Tree spade rental in Spokane, WA lets you move a mature maple, spruce, or ornamental tree without the days of hand-digging a traditional relocation requires. Before you book, you need to know what size spade your tree actually needs, what it costs in 2026, and whether a rental machine or a professional crew is the safer call. This guide covers all three, plus real local rental sources instead of generic national listings.
What Is a Tree Spade?
A tree spade is hydraulic equipment that cuts, cradles, and lifts an intact tree rootball so a tree can be relocated with minimal shock to its root system. Curved steel blades close around the trunk and drive into the soil in stages, carving a cone-shaped rootball far larger and more intact than a crew could dig by hand in the same time.
Two formats cover most residential and commercial jobs:
- Skid-steer-mounted spades for smaller trees and tight residential lots
- Truck-mounted spades for larger caliper trees and commercial or nursery-scale moves
On a typical South Hill or Spokane Valley property, site access usually decides the format before tree size does. Tight side yards and HOA landscaping call for the skid-steer version. Open lots and multi-tree jobs justify the bigger truck-mounted machines.
Tree Spade Sizes and Cost to Rent in Spokane, WA (2026)
Spade size determines the maximum trunk caliper and rootball diameter a machine can safely handle. A widely used industry rule of thumb is that the root ball diameter should be 10 to 12 inches for every inch of stem caliper measured at ground line. A 3-inch caliper tree, for example, needs roughly a 30 to 36 inch rootball to survive the move with enough feeder roots intact.
Rental pricing varies by spade size, mounting type, and rental length. Here's what 2026 listings actually show, not estimates:
| Spade Type | Example Machine | Daily Rate | Weekly Rate | Monthly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small skid-steer spade |
30" root ball diameter, max hardwood 2.5"
|
$400.00
|
$1,200.00
| Call for rate |
|---|
| Mid-size attachment spade |
30" diameter
|
$508.20
|
$1,778.70
|
$4,198.45
| Used 36" tree spade | Bobcat TS36C |
$350
|
$1,400
|
$4,200
|
For context, national rental-market data puts the average day rate to rent a tree spade at around $306 , which lines up closely with what local and regional listings show above. Treat these as planning numbers. Actual Spokane-area pricing depends on machine condition, demand, and the specific rental company.
Haul Distance and Mobilization Cost
The posted day rate is rarely the full bill. Delivery, trailer pickup, and drop-off logistics often add more to a project's total cost than the rental rate itself, especially outside the immediate Spokane metro. Always ask for an all-in quote that includes delivery before comparing two rental companies on price alone.
Where to Rent a Tree Spade Near Spokane, WA
Big-box equipment chains rarely stock tree spades since they're specialty machines with limited year-round demand. Realistic sources in the Spokane area include regional equipment dealers and rental yards that actually serve this market:
Sun Rental Center operates locations in Spokane Valley, Spokane's South Hill, and North Division, plus Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho , and stocks lawn and garden equipment alongside heavier contractor gear.
Ten Acres Rental & Supply, based near Spokane's South Hill, serves Spokane, Spokane Valley, and Coeur d'Alene with delivery or in-store pickup .
FMI Equipment Sales in Spokane Valley sells and rents tractors, mini excavators, compact loaders, and related landscaping equipment .
Before booking any of these, confirm three things: the exact spade size and rootball diameter, real-time machine availability, and the delivery radius. Some companies won't haul a tree spade far outside their home service area, which matters if your project sits near {{SITE_URL}}/areas/spokane-valley-wa or further out toward Postfalls.
If your project is actually about clearing a lot rather than saving a specific tree, read our tree brush removal guide for Spokane before you rent anything, since land clearing and tree relocation call for different equipment entirely.
Best Time to Transplant a Tree in the Inland Northwest
Dormant-season transplanting gives a relocated tree the best shot at establishing new roots before summer heat stresses it. The ideal window is during the dormant season, in the fall after leaf drop or in early spring before bud break, when cool weather lets the plant establish roots before spring rains and summer heat drive new top growth.
