat blade won't work as well, and sometimes not at all.

PS It is good to see that you are planting "treated" pine seedlings as this should reduce our growing dependence upon pressure treated wood.

 

[Log Man]

Thanks For The Input

A great Thanks to everyone.

I'm planting these trees for my grandchildren (about 75 more acres to do). I hope they will take care of the land!