Tree Spade Vs. Bare Root Planting

Abstract

In 1973 the City of Lansing began a study to investigate the economical feasibility of using a Vermeer TS44T tree spade to plant street trees. A ten year average mortality rate for newly planted bare root street trees was found to be 41%. Tree spade planted trees had a mortality rate of less than 5%. Results of the study showed that 2.5 surviving tree spade trees could be planted for the same cost as one surviving bare root tree. A two year update of the 1973 study showed the basic premise to be valid. The new data showed that bare root mortality was 28% and the tree spade mortality was 1% resulting in 1.5 surviving tree spade trees being planted at the same cost as one surviving bare root tree.