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Properly Sized Holes Every Time
Our augers drill wide, consistent holes at the correct depth — two to three times the root ball width — giving trees the best conditions for root establishment.
Verified Standard
Service
Tree Planting Holes Drilled to Perfection
Professional auger-drilled planting holes for individual trees and large-scale landscaping projects across Southeast Michigan, Mid-Michigan, and Northwest Ohio.
- Inclinometer-Plumb Holes
- MISS DIG Filed Free
- $1M Liability Insured
- Lawn-Safe Equipment
Overview
The Tree Planting Job, Done Right.
Planting a tree properly starts with the right hole — and the right hole is wider, shallower, and more consistent than most people realize. Mr. Posthole uses professional hydraulic auger equipment to drill tree planting holes that give new trees the best possible start. Whether you're a landscaper planting dozens of trees on a commercial site, a municipality installing street trees, or a homeowner adding specimen trees to your property, we drill properly sized holes quickly and efficiently.
Arborists and horticulturalists agree that the ideal tree planting hole should be two to three times wider than the root ball and no deeper than the root ball height — a wide, bowl-shaped hole that encourages lateral root growth into loosened surrounding soil. Digging these holes by hand is exhausting work, especially in Michigan's heavy clay. Our hydraulic auger equipment creates large-diameter holes in minutes, breaking up and loosening compacted soil in the process, which further benefits root establishment.
For large-scale planting projects — new developments, commercial landscapes, park installations, reforestation efforts, or orchard establishment — our equipment makes the difference between a multi-day manual labor project and a job completed in hours. We work with landscapers, tree nurseries, municipalities, property developers, and homeowners to prepare planting holes that meet professional horticultural standards.
Why It Matters
The Benefits of Doing It Right.
What you actually get when professional hydraulic auger drilling meets a job that's been done a thousand times before.
05 Benefits
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Breaks Up Compacted Clay
Michigan's clay soils resist root penetration. Auger drilling loosens and fractures the surrounding soil, making it easier for new roots to spread and establish.
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Massive Time Savings
A hole that takes 30 to 60 minutes to dig by hand in clay soil takes just minutes with hydraulic auger equipment. For multi-tree projects, the savings are transformative.
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Scalable for Any Project Size
From a single specimen tree in your front yard to 200 trees on a commercial development, our equipment and crew scale to fit the job.
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Reduced Labor Costs for Landscapers
Landscape contractors can redeploy their crews to planting, mulching, and finishing work while we handle the hole drilling, improving job efficiency and profitability.
Verified Standard
Where We Drill This
Common Applications.
If your project looks like one of these — or even close — we can drill for it. If it doesn't, ask anyway.
Tell Us About Your ProjectResidential specimen and shade tree planting
Commercial landscape installation
New subdivision and development tree planting
Municipal street tree programs
Park and public space tree installation
Orchard and fruit tree planting
Memorial and estate tree planting
Reforestation and conservation projects
Frequently Asked
Questions, Answered.
Straight answers to the things customers actually ask before booking a tree planting job.
What size hole do you drill for tree planting?
The standard recommendation is a hole two to three times wider than the tree's root ball and equal to the root ball depth. For a tree with an 18-inch root ball, we would drill a hole 36 to 54 inches wide. We adjust auger size and depth based on the trees being planted.
Is an auger-drilled hole better than a hand-dug hole for trees?
In most cases, yes. Auger drilling loosens and breaks up the surrounding soil — especially important in Michigan's compacted clay — which promotes faster root growth beyond the planting hole. The key is ensuring the hole is not drilled too deep, which we carefully control.
Can you drill holes for a large number of trees in one visit?
Absolutely. Large-scale planting projects are one of our strongest use cases. Our hydraulic equipment can drill dozens of planting holes per hour, making it practical to prepare an entire site in a single visit.
Do you just drill the hole, or do you plant the tree too?
Mr. Posthole drills the planting holes. We prepare the holes to the correct size and depth so you, your landscaper, or your tree service can handle the actual planting. This lets us focus on what we do best and keeps your project cost-effective.
Don't See Your Question?
Email Kirk directly — most replies come back within a few hours during business days.
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