What should I pay to have tree removed (PICS)

J_J_Carter

How much should I expect to pay to have this tree and shrub removed (inc roots). In Scotland BTW

Leif

If the tree is the purple leaved one, you could do that yourself. Anyone with a wood stove would love the trunk and branches. Rest goes to tip. Saw off branches, then trunk. Dig round the base, maybe one foot deep, snipping the roots with a lopper, or sawing, until it comes out. Not the answer you wanted though.

DaftyDuck

If you do decide to do it yourself, don't chop the trunk off until you've dug up around the roots as above. Chop the top down first to head-height. Leaving it gives you all the leverage you need to push it over, and get the roots out at the same time. Agree that a neighbour with a wood burner might well do it for free. However, I'd expect it to cost £100 ~150 for a gardener to do... rather overpriced, because it is a small job... if the tree was twice the size I'd only expect to pay another £30 ish.

I don't think you'd need a tree surgeon; any gardening person could do this, and would be cheaper. However, you might want to use a tree surgeon if you are worried about power/water supply, which might run down your path.. He'd be more likely to have liability insurance in case the worst occurred.

If you lived round the corner from me, I'd have it out for a cuppa and a chocolate cake, and keep the wood for my stove... but I'm several hundred miles to the south.

Leif

You can examine your deeds, which should tell you where some of the utilities are buried. If you had a house survey, that might also tell you. Using the trunk as a lever is a good idea, the only danger is that if a root has gone down round a pipe, levering could damage the pipe. Someone might tell you what the regs say for water, electricity and gas pipe depths.

DaftyDuck wrote: »

If you lived round the corner from me, I'd have it out for a cuppa and a chocolate cake, and keep the wood for my stove... but I'm several hundred miles to the south.

No, you'd be fighting me for the fire wood.

DaftyDuck

Leif wrote: »

No, you'd be fighting me for the fire wood.

Keep it :mad: ... but the cake is all mine!

glasgowdan

If you're on one of my routes I'd happily give you a price, it's not a big job.

Leif

DaftyDuck wrote: »

Keep it :mad: ... but the cake is all mine!

Truly a duck with the right priorities.

Leif

I removed 5 or 6 holly trees/bush stumps over the last few days, though they grew from 3 root balls. I reckon several hours of work per root ball, in addition to cutting the top growth. So a day's work for your tree is my guess. If you pay for it, £100 to £150 as DaftyDuck said. Or use a bow say to cut large branches, a lopper to cut small branches and roots, a fork to break up the earth, and gloves to protect your hands. Something like this and a lump hammer or sledge hammer can be useful:

http://www.screwfix.com/p/roughneck-wood-grenade-log-splitter/51334

Also, when you've cut most roots, a sledge hammer applied to the side of the stump can break the remaining roots.

The fact that it is isolated i.e. not next to a fence makes the job much easier. My soil is heavy clay with lots of stones (sharp flints), yours might be easier.