A single truck-mounted tree spade can cost more than a delivery van, a skid steer, and a used pickup combined, and that price tag stops a lot of otherwise capable nursery owners, landscape contractors, and tree service operators from ever bidding on the big-tree jobs that pay the best margins. Tree spade equipment financing solves that problem by spreading the cost of a hydraulic tree spade across manageable monthly payments instead of forcing a business to drain its cash reserves for a single piece of equipment.
Whether you run a wholesale nursery that needs to dig and ball larger caliper trees for landscape architects, a tree relocation specialist serving golf courses and municipalities, or a landscaping company that wants to bring large-tree installation in-house instead of subcontracting it out, tree spade equipment financing gives you a path to owning this specialized machinery without tying up the working capital you need for payroll, fuel, and everyday operations.
In This Article
Tree spade equipment financing is a form of commercial equipment financing designed specifically to fund the purchase of tree spades: the hydraulic, mechanized tools used to dig, lift, transport, and replant large trees with an intact root ball. Instead of paying the full purchase price of a truck-mounted, self-propelled, or trailer-mounted tree spade up front, a business borrows the funds (or leases the equipment) and repays the lender in fixed monthly installments over an agreed term, typically 24 to 72 months.
A truck-mounted tree spade capable of moving a mature tree with a 44 to 55 inch root ball, mounted on a heavy-duty chassis, can realistically run anywhere from roughly $60,000 to well over $150,000 new, with used units commonly trading in the $15,000 to $65,000 range depending on age, spade size, and the condition of the mounting truck. Smaller skid-steer or tractor-mounted tree spade attachments are far less expensive but still represent a meaningful capital outlay for a growing operation. Financing bridges that gap so a business can put the equipment to work immediately and pay for it out of the revenue it generates.
Key Stat: Landscaping services is one of the most fragmented industries in the country, with roughly 114,800 employer firms nationwide and 86% of those firms operating with fewer than 10 employees, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. That fragmentation means a well-equipped operator with the right big-tree equipment has real room to win larger commercial and municipal contracts away from smaller competitors who can't handle the work.
Buying a tree spade with financing instead of cash, or instead of renting one job at a time, changes the economics of your business in several important ways.
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Approval largely depends on time in business, revenue, and personal credit profile. A personal FICO score of 640 or higher is typically sufficient for standard approval, and scores of 680 or better generally unlock the most competitive rates. Established nurseries, tree service companies, and landscape contractors with strong cash flow can often qualify for 100% financing with no down payment, even on larger truck-mounted units.
Not every tree spade fits every business model. Understanding the different configurations helps you choose the right equipment and the right financing structure.
Because tree spades vary so widely in price and capability, financing terms are usually structured around the specific equipment being purchased rather than a one-size-fits-all program. A $20,000 skid-steer attachment and a $140,000 truck-mounted unit will carry very different payment structures, even though the underlying financing process is the same.
Manufacturer choice also affects both price and financing structure. Brands like Big John Manufacturing and Vermeer are known for heavy-duty truck-mounted units built for daily commercial use, while Dutchman Industries and Red Boss Tree Spades offer a range of sizes suited to nurseries and mid-size landscape operations. Baumalight's trailer and truck-mounted transplanters are popular with contractors who need a versatile unit that can move between job sites without a dedicated dig truck. Lenders financing tree spade equipment will typically want to know the make, model, spade size, and whether the unit is new or used, since all of these factors affect both the equipment's resale value and the loan-to-value ratio a lender is comfortable extending.
Tree spade equipment financing tends to make the most sense for businesses that either move large trees regularly or want to expand into higher-margin big-tree work.
Every business moving large trees eventually faces the same decision: rent a tree spade job by job, pay cash to own one outright, or finance the purchase. Each option has a place, but the right answer depends on how often you need the equipment and how much cash you want tied up in it.
| Option | Upfront Cost | Best For | Drawback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renting per job | Low (daily/weekly rate) | Occasional, one-off big-tree jobs | Limited seasonal availability, no equity built, higher long-run cost per job |
| Paying cash | Full purchase price | Businesses with significant cash reserves and no immediate capital needs elsewhere | Ties up working capital, slows ability to react to other opportunities |
| Financing / leasing | Low or no down payment | Businesses that plan to use the equipment regularly for years | Requires a credit application and ongoing monthly payment obligation |
For a business that only needs a tree spade a handful of times a year, renting can still be the more economical choice. But once a nursery, landscaper, or tree service is regularly turning down large-tree work because a rental unit wasn't available, or is paying enough in rental fees each season to nearly cover a monthly financing payment, financing usually becomes the better long-term decision.
