Mini excavator

[noway2]

The week of Sept 17th, I believe it is, we have some fruit tree saplings coming that will need to be planted.

We’ve had bad luck with fruit trees, especially planted in spring and want to try in fall. However, I’d like to dig some pits for them and amend the soil. The dirt is clay. I’d like them to be a couple feet deep a couple of feet wide. 10 spots for trees.

If anyone with a small excavator that is in the Bear Creek vicinity (27207) has one that you’d be willing to lone or do the job for a reasonable fee, or even have rental equipment suggestions, please let me know.

 

[Burt Gummer]

Most rental places have a small one that’s usually pretty cheap to rent. I rented one a year ago and buried the power line to the building across the driveway, and sat out a bundle of railroad ties on the edge of the driveway on either side of the new building. I got a small discount but it only cost me $90 and I had it Friday evening through noon on Saturday. And they’re small enough that I hauled it with my mower trailer

 

[BigWaylon]

Most rental places have a small one that’s usually pretty cheap to rent. I rented one a year ago and buried the power line to the building across the driveway, and sat out a bundle of railroad ties on the edge of the driveway on either side of the new building. I got a small discount but it only cost me $90 and I had it Friday evening through noon on Saturday. And they’re small enough that I hauled it with my mower trailer

Along ^those^ lines, I have a Sunbelt Rentals near me. They’re closed on the weekends. So you can pick item up on Friday after noon, and return it Monday before noon, and only get charge for a 1/2 day (or maybe it was a full day?).

 

[beamernc]

If the equipment has an hour meter, they may charge more than 1/2 day if it was used for a lot of hours. That's what Sunbelt near me said when I was looking at renting a lift over a weekend.

 

[BrettB]

For small trees unless you actually need an excavator for something else - a post hole digger with a 18-24” auger will work better and do less damage to the surrounding area.
Sun belt rents a walk behind self powered self propelled machine that will do this

 

[9outof10mms]

For small trees unless you actually need an excavator for something else - a post hole digger with a 18-24” auger will work better and do less damage to the surrounding area.
Sun belt rents a walk behind self powered self propelled machine that will do this

I was just gonna type...what he's looking for is an auger and skid steer...or a two-man auger with a 24-inch bit. that size diameter and in clay soil, I'd definitely have two guys hanging onto it. Although the ground should be a little bit loosened now that we've had some rain.

 

[Scsmith42]

Ditto the recommendation for an auger instead of a mini-ex. A hydraulic auger with a 24" or 36" bit would allow you to modify the soil near the planting. I did this a number of years ago with some oak tree transplants (tilled in a lot of agricultural compost) and it really worked well.

 

[GymB]

A bit of unsolicited advice. The loose soil is going to compact more than you expect over time, so plant trees higher than you think you should especially if you’re digging 3’ down. Better a little high than low.

 

[cold1]

I was just gonna type...what he's looking for is an auger and skid steer...or a two-man auger with a 24-inch bit. that size diameter and in clay soil, I'd definitely have two guys hanging onto it. Although the ground should be a little bit loosened now that we've had some rain.

Two man auger around here is known as a Wild ride. Hard, rocky, clay around us.

 

[mj1angier]

Home Depot in Fuquay

 

[JimP42]

Maybe a landscaper or a fence company could come drill them with an auger on a skid steer for a reasonable price.

 

[noway2]

Regarding an auger, we have one for the tractor, but the hydraulics don’t really have downward pressure, so if it hits hard soil it stops. Might be enough for a tree.

 

[cold1]

Regarding an auger, we have one for the tractor, but the hydraulics don’t really have downward pressure, so if it hits hard soil it stops. Might be enough for a tree.

Thats what your fat neighbor is for, downward pressure.

 

[BrettB]

Regarding an auger, we have one for the tractor, but the hydraulics don’t really have downward pressure, so if it hits hard soil it stops. Might be enough for a tree.

If you need downward pressure the little cutting edges are dull . Sharpen or replace …it’s very much like a drill bit in the fact that they dull. Augers do not last forever, but most of them have replaceable cutting edges and screw point.
With the PTO spinning you should just lower on the ground
See image below of new auger at the end with cutting edges and screw point

 

[Get Off My Lawn]

I can’t imagine doing this job by hand, I dug fence posts for my son’s place last week. I was putting enough downward pressure to lift the front tires. The clay was bone dry.
The hyd auger motor is a beast.
It would have been better if the skid steer had a parking brake.

 

[noway2]

I can’t imagine doing this job by hand, I dug fence posts for my son’s place last week. I was putting enough downward pressure to lift the front tires. The clay was bone dry.
The hyd auger motor is a beast.
It would have been better if the skid steer had a parking brake.

We used to hire a guy name Shannon to do our lawn. We had a tree die and wanted to replace it with a crepe myrtle. He offered to use his gas powered auger to drill out the area. The poor guy took over an hour, literally lying on the auger trying to get it to drill into our soil. He sweated up a storm and said never again. He couldn’t have imagined how tough it was.

 

[rdinatal]

Welcome to the Carolina Cement

 

[JohnFreeman]

Regarding an auger, we have one for the tractor, but the hydraulics don’t really have downward pressure, so if it hits hard soil it stops. Might be enough for a tree.

Try it after a hard rain, or water the spot for a few days before digging. Clay is pretty soft when it's damp.