In Spokane specifically, that window has real boundaries. The average last spring frost date in Spokane, WA is May 1 , and the average first fall frost date is October 7 . Booking a rental spade right against either edge of that frost window can complicate digging in frozen or saturated ground, so build in a few days of buffer when you schedule equipment.
Species matters as much as timing. Maples, oaks, and spruces generally tolerate spade transplanting well. Trees with deep taproots or brittle root systems are riskier candidates no matter how large the spade.
How Tree Spade Transplanting Works, Step by Step
- Position the spade. The operator centers the blades around the trunk and closes the hydraulic gate.
- Drive the blades in stages. Blades descend into the soil in sequence to form the rootball cone rather than cutting all at once.
- Lift the tree free. Once blades close beneath the root mass, the machine lifts the tree clear of the hole.
- Transport to the new site. The tree moves directly or via truck bed, depending on distance.
- Lower into a matching hole. The reverse sequence sets the tree into a pre-dug hole sized to the same rootball.
A skid-steer spade handles a typical Spokane residential job, like moving an 8-foot ornamental tree across a backyard, in hours instead of the days hand-digging would take. Because the dig-and-lift sequence involves significant hydraulic force near bystanders and property, OSHA requires that heavy machinery or equipment suspended or held aloft by slings, hoists, or jacks be substantially blocked or cribbed before anyone works under or between it . Keep children, pets, and onlookers well clear of the swing radius for the entire dig-and-lift cycle.
Should You Rent a Tree Spade or Call a Professional?
Renting makes sense when you're moving one tree, the species is a known good transplant candidate, and you're comfortable operating or hiring an operator for a skid steer. It stops making sense fast if the tree is leaning, shows dead wood, or sits near power lines or a foundation.
Our crews at CDA Tree and Utility LLC get called in more often after a rental job goes sideways than before one starts, usually because nobody checked root health or site drainage first. A short tree assessment before you rent can tell you whether a tree is worth the cost of moving at all, and a tree health consultation afterward helps catch transplant shock early, while it's still treatable.
If the tree turns out to be a poor candidate, our tree removal team can take it down cleanly instead, which is often cheaper than a failed transplant followed by removal anyway. Either way, get a free estimate before you commit to a rental so you know which option actually makes sense for your property.
FAQ
How much does it cost to rent a tree spade in Spokane?
Expect daily rates roughly between $90 for a small skid-steer attachment and $1,100 or more for a large truck-mounted unit, depending on size and the rental company. Add delivery and mobilization fees, which can meaningfully increase the total before the machine even reaches your property.
What size tree can a tree spade move?
Most rental units handle trees from about 2-inch caliper saplings up to mature trees with trunks over 10 inches wide. Smaller skid-steer spades typically top out around 44-inch blade diameters, while larger truck-mounted units can exceed 90 inches.
Should I hire or buy a tree spade?
Renting makes sense for occasional or one-off transplant jobs, since the equipment sits idle most of the year otherwise. Buying only pencils out if you're relocating trees regularly enough to offset the purchase price, maintenance, and storage. Most residential and small-commercial users are better off renting.
Where can I rent a tree spade near me?
Regional equipment dealers and rental yards serving the Spokane area, rather than big-box chains, are the most reliable starting point. Call ahead to confirm machine size and availability, since specialty spade equipment moves between job sites and isn't always sitting on a lot.
Can a skid steer operate a tree spade?
Yes, skid steers commonly power smaller tree spade attachments, provided the machine meets the hydraulic flow and lift capacity the spade manufacturer specifies. Not every skid steer qualifies, so check the spade's hydraulic requirements against your machine's rated output before pairing them.
Is tree spade hire the same as tree spade rental?
Yes. "Hire" is the standard term in the UK, Australia, and much of the Commonwealth, while "rental" is standard in the US and Canada. Searching either term in Spokane will surface the same equipment dealers.
What happens if the transplanted tree doesn't survive?
Transplant shock shows up as wilting, leaf drop, or dieback in the first growing season after the move. Catching it early with a professional tree health consultation gives the tree the best chance of recovery; waiting until the following spring to check on it usually means the damage is already done.
Still deciding whether your tree is worth transplanting or better off removed? Visit CDA Tree and Utility or contact us for a free assessment before you spend a dime on equipment.
