Blade Planting Tools

The following devices are used primarily by thrusting a flat blade into the soil, rocking the blade back and forth to create a cavity, and placing the seedling into the hole. Many models also are adapted for scalping. Other features include attachments to pack soil around the seedling's roots and to clear slash and brush.

Blade planting tools include:

• Planting Hoes
• Planting Bars
• Planting Shovels

Planting Hoes

Function

Planting hoes are versatile implements capable of scalping and producing the planting hole. Planting hoes are particularly effective for planting on slopes. Designs are available for planting both bareroot and container seedlings under a wide range of conditions.

Description

A typical planting hoe consists of an 18- to 36-inch (46 to 91 centimeter) curved wooden handle with a 5- to 18-inch (13 to 46 centimeter) flat metal blade attached at a right angle. The most common adaptations of the basic design include an angled handle bracket (Earp bracket) that holds the blade at a 100-degree angle so the planter has to stoop less on flat or gently sloped sites, and the concave (or Rasmussen) blade that penetrates the ground more readily than flat blades.

The most common planting hoe is the hoedad or Rindt hoe. The handle is generally about 36 inches (91 centimeters) long and the blades are from 15 to 17 inches (38 to 43 centimeters) long by about 4 inches (10 centimeters) wide. They usually end in a rounded tip. On some models, the flat back of the blade may be used for scalping. Hoedads come with the adaptations described above and usually weigh from 6 to 7-1/2 pounds (2.7 to 3.4 kilograms).

The narrow blade hoe, or plughoe, has a narrower blade than the hoedad and is particularly well suited for planting container seedlings and for penetrating hardpan or rocky ground. Plughoe handles are usually about 36 inches (91 centimeters) long and the blades are 13 to 15 inches (33 to 38 centimeters) long. The blades taper from a back that is about 3 inches (8 centimeters) wide to a narrow rounded edge. Plughoes are available with Earp brackets. They weigh about 6 pounds (2.7 kilograms).

The Swedish planting hoe has a wide, concave blade, adapting it for planting large seedlings in loose or muddy soil. The handles on Swedish hoes are about 36 inches (91 centimeters) long and the blades are 13 to 15 inches (33 to 38 centimeters) long. A foot plate is often welded on the back of the blade to help push the 6- to 7-inch (15 to 18 centimeter) wide blade into the ground. Swedish hoes are available with Earp brackets. They weigh from 3 to 6 pounds (1.4 to 2.7 kilograms).

The Wifsta hoe consists of a lightweight, flat scalping blade about the size of a hoedad. A rounded chopping attachment on the back edge of the blade can be used to cut brush or slash while planting. The Wifsta hoe has a straight handle and weighs about 3-1/2 pounds (2 kilograms).

Operation

In a typical planting operation, the wide back edge or side of the planting hoe is used to prepare a scalp. Then, the blade is driven vertically into the soil with an overhead swinging motion. To open the hole for the seedling, the hoe's handle is pulled upward and the blade is removed. After the seedling is placed into the hole, the hoe's blade is used to scrape soil around the seedling and to pack soil firmly over the roots (the operator's foot presses on the hoe's blade). Experienced workers commonly plant more than 400 seedlings per day with planting hoes.

Advantages

Planting hoes are relatively lightweight, tough, and easy to handle. They are also versatile and inexpensive. They are often the most effective implements in steep terrain, rocky or clay soil, heavy brush, or slash.

Disadvantages

Planting hoes lead to fatigue because the operator's upper body must do most of the work. The operator spends a great deal of time bent over, especially on flat terrain. Planting is restricted in heavy brush or slash if the planter cannot swing the hoe freely. The various types of hoes are not effective when they are not used on terrain for which they were designed. (top)

Planting Bars

Function

Planting bars are common planting devices that are particularly effective for planting in hard or rocky soils, or in soils with lots of roots. Although all bars are fairly heavy, usually they do not fatigue the operator because the operator can work in an upright position. The weight of the bar and the weight of the operator's body help the bar penetrate the soil.

Description

The soil-piercing wedge is attached to a heavy-duty T-handle. A step plate is usually attached at the junction between the handle and the piercing wedge.

The OST bar has a piercing blade that is 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 centimeters) long, 3 to 4 inches (8 to 10 centimeters) wide, and 3/4 to 1 inch (2 to 3 centimeters) wide at the step, tapering to a point. The OST bar weighs 8 to 9 pounds (3.6 to 4 kilograms).

The KBC bar has a blade 4 to 5 inches (10 to 13 centimeters) wide and 3/4 to 1 inch (2 to 3 centimeters) thick at a central ridge that tapers to sharp edges. Rather than having a flat bottom edge, the KBC bar comes to a point at the end of the center ridge. The blade is 12 to 14 inches (30 to 36 centimeters) long from the point to the step. The bar weighs about 10 pounds (5 kilograms).

The planting spear sometimes comes with a straight rather than a T-handle. The piercing blade is 8 inches (20 centimeters) long and lighter than the blade on other bars. It is about 4 inches (10 centimeters) wide at the step, tapering to about 1-1/2 inches (3 centimeters) at the slightly rounded tip. All edges of the planting spear are sharpened. (top)

Operation

The bar's piercing blade is thrust into the ground vertically, pushed forward about 35 degrees, and pulled back to a vertical position to create a hole. The KBC bars may not require a rocking motion to create a hole. After the blade is withdrawn, a seedling is placed into the hole and the bar is thrust into the soil about 8 inches (20 centimeters) from the seedling and rocked once to push soil back into the original hole and firm it around the roots of the plant. Operators can plant about 350 to 400 seedlings per day. (top)

Advantages

Planting bars are simple, inexpensive, and versatile planting implements. They can be used to plant container or bareroot seedlings (unless they have a root system that spreads widely). Planting bars can be used in relatively confined spaces, on steep slopes, and on rocky ground. Although operators must kneel to plant the seedling, bars are less fatiguing than hoes because the operator is upright when the soil is pierced. (top)

Disadvantages

Because planting bars are not designed for scalping, site preparation may be required before seedlings are planted. Bars must be used carefully to eliminate harmful air spaces around the seedling's roots. Heavy soil that is compacted during planting may inhibit root growth or contribute to frost heaving. (top)

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