Don’t Wait Another Season
Swantech Industries
October 3, 2025
Don’t Let Another Tree Moving Season Pass You By – There’s Finally a Tree Spade Built for YOUR Equipment!
October is prime tree planting season across Canada, and if you’re like most property owners, you probably have trees you’d love to move but think you need massive, expensive equipment to do it safely.
What if I told you that’s not true?
What if you could move mature trees quickly and easily with the compact tractor, mini skid steer, or stand-on skid steer you already own – or can easily rent?
The Tree Moving Dilemma That’s Costing You Time, Money, and Beautiful Trees
Here’s what most people face when they want to relocate trees on their property:
Option 1: Do it by hand – Back-breaking work that takes hours per tree, often damages or kills the tree due to root damage, and leaves you exhausted and frustrated.
Option 2: Hire a tree service – Costs $500-1,500 per tree, requires scheduling around their availability (not yours), and you’re stuck waiting for the “right time” that works for them, not when it’s optimal for your trees.
Option 3: Think you need big equipment – Most people assume they need massive commercial tree spades that cost $25,000+ and require huge machinery they don’t own.
So what happens? You don’t move the trees at all. Those beautiful mature trees stay exactly where they are, even when they’d be perfect somewhere else on your property.
Introducing Tree Spades Designed Specifically for Compact Equipment
For four years, I’ve been manufacturing tree spades that solve this exact problem. Unlike the massive commercial units designed for big machinery, my tree spades are specifically engineered for the equipment you already have or can easily access.
Here’s what makes this possible:
✅ Works with your existing equipment – Compact tractors (25+ HP), mini skid steers, stand-on skid steers, telehandlers – if it has pallet forks or quick-attach, it can run these tree spades
✅ Move trees in minutes, not hours – What used to take all day with a shovel now takes 30 minutes or less
✅ Preserve the root ball – Clean, precise cuts that keep trees healthy and dramatically improve survival rates
✅ Work on YOUR schedule – No waiting for contractors, no coordinating with tree services. When the timing is right for your trees, you can get it done.
Two Sizes for Different Needs:
26″ Model – Perfect for smaller spaces and lighter equipment
- Handles trees up to 2.75″ diameter
- Digs 21″ deep
- Requires minimum 25 HP and 900 lbs lift capacity
- Available in multiple quick-attach styles plus pallet fork compatibility
36″ Model – For larger trees and more substantial projects
- Handles trees up to 3.75″ diameter
- Digs 31″ deep
- Requires minimum 35 HP and 1,500 lbs lift capacity
- Pallet fork compatible
Real Results: 150 Trees Moved in One Spring – 100% Survival Rate
Let me share a story that perfectly illustrates what’s possible with the right equipment.
I had a customer with a hazelnut orchard who faced a common problem – his three-year-old trees were planted too close together and needed to be thinned out. He had 150 trees that needed relocating, but the new location had rockier soil that would have made hand digging virtually impossible.
Using the 26″ tree spade with his compact tractor, he and his wife (yes, it’s so easy to operate that she could run the controls too) moved all 150 trees in one spring.
The results?
- 100% survival rate – Not a single tree died
- Thriving growth – Just one year later, the transplanted trees are already bearing nuts
- Impossible made easy – He told me it “wouldn’t have even been doable by hand” in that rocky soil
- No maintenance required – He never even sharpened the blades during the entire project
After transplanting, they mulched the trees and set up drip irrigation. The trees didn’t just survive – they thrived in their new location.
Born from Necessity: A Father’s Vision Becomes Reality
This innovation didn’t start in a boardroom – it started with my father’s frustration and vision.
For years, my dad had a dream: “There’s got to be a tree spade for small tractors.” He was tired of seeing people struggle with manual digging or assume they needed massive equipment for tree moving.
So he designed and built the first one.
Then came the real test – moving trees in Saskatchewan under the worst possible conditions. Different species, different seasons, even moving trees that were “too big” in weather that was “too hot.”
One test that still amazes me: He moved an 8-foot spruce tree in the middle of July – the hottest, driest time of year. Not only that, he didn’t even orient it properly, turning it halfway around so the north side was facing south. After watering it in, that tree just kept growing like “it didn’t even know it was moved.”
He successfully moved poplars, caraganas, and spruces with remarkable success rates.
Built to Last – Canadian Quality You Can Count On
When you invest in one of my tree spades, you’re getting equipment that’s built to perform year after year:
Premium Construction:
- High-strength steel blades with factory-sharpened edges
- Lightweight yet heavy-duty design that won’t overload your equipment
- Sandblasted, zinc primer, and powder coated finish for maximum durability
- Manufactured right here in Canada in my Ontario shop
Proven Reliability: In four years of manufacturing and 60+ units sold, I’ve had zero warranty claims . The only issues I’ve dealt with have been minor shipping problems – never product failures.
The reliability is so good that when people ask me about used units, I tell them there aren’t any available. Why? Because once customers get these tree spades, they keep using them.
Continuous Improvement: I personally fabricate each unit in my shop, and with every batch I build, I make small improvements to the design. You’re getting the benefit of years of real-world testing and refinement.
Perfect Timing for Tree Moving Season
Right now in October, you’re in the sweet spot for tree transplanting across Canada:
- Fall season: October through November (sometimes December depending on your location)
- Spring season: March through May
- Trees are entering dormancy – the ideal time for successful transplanting
Post-Transplant Care Made Simple:
- Water regularly (depending on rainfall – some trees can be overwatered)
- Mulch around the base to retain moisture and prevent grass competition
- Stake larger trees to prevent wind damage
- Fill any cracks around the root ball after transplanting
The beauty is, even if you don’t maintain the blades perfectly, they keep performing. Remember that hazelnut orchard customer? He moved all 150 trees without ever sharpening his blades.
The Investment That Pays for Itself
Let’s talk about what this really costs you – and saves you.
If you hire tree services at $500-1,500 per tree, this tree spade pays for itself after moving just 6-8 trees. After that, every tree you move is pure savings.
But the real value goes beyond money:
✅ Freedom and control – Move trees on YOUR schedule, not when contractors are available
✅ No more missed opportunities – When you see the perfect weather window or seasonal timing, you can act immediately
✅ Unlimited projects – Once you own it, there’s no per-tree cost holding you back from ambitious landscaping projects
✅ Property value – Strategic tree placement can significantly increase your property’s value and curb appeal
Think about it: How many trees have you wanted to move over the years but didn’t because of the hassle and cost? How many landscaping projects have you put off? This equipment turns “impossible” into “weekend project.”
Don’t Wait Another Season – Tree Moving Time is NOW
October and November are prime transplanting months across Canada. Miss this window, and you’re waiting until spring.
But here’s what I know will happen if you don’t act: You’ll spend another winter looking at trees in the wrong places, planning moves you’ll “get to someday,” and watching another perfect planting season slip away.
Ready to finally move those trees?