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Best Equipment for Tree Planting: What to Rent for Faster, Easier Installation

Best Equipment for Tree Planting: What to Rent for Faster, Easier Installation

Skip the all-day dig. Rent the right tree planting equipment for your soil, tree size, and yard access.

Planting a tree sounds simple until you hit clay soil, roots, or rock a foot down. The right tree planting equipment turns a weekend of shoveling into an afternoon job, whether you're setting a single ornamental tree in a backyard bed or installing a whole row along a new driveway. Rntr connects homeowners, landscapers, and small contractors with local providers renting augers, mini excavators, skid steers, and the trailers needed to haul it all, by the day or by the week, with pickup or delivery depending on the shop.

Tree Planting Equipment Rental: Common Questions

How much does it cost to rent tree planting equipment?
A hand or single-person power auger typically runs $50 to $75 per day. Skid steer auger attachments run $150 to $300 per day depending on bit size, and mini excavators with an auger attachment run $250 to $450 per day. Weekly rates usually work out to about three to four times the daily rate, so it pays to book by the week if your tree project spans more than two days.
Do I need a license or training to operate an auger or mini excavator?
Most hand-held and skid steer auger attachments don't require a special license for homeowner rentals, but you should have someone comfortable operating the base machine. Mini excavators and skid steers are heavier equipment, and many providers ask about prior experience or offer a quick walkthrough at pickup. If you've never run one, ask the provider about a brief orientation before you sign the rental agreement.
Should I choose delivery or pickup for equipment like a skid steer or excavator?
For anything bigger than a hand auger, delivery is usually worth the extra fee. Loading and hauling a skid steer or mini excavator requires a trailer rated for the weight and a vehicle capable of towing it. If you already have a suitable trailer and tow vehicle, pickup can save money. Otherwise, ask the local provider whether delivery is included or priced separately.
What size auger do I need for planting trees?
For small ornamental trees and shrubs, a 9 to 14 inch auger bit is usually enough. Larger container or balled-and-burlapped trees generally need an 18 to 30 inch bit to accommodate the root ball with room for backfill. If you're unsure of your tree's root ball size, check the nursery tag or ask the rental provider, since bit sizing is the biggest factor in getting a properly sized hole.
Is a deposit required to rent tree planting equipment?
Yes, most providers require a deposit or credit card hold, especially for skid steers, mini excavators, and attachments. Deposits vary by provider and equipment value, but expect anywhere from $100 for smaller tools up to several hundred dollars for heavier machinery. The deposit is refunded after equipment is returned undamaged and on time.
How long can I rent equipment for a tree planting project?
Rental durations are flexible. Many providers offer hourly minimums for small jobs, daily rates for single-tree projects, and weekly rates for larger landscaping jobs involving multiple trees or property improvement work. If your project stalls due to weather or scheduling, ask about extending the rental before your return date rather than after.
Can I rent equipment for transplanting an existing tree, not just planting a new one?
Yes. Tree transplanting typically calls for different equipment than a fresh planting job, since you need to lift and move an established root ball rather than just dig a hole. Skid steers fitted with forks or a grapple bucket are the common choice for moving balled trees, and some providers also carry tree spades for larger transplant jobs.

Hand and Skid Steer Augers for Digging Tree Holes

For most backyard landscaping and small tree projects, an auger is the fastest upgrade from a shovel. A hand-held or skid steer mounted auger cuts a clean, uniform hole in a fraction of the time it takes to dig by hand, which matters a lot once you're planting more than one or two trees.

Bit size should match your tree, not the other way around. Smaller ornamentals and shrubs usually need a bit in the 9 to 14 inch range, while larger balled or container trees call for something closer to an 18, 24, or 30 inch bit. If your skid steer setup needs the drive unit and bit as separate pieces, some providers rent them individually, such as this 12 inch auger bit for a Toro mini skid steer paired with a matching auger drive unit.

Rocky or root-heavy soil can slow any auger down. If you're extending reach or need a bit and drive sold separately, a setup like this auger unit with a separate bit attachment gives you more flexibility to match the bit to changing soil conditions across a property.

