Tree spade

By bringing mechanized power to what was formerly only a manual process, tree spades do for transplanting what tractors and combine harvesters do for agriculture, and what excavators and other heavy equipment do for construction.

A typical machine consists of a number of blades (generally 3 or 4, but single or dual blade designs also exist) that encircle the tree, digging into the ground and then lifting the entire tree, including its roots and soil (in what is termed a "root ball"[1]), out of the ground and replanting or transplanting the whole tree in the designated area.

Tree spades are available in a wide variety of sizes and designs that are made to suit varied soil conditions and customer requirements.

For transport on public roads, the spade tilts the tree to a near-horizontal position in order to clear overhead bridges and cables.

A 'tree moving machine' was patented by Howard E. Crawford, of Detroit (Redford Township) in 1961.