Mark Smith, construction project manager for Belknap Landscape Company in Gilford, NH, sent me photos and a description of the air-tool transplant his company executed with Piscataqua Landscaping recently. Belknap has been using air tools for transplanting, site preparation (excavating roots at foundation limit lines prior to the foundation excavation), and root forensics, and has also used compressed air to reduce weight in larger B&B-dug root balls being moved.
Here’s what Mark had to say about the Weeping Norway Spruce they recently moved from Baker Valley Nurseries (with light editing):
“We moved a 25+ year old Weeping Norway Spruce that has resided in Baker Valley Nurseries in Rumney for the duration of its life. This tree stood 10-11 feet tall and at least 12 feet wide on one direction. The last time this tree was root pruned with a spade was 10 years ago.
Through the spading process we could clearly see where this root pruning occurred. All said and done we were left with a 25-30′ wide root system…You cannot see that in these pics real well, as we had all the roots coiled up into harnesses and sitting atop the root pan.
I helped Piscataqua with the digging of this and am told so far it looks great in its new home on the coast. Just to dig and get the tree in the truck took about 4-5 hours with 2 of us spading, and then 4 of us to get the tree in the truck which was actually the worst part.”
No photos yet of the tree in its new location, but when they come in I’ll post them.
Tree and equipment supplier: Baker Valley Nurseries, Inc., Wentworth, NH
Moved by:
Piscataqua Landscaping Company, Inc., Eliot, ME (Booth Hemingway and Travis Wright) and
Belknap Landscape Company, Inc., Gilford, NH (Mark Smith)
Deborah
I do not know if this is a way to contact you. When i was trying to track down Carl Cathcart i came across your blog and i had no idea that this type of activity is out there.
Thanks for doing it. It offers good information.
Andy
Andy, thanks very much for your note. This activity is out there — Massachusetts arborists are leading the way in using air tools to transplant trees, and lots of people are watching with interest. Feel free to look through the site; if you click on ‘Categories’ on the right side of the page you’ll find quite a few posts about air-tool work. I have made a video of a 12″ caliper London Plane tree getting moved bare-root, and will be putting copies up for sale shortly, as soon as I tweak a couple more things on it. Matt Foti and Mike Furgal, who have been developing this method, give the commentary on the video, and explain the process, all the way from early-morning sod-cutting to late afternoon mulching and watering in. If you keep an eye on this site, too, I’ll be posting on that tree, and others, and how they have fared in subsequent years.
Happy reading!