Dibble or Shovel?

[Victor Van Meter]

I will be planting about 100 seedlings this spring (Norway Spruce and Wild Plum) and have always used a shovel and that gets old after a while, plus the fresh dirt seems to be an attractant to things that want to eat my seedlings! I have zero experience with a dibble and was curious what most people used. Thanks.

VV

 

[Mortenson]

My wild plum bare-roots had roots too big for a dibble. A lot of them needed a small hole dug. Suppose you could trim a bunch of roots off and stuff it in, but that's about as tedious as digging a quick hole.

 

[Victor Van Meter]

My wild plum bare-roots had roots too big for a dibble. A lot of them needed a small hole dug. Suppose you could trim a bunch of roots off and stuff it in, but that's about as tedious as digging a quick hole.

I don't want to do any damage to the root system. Guess the shovel and I will be getting fondly aquainted again come spring!

VV

 

[Mortenson]

Many of my plums looked like this. Made it tough! I didn't have a dibble at the time, so was using a spade as a dibble on the small ones but as a shovel on these beasts.

 

[Victor Van Meter]

Many of my plums looked like this. Made it tough! I didn't have a dibble at the time, so was using a spade as a dibble on the small ones but as a shovel on these beasts.

View attachment 22904

Wow, looks like very healthy plants. I can see why a dibble didnt' work!

VV

 

[SwampCat]

Usually a dibble for pines and a shovel for many hardwood. If you have an auger on your tractor, that might be the least labor intensive.

 

[scott44]

I use both, depending on the root size.

 

[Telemark]

Many of my plums looked like this. Made it tough! I didn't have a dibble at the time, so was using a spade as a dibble on the small ones but as a shovel on these beasts.

View attachment 22904

Where did you get those?

 

[ksgobbler]

Dibble for bare root seedlings.

 

[Mortenson]

Missouri dept of conservation.

 

[Tree Spud]

I switched to this several years ago ... you won't regret the investment.

Earthquake Auger

 

[Mortenson]

Does the dude come with it? Looks like a tool for a maneater.

 

[Victor Van Meter]

Missouri dept of conservation.

View attachment 22905

That is where I ordered mine from as well.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Hit one good rock & it's broken wrists. Too stony for us to use.

 

[scott44]

I switched to this several years ago ... you won't regret the investment.

Earthquake Auger

I looked into renting one this spring and I'm going to try it, if it works this good I will probably buy one.

 

[Tree Spud]

Hit one good rock & it's broken wrists. Too stony for us to use.

I have hit 1000's of rocks, some as large as a football with no issues. There is a spring release on the shaft that helps absorb if you hit a rock or root. Like all engine driven items, you learn to hold & control so you don't get injured.

 

[Tree Spud]

Does the dude come with it? Looks like a tool for a maneater.

A big farmboy like you ... no worries

 

[Tree Spud]

I looked into renting one this spring and I'm going to try it, if it works this good I will probably buy one.

You can get different diameter drills. Does a good job of breaking up soil and I can drill down 18", spread the roots out as I plant a lot of 2-3 year old transplants. A 4"-6" drill would be good for bare root seedlings.

 

[trampledbyturtles]

For our soils, I have given up using a dibble bar.

Also found the auger was a no go as well. To much grass root mass plugs the blade an I spend to much time cleaning the auger blades.

Found the shovel is the best tool for my needs.

 

[Telemark]

That is where I ordered mine from as well.

They sent them to you in Ohio?