We’ve waited until winter to do something about the cottonwood tree next to the septic system. (Cottonwood trees are notorious for causing damage to septic systems.) Our friend Bill Wilbur came over with his tractor and then his backhoe to do the heavy lifting. Heavier than either of us thought. When Bill picked up the tree, the front wheels of the backhoe came off the ground and would not go down – not even with the two of us standing in the bucket.

Bill first brought over his tractor with a giant auger. The plan was to punch some holes where we planned to move the tree in order to make digging easier for the backhoe. This seemed odd to me, but Bill knows his tools. Good for me though as I got Bill to pop out the holes for the ten columns that will support the next six solar panels at the same time. It took Bill about twenty minutes to make the holes, each one three feet deep. This will save me many hours with a post hole digger.

When Bill returned with the backhoe, he first dug the hole where the tree would go. Then he dug around the tree. Eventually, we wrapped a rope around the tree and Bill kind of reached under the tree with the backhoe and lifted it up. The rope held the tree against the upper arm of the backhoe. Luckily, one can steer a backhoe with its independent brakes, because the front wheels just hung in the air useless.

Once the tree was in its new home, there was lots of shoveling. We’ll be giving it lots of water and love while we nurse it back to health.

Bill and the auger

The auger in action

Digging the hole where the tree will go

Ready to start digging

Trying to lift the tree

Part way out

Oh it's out now!

On its way to a new home/hole

Moved and happy