There's also a scheduling factor that rarely gets discussed. Rental tree spades are typically booked out weeks in advance during peak spring and fall planting windows, which are exactly the seasons when nurseries and landscape contractors have the most demand for large-tree work. A business that owns its own equipment can say yes to a time-sensitive job, such as a landscape architect who needs mature trees installed before a property closing, without checking a rental company's availability calendar first. That flexibility alone often justifies the monthly payment for businesses doing more than a few large-tree jobs per season.
Crestmont Capital works with nurseries, landscape contractors, and tree service companies across the country to structure equipment financing that fits the specific tree spade being purchased, whether it's a truck-mounted unit for a wholesale nursery or a trailer-mounted spade for a growing landscape company. Our team understands the seasonal cash flow patterns of green industry businesses and structures payment schedules accordingly.
We also offer used equipment financing for businesses purchasing a pre-owned tree spade from a dealer or private seller, which is often the most cost-effective way to get into big-tree capability. For companies that also run wood chippers, stump grinders, or other tree care machinery, we can bundle multiple pieces of equipment into a single financing agreement to simplify payments. Read our guides on stump grinder financing and wood chipper financing if you're building out a full tree care fleet.
If your business needs working capital alongside equipment financing, whether for seasonal payroll, fuel, or covering a gap between jobs, our unsecured working capital loans and business line of credit options can run alongside your equipment financing agreement. Established businesses may also want to explore SBA loans for longer-term, lower-rate financing on larger equipment purchases.
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Tree Spade Financing & The Green Industry
114.8K
Landscaping services employer firms nationwide (U.S. Census Bureau)
86%
Of landscaping employer firms have fewer than 10 employees
$15K-$150K+
Typical price range for used to new truck-mounted tree spades
24-72
Typical financing term length in months for commercial equipment
Scenario 1: Wholesale nursery expanding into large-caliper trees. A wholesale nursery that historically sold trees up to 3 inches in caliper wanted to move into the more profitable 6 to 10 inch caliper market for landscape architects designing commercial properties. Digging and balling trees at that size by hand was too slow and labor-intensive to be profitable. Financing a used truck-mounted tree spade let the nursery start fulfilling larger orders within weeks, without draining cash reserves earmarked for the next planting season.
Scenario 2: Tree service company adding relocation services. A tree removal and trimming company noticed it was regularly turning away requests to relocate mature trees rather than remove them, work that paid significantly better per job than standard trimming. Financing a trailer-mounted tree spade allowed the company to add tree relocation as a new service line without disrupting its existing tree care fleet financing.
Scenario 3: Landscape contractor winning a municipal contract. A landscape contractor bidding on a city street tree replacement contract needed to demonstrate it had the equipment to move large replacement trees efficiently. Securing financing for a self-propelled tree spade before the bid deadline let the contractor submit a competitive proposal and ultimately win a multi-year municipal contract.
Scenario 4: Golf course renovation project. A golf course undergoing a redesign needed to relocate dozens of mature trees rather than remove them, both to preserve the course's aesthetic and to control costs. Rather than paying a specialty contractor's premium day rate for a rented tree spade over several weeks, the course's in-house grounds crew financed a skid-steer tree spade attachment, completing the relocation work in-house and keeping the equipment for ongoing maintenance afterward.
Scenario 5: Land developer preserving mature trees during site work. A residential land developer faced pressure from a local planning commission to preserve as many mature trees as possible during a subdivision build-out rather than clear-cutting the site. Instead of subcontracting a specialty tree-moving company at a premium rate for the entire project timeline, the developer's site work contractor financed a trailer-mounted tree spade, relocating dozens of trees to preserved buffer zones and common areas. The approach satisfied the planning commission's conditions, avoided delays waiting on a subcontractor's schedule, and left the contractor with equipment it now uses on every subsequent development project.
