Best tools to dig up existing bushes & small trees?

[PashkaTLT]

Hello guys,

I already have existing plants where I'm gonna plant my palms. So first I need to dig up exiting plants and replant them somewhere else. I have bushes and little trees there,  about 2-6 feet high.

What are the best tools to dig up the existing plants?

I feel it's gonna be a nightmare

[Silas_Sancona]

Important questions:

** What type of  " Bushes and Small Trees " are we talking about?  Bushes and Small Trees = a very broad brush / all encompassing tern..

** How long have they been planted / in the ground? ..Will determine how large of a root mass you'll be disturbing ..and what type of Shovel will work best to move them...


How about a picture ..or a few? ..  Some shots are always the best idea when asking such general questions.. Gotta see  what we're working with. to know what the next step(s) might be.

[PashkaTLT]

Sure, here is the video. For some reason I thought I had one tree there in the bushes, but seems like there are only bushes actually. They were planted long time ago I assume. Definitely not in the last couple of years. (I bought the house 2 years ago).

 

Edited June 18, 2023 by PashkaTLT

[Silas_Sancona]

31 minutes ago, PashkaTLT said:

Sure, here is the video. For some reason I thought I had one tree there in the bushes, but seems like there are only bushes actually. They were planted long time ago I assume. Definitely not in the last couple of years. (I bought the house 2 years ago).

 

 

Now we're talkin' 

🤔🤔 ...Smaller "bushe(s)" up front ..A Rose at the end,  if you're looking to move it,  Hydrangea ( or Spirea ..White-flowered bush behind and to the right of the Sago.. )  should be fairly easy to move w a good sharp shooter / transplanting - type shovel / spade ..as long as you get a big enough rootball.

Short, green bushes ( One behind the Pindo ) ..not sure what those are, might be harder to move / remove..



Bigger challenge lies with the big green monster behind everything...  Looks like a type of woody Vine ..possibly Campsis radicans..  That may be tough to remove / keep under control, ...if you wanted to keep it.  If this were my project,  i'd probably remove it and plant something like large flowered Clematis, if i wanted some Vines covering the wall / fence? behind the Palms / Sago.

To remove it, you may need a sawz-all to cut down everything to the roots, and to get out as much root mass as possible.  That said, This kind of Trumpet Vine will quickly regrow from pieces of roots that aren't removed.. So you may be fighting it off for awhile..  No easy way to kill that stuff either..

Hopefully others will add their 🤔 and/ or ideas..

Edited June 18, 2023 by Silas_Sancona
edit

[PashkaTLT]

Thank you! I will look into the tools you mentioned. 

Regarding the big monster on the background. I love the screen it provides, so I wouldn't want to remove it completely. I'm concerned with its roots, though. I am afraid its roots may/will compete with the palms 'roots

[Silas_Sancona]

Just now, PashkaTLT said:

Thank you! I will look into the tools you mentioned. 

Regarding the big monster on the background. I love the screen it provides, so I wouldn't want to remove it completely. I'm concerned with its roots, though. I am afraid its roots may/will compete with the palms 'roots

Oh, it will.. is a very vigorous type of vine. Roots will spread everywhere  / seeds are quite viable, and will produce new plants -everywhere..  As fast as it grows, top will try and smother the palms too.. Pretty flowers, but a beast that should be kept separate from other nice things..

Article from Southern Living..
https://www.southernliving.com/garden/vines/invasive-trumpet-vine


*** Note, at the start of the video, the pictured plant is actually an Orange-flowered type of Tecoma ( Orange Bells )..  There is also video shots of Flame Vine ( Pyrostegia venusta ) in the same video. Flame Vine -at least- won't grow outside of zone 9 let alone down to 6.  ( ..Ahem, editing department, please learn how to carefully review your videos before posting, Oof.. 😂🤣 )

[PashkaTLT]

@Silas_Sancona,

Btw, I just checked that vine with the PictureThis app and it's Trumpet Vine.

[Las Palmas Norte]

I like these truck mounted tree spades. 

 

[PashkaTLT]

So I almost finished preparing the area for my palms (see the attached image).

I'd like to leave the trumpet vine that grows on the fence. Because it adds privacy and hides solar panels from view.

But I'm concerned that it will compete for resources with the palms.

Do you guys think it's ok to leave the trumpet vine? A compromise option could be to cut the roots of the trumpet vine that are currently on this side of the fence and leave the roots that are on the other side from the fence.

[PashkaTLT]

So I almost finished preparing the area for my palms (see the attached image).

I'd like to leave the trumpet vine that grows on the fence. Because it adds privacy and hides solar panels from view.

But I'm concerned that it will compete for resources with the palms.

Do you guys think it's ok to leave the trumpet vine? A compromise option could be to cut the roots of the trumpet vine that are currently on this side of the fence and leave the roots that are on the other side from the fence.

---

Regarding the tools, some of the tools I got & found very useful:

1) Special shovel. I chose from multiple shovels and I could really see & feel the difference. Can highly recommend this one:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BYJXDMFS?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

2) Small cordless 10" chain saw for sawing trees & branches:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075MZ7Y6K/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

3) Small shovel:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Anvil-18-in-D-Grip-Short-Wood-Handle-Compact-Digging-Shovel-77498-944/314833738

4) Long lopper to cut roots:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Fiskars-2-in-Cut-Capacity-Titanium-Coated-Steel-Blade-32-in-PowerGear2-Bypass-Lopper-with-SoftGrip-Handles-394802-1004/205667346

5) Small lopper:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Fiskars-1-1-4-in-Cut-Capacity-Titanium-Coated-Steel-Blade-15-in-PowerGear-Anvil-Lopper-with-DuraFrame-Handle-379722-1007/202589054

[Palmfarmer]

I usually use a thin shovel for the digging and a flat shovel for backfill or moving soil.