Description
Tree/Shrub Planters or Transplanting Machines developed for the ornamental landscape industry have been modified and tested for use in wildland revegetation. These machines come in a variety of sizes and can be trailer mounted or attached to tractors or other vehicles. They are used to transplant small trees and shrubs that grow naturally around a mining or development site. The transplanters are capable of removing and relocating trees of up to 6 inches in diameter.
An early tree transplanter system consisted of a Vermeer Tree Spade mounted on a front-end loader and a specially built trailer with two to four cone-shaped pods (112 cm diameter and 108 cm deep). The trailer reduced overall transplanting costs by reducing transport time. The front-end loader-mounted tree spade is maneuverable and useable on slopes up to 20%.
Application
Mechanical tree planting has many advantages over hand planting which include more uniform and typically higher quality planting, less costly planting, lower site preparation requirements, and lower soil erosion potential. Soil plugs and woody vegetation are removed from the transplant site, loaded onto the trailer, and transported to the revegetation site and planted there.
Images
References / Additional Information
Calhoun, D. 1978. Disturbed land reclamation (Western “Sub” Group). VREW 32nd Annual Report. 1978 February 5-6. San Antonio, TX: 22.
Crofts, K.A. 1978. Coal mine reclamation in Colorado. VREW 32nd Annual Report. 1978 February 5-6. San Antonio, TX: 44-45.
Hallman, R. 1981. BLM’s equipment development program for revegetating disturbed lands. VREW 35th Annual Report. 1981 February 8-9. Tulsa, OK: 42.
McKenzie, D.W.; Merala, R. 1986. Guidelines for evaluating mechanical tree planters. Project Report 8624 1207. Forest Service Equipment Development Center. San Dimas, CA: 11 p.
Stevens, R. 1979. Tree transplanter for transplanting shrubs into rangelands. VREW 33rd Annual Report. 1979 February 11-12. Casper, WY: 26-27.