Tree spade equipment financing is a business loan or lease used to purchase a hydraulic tree spade, the machine used to dig, lift, and replant large trees with an intact root ball. Instead of paying the full purchase price up front, the business repays the cost in fixed monthly installments over a set term.
Costs vary widely based on type and size. Used truck-mounted tree spades commonly sell in the $10,000 to $65,000 range depending on age, spade size, and the condition of the mounting truck. New truck-mounted units built for large-caliper trees can exceed $150,000, while smaller skid-steer or tractor-mounted tree spade attachments are considerably less expensive.
Most lenders look for a personal FICO score of 640 or higher for standard approval, with scores of 680 and above typically qualifying for the most competitive rates. Businesses with strong revenue and time in operation may still qualify with lower scores, especially with a larger down payment.
Yes. Used equipment financing is one of the most common ways businesses acquire tree spades, since a well-maintained used truck-mounted or trailer-mounted spade can offer significant savings over a new unit. Lenders will typically want an invoice or bill of sale from the dealer or seller to structure the financing.
An equipment loan finances the purchase directly, and you own the tree spade once the loan is paid off. A lease typically offers lower monthly payments and, depending on the structure, gives you the option to purchase the equipment for its fair market value, return it, or upgrade to a newer model at the end of the term.
Terms typically range from 24 to 72 months, depending on the price of the equipment, the age of the unit if used, and the borrower's qualifications. Larger truck-mounted spades often carry longer terms to keep monthly payments manageable.
Not always. Businesses with strong credit and established revenue history can often qualify for 100% financing with no down payment. Newer businesses or those with a thinner credit file may be asked for a down payment, typically 10 to 20 percent of the purchase price.
It depends on the caliper of trees you plan to move. Smaller attachments handle root balls in the 24 to 30 inch range for smaller-caliper trees, while large truck-mounted units can handle root balls up to 100 inches in diameter for mature, large-caliper trees. Your dealer can help match spade size to the typical trees in your market.
If you only need a tree spade a handful of times per year, renting may be more economical. If you regularly turn down large-tree jobs due to rental availability, or your seasonal rental costs approach what a monthly financing payment would be, financing typically pays off faster and builds equity in equipment you keep long-term.
Newer businesses can qualify, though options may be more limited than for established companies. Lenders will typically weigh the owner's personal credit profile and industry experience more heavily when the business itself has limited financial history.
Application-only financing under roughly $400,000 can often be approved same-day, with funding to the seller in as little as 24 to 48 hours. Larger transactions requiring more documentation may take three to five business days.
Yes, when a tree spade is permanently mounted on a dedicated truck chassis, the truck and spade can typically be financed together as a single piece of equipment, simplifying the transaction into one loan or lease.
Many nurseries and tree service companies finance a tree spade alongside complementary equipment such as stump grinders, wood chippers, skid steers, and bucket trucks, sometimes bundled into a single financing agreement to simplify payments across a full tree care fleet.
Typically no. The tree spade itself usually serves as the collateral for the financing agreement, which is why most equipment financing applications do not require additional collateral such as real estate or other business assets, unlike some traditional term loans.
Start by getting a written quote from a tree spade dealer or seller for the specific unit you want, then apply with a lender that specializes in commercial equipment financing. Approval and funding can often be completed within days, letting you take delivery quickly.
Tree spade equipment financing gives nurseries, landscape contractors, tree service companies, and municipal contractors a practical way to add serious big-tree capability without draining working capital. Whether you're looking at a used trailer-mounted unit to start relocating mature trees for the first time, or a new truck-mounted spade to expand a wholesale nursery's large-caliper offerings, structuring the purchase with the right financing keeps cash available for the rest of your operation while putting the equipment to work generating revenue from day one. If growing into higher-margin large-tree work is on your radar this season, tree spade equipment financing is worth a serious look.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general educational purposes only and is not financial, legal, or tax advice. Funding terms, qualifications, and product availability may vary and are subject to change without notice. Crestmont Capital does not guarantee approval, rates, or specific outcomes. For personalized information about your business funding options, contact our team directly.