Hand-dug Holly (ouch!)

[KyLimbwalker]

Hand-dug, balled and burlaped, and moved with a 6 ton crane. I'll be sure and post pictures. Especially the ones of me grimmacing while digging beneath a prickly holly.

We're also going to construct a chain basket, and hoist the tree out with three long straps.

That's the plan anyway.

 

[KentuckySawyer]

Can you dig it?

We started this project yesterday. We laughed, we cried, we narrowly avoided getting blow up. All in all it went fair.

Heres some pics...

 

[KentuckySawyer]

Re: Can you dig it?

Notice the gas meter...

 

[KentuckySawyer]

Re: Can you dig it?

So when we get 1-2 feet down, the local utility shows up. "We're here to shut off the gas."

Great...

 

[KentuckySawyer]

Re: Can you dig it?

These guys couldn't believe what we were doing, or how much this customer was paying.

 

[KentuckySawyer]

Re: Can you dig it?

Making progress now...

 

[KentuckySawyer]

Re: Can you dig it?

Starting to cut in the bottom...

 

[KentuckySawyer]

Re: Can you dig it?

Oh yeah... Soon into the dig, a valuable worker was hobbled...

 

[KentuckySawyer]

Re: Can you dig it?

We got it fixed, but note the expression on my face.

 

[KentuckySawyer]

Re: Can you dig it?

Wrapping the ball...

 

[KentuckySawyer]

Re: Can you dig it?

Then it got interesting.

Since the tree had grown right next to the house, it was a bit lop sided. Combine that with it being extremely difficult to dig between the tree and the foundation, and you've got a work order for excitement.

It started to lean hard.

 

[KentuckySawyer]

Re: Can you dig it?

We wrapped the ball with wire fence, and laced the crap out of it. The destination hole is being dug today, and then the crane is scheduled to transport the tree Sunday.

 

[banjo]

Re: Can you dig it?

Looks good guys! Good call on the wire fence. I use stock fence on big root balls almost always, works really well. Nice shiny spades too.

 

[Mrsmorningwood]

Re: Can you dig it?

[ QUOTE ]
We got it fixed, but note the expression on my face.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's not your face.

 

[Zac]

Re: Can you dig it?

out of curiousity...

did you bid this job or charge hourly?

nice job!

 

[KyLimbwalker]

Re: Can you dig it?

Success! We moved the holly today- the crane (boom truck) almost tipped over, but the tree's in and nobody got hurt. Zac, we bid the job. We have more pics. KySawyer will post them soon. Thanks to everyone who made suggestions and helped with our nerves to accept this job.

 

[KentuckySawyer]

Re: Can you dig it?

Working on a Sunday! We were helped by two local tree gurus on this portion of the transplant. Together Earl and Mike have about 80 years in the tree bizz.

Heres Mike hooking up the tree.

 

[KentuckySawyer]

Re: Can you dig it?

Take it to the trailer, Earl.

 

[KentuckySawyer]

Re: Can you dig it?

Me and Mike strapping it down for the ride.

 

[KentuckySawyer]

Re: Can you dig it?

The drive across town was slow and uneventfull. We arrived at the destination site, circled the wagons, and got to it.