Unloading larger trees is a precise job. Trees are quite fragile, which means they get damaged easily. Take your time. Assess the situation, protect the trunk and ensure you are using the right lifting equipment.

Hoisting strap

A tree with a root ball acts like a lever, which means you have to know what the tree will do when you lift it. The position of the strop or holster and the chain length determine how the tree will hang in the crane. If the tree is directly lifted into the planting hole, it is better to lift the tree off the trailer in a more vertical position, but this does place more pressure on the trunk. For the same reason it is important to always use a hoisting strap for heavy root balls.

Timeframe for unloading and planting

Do not postpone the planting (and unloading) of trees for too long. The later in the season, the bigger the chance of damage to the bark, because as soon as the sap starts to flow again, the tree layer underneath the bark (the cambium) becomes weaker, which means the bark comes off more easily. Not every type of tree is as sensitive and has the same ‘timetable’. Because of this, unloading trees is a specialist job.

Unloading instructions

To help you along, Van den Berk Nurseries have written down unloading instructions for various sizes of trees. With text and clear illustrations, we explain how large trees can be unloaded in the most common situations. These instructions are available as PDF files to clients on request. They are available from our sales team. They can also answer any questions about unloading trees and the necessary equipment.