Mini Excavator and Skid Steer Rental for Bigger Tree Projects

Once you're planting large trees, dealing with heavy clay, or working around buried rock, a mini excavator rental usually beats an auger on its own. Excavators can break through tougher ground and dig wider, deeper holes without the strain a smaller machine puts on an auger bit. A combo unit like this E35 mini excavator with a 12 inch auger skid attachment covers both digging and hole boring in one machine, which simplifies logistics if you're only renting one piece of equipment.

For projects that involve moving soil, grading around new plantings, or prepping several holes across a yard, a full-size skid steer rental adds versatility beyond what a mini skid steer can handle. A machine like this large Bobcat skid steer loader can run bucket, fork, or auger attachments depending on what stage of the tree project you're on, making it a solid choice for contractors handling multiple installs in a day.

Moving and Transplanting Large or Established Trees

Tree transplanting is a different job than planting a new tree from a nursery pot. Established trees come with heavy, dense root balls that need to be lifted and carried without damaging the roots, which rules out doing it by hand for anything larger than a small sapling.

Skid steers fitted with forks handle this well. A forks attachment for a mini skid steer slides under a wrapped root ball and lifts it cleanly for relocation. For root balls that are irregular or hard to secure with straight forks, a grapple bucket attachment closes around the ball for a more secure hold during the move. If you need flexibility to switch between carrying loose material and moving a root ball, a combined bucket or forks attachment lets you swap functions without renting two separate pieces.

Site Prep and Cleanup for Landscaping and Tree Installation

Tree installation rarely ends once the tree is in the ground. Clearing brush before digging and smoothing the site afterward are part of most tree projects, especially if you're converting an overgrown area into a planting bed.

Before digging, a brush mower attachment clears saplings, brush, and small trees quickly, which saves a lot of manual clearing time on overgrown lots. If you're pulling stumps, roots, or debris out of the way, a brush rake grapple attachment handles that cleanup in fewer passes than a standard bucket.

Once trees are in and backfilled, a harley rake attachment levels the disturbed soil and pulls out rocks and roots, leaving a finished surface ready for mulch, sod, or seed. It's a small step that makes the difference between a job site that looks finished and one that still looks like a construction zone.

Hauling It All: Trailer Rental for Tree Planting Equipment

Getting a skid steer or mini excavator to your property is its own logistics puzzle if the rental provider doesn't offer delivery. Most of this equipment weighs well over what a standard utility trailer can handle, so you'll need something rated for heavy loads.

A trailer built for this purpose, like this 20 foot equipment trailer rated for mini excavators, gives you the deck length and weight capacity to move a mini excavator or skid steer safely between the rental yard and your job site. Always confirm your tow vehicle's rated towing capacity before booking a trailer rental, and check whether the equipment provider requires proof of a compatible hitch and brake controller before releasing larger machines for pickup.

Tree Planting Equipment: Rental Rates and Best Uses

Here's a quick comparison of common tree planting equipment rentals, typical pricing, and what each is best suited for.

EquipmentBest ForTypical Daily RateTypical Weekly RateNotes
Hand or single-person power augerSmall ornamental trees, shrubs, 1-3 holes$50-$75$150-$225No skid steer or excavator base needed
Skid steer auger attachment (9-30in bits)Multiple trees, standard root balls$150-$300$500-$900Requires a compatible skid steer or mini skid steer
Mini excavator with auger attachmentLarge trees, rocky or clay soil$250-$450$900-$1,500Handles tougher digging conditions
Skid steer with forks or grapple bucketTransplanting established trees, moving root balls$200-$350$700-$1,100Needed for trees over 6-8 feet tall
Equipment trailer (20ft, mini excavator rated)Hauling skid steers or excavators to the site$75-$150$300-$500Confirm tow vehicle weight rating first

Find Tree Planting Equipment Near You

From hand augers to full mini excavator setups, local providers on Rntr have the tree planting equipment ready for pickup or delivery. Compare daily and weekly rates, check deposit requirements, and book what fits your project size and timeline.

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