Minnesota’s short work seasons and diverse terrain make every day in the field count. Whether you’re relocating mature trees for city projects, nursery operations, or landscape redesigns, your team can’t afford breakdowns or inefficiencies. When the wrong equipment slows you down, it costs more than time—it risks the health of every tree you’re trying to move.

That’s why Big John Manufacturing offers top-tier tree spade equipment for sale in Minnesota. Our rugged, field-tested machines are trusted by contractors, cities, and nurseries nationwide. They’re built for the hard jobs—backed by a team that knows how to help you choose the right model for your workload, soil type, and tree size.

Contact Big John Manufacturing to get equipment that keeps you moving!

Big John tree spade digging tree in rural Minnesota.

Equipment Designed for Minnesota’s Conditions

Our selection of tree spade equipment for sale in Minnesota is built to deliver results in both urban and rural settings. From compact attachments to massive spades for mature trees, Big John has solutions that perform.

Skid Steer Attachments

When you need agility and speed on tight jobsites, our skid steer models are a go-to option. These are perfect for smaller trees, residential areas, or any location with limited access. They’re also a smart fit for local crews and Minnesota tree movers looking to boost productivity.

Truck-Mounted Spades

For high-volume transplanting, truck-mounted spades offer unmatched speed and mobility. Built for heavy-duty commercial use, these models deliver fast setup and deep digging performance across parks, campuses, and nurseries.

Trailer Units for Flexibility

If you're looking to buy tree spade in Minnesota with versatile transport options, our trailer-mounted tree spades hit the sweet spot. They’re strong, stable, and easy to move from one job to the next—ideal for landscape professionals and municipalities.

Why Minnesota Pros Choose Big John

We’ve earned our reputation by building equipment that lasts and backing it with real support:

  • Designed to handle Minnesota's freeze-thaw cycles and mixed soils
  • Engineered to reduce root disturbance and improve survival rates
  • Built with high-strength steel and smart digging geometry
  • Supported by a responsive team with decades of transplanting experience
  • Trusted by tree transplanting equipment for sale Minnesota buyers for over 35 years

A Simple Plan to Get the Gear You Need

Working with Big John is fast and frustration-free. Here's how to get started:

  1. Reach Out Online or by Phone
    Fill out our contact form and let us know what kind of trees and jobs you handle.
  2. We’ll Help You Choose the Right Fit
    Based on your needs, we’ll recommend the right size and style of spade for your operation.
  3. Start Moving Trees with Confidence
    Once your equipment arrives, you’ll have the tools to work smarter and move more trees with less downtime.

The Equipment You Need. The Support You Deserve.

Trying to work with unreliable equipment in Minnesota’s tight transplanting windows only leads to frustration—and tree loss. With tree spade equipment for sale in Minnesota from Big John, you’ll avoid costly setbacks and get dependable machines built to last. We help you choose smart, dig clean, and get the job done right every time.

Get started today with Big John Manufacturing!

Features on all Models

Control your skid steer tree spade with ease inside the skid steer with cabled controls or from anywhere with a wireless remote that allows for easy operation.

Gate hinges designed for stressful conditions, our skid steer spades feature heavy duty gate hinges that beat the competition for longevity.

Add on stabilizers or other optional features to make your skidsteer tree spade more robust with an extra valve section for add-on hydraulic components.

Anyone can learn how to operate a BIG JOHN spade with minimal instruction and successfully dig a tree in a matter of minutes. Maintenance requirements are simple, quick, and affordable with a minimal time commitment to keep your spade at peak performance.

Made with top grade plastics for heavy duty use, our slide blocks dig for thousands of tree moves with ease and simplicity. Fewer moving parts, no bolts to rust, and no small plastic parts to keep track of make the simple design of BIG JOHN spades last decades longer.

Our blades are cold-formed from AR400 steel, making them durable and strong for all kinds of digging conditions and maintain their integrity for decades. The blades are also fluted to distribute the stress of digging better in tough conditions.

Get the level of digging speed you need with adjustable valve bodies on all our skid steer tree spades. Slow spades down for safety with new operators or speed up for seasoned spade users for efficiency.

Features on all Models

Control your skid steer tree spade with ease inside the skid steer with cabled controls or from anywhere with a wireless remote that allows for easy operation.

Gate hinges designed for stressful conditions, our skid steer spades feature heavy duty gate hinges that beat the competition for longevity.

Add on stabilizers or other optional features to make your skidsteer tree spade more robust with an extra valve section for add-on hydraulic components.

Anyone can learn how to operate a BIG JOHN spade with minimal instruction and successfully dig a tree in a matter of minutes. Maintenance requirements are simple, quick, and affordable with a minimal time commitment to keep your spade at peak performance.

Made with top grade plastics for heavy duty use, our slide blocks dig for thousands of tree moves with ease and simplicity. Fewer moving parts, no bolts to rust, and no small plastic parts to keep track of make the simple design of BIG JOHN spades last decades longer.

Our blades are cold-formed from AR400 steel, making them durable and strong for all kinds of digging conditions and maintain their integrity for decades. The blades are also fluted to distribute the stress of digging better in tough conditions.

Get the level of digging speed you need with adjustable valve bodies on all our skid steer tree spades. Slow spades down for safety with new operators or speed up for seasoned spade users for efficiency.

Proven results from Proud BIG JOHN Owners

I would definitely recommend the Big John tree spades to anyone looking for a reliable, efficient and robust digging machine. The style and design of the Big John 90D proved to be way better and allowed for more down pressure in much harder ground than the other manufacturers’ spade.

Stephen Jones

Friendly service, straight to the point type. Check’m’out!

Robert Dobbins

Amazing and reliable machines.

Lukáš Kaprál

Big John has been the back bone of our company for 30 years now. They are high in quality, durability, dependability, and affordability. Great response from parts and service if needed. Still moving trees in north east Florida.

Keith Kirker

Quality-built Tree Spades made by an American company with a proven track record since the 1970’s.

After owning 3 different manufacturers of Tree Spades I realized I needed to use the Big John brand so I could be more efficient No other manufacturer offers the tree pod capability of taking multiple trees to the job site with 1 trip. Fuel is expensive and time isn’t cheap!

Fred Heckman

Fantastic company with people who care about your business and their products are first class with the service to back them up.

Bryon Rahn