Cost Of having trees trimmed back

jlwhite

We have 3 large fir/laylandi type trees in our garden which are getting out of control. They are nearly as tall as the house and the closest one is about 2 meters away from the building.

The problem is they dominate the garden and block out light from the house.

We trim back the bits that we can reach but that doesn't stretch very high.

Does anyone know roughly how much it would cost to get them lopped? Also there seems to be birds nesting in them all year round which would affect when they could cut them back.

Part of our tenancy agreement is that we maintain the trees within our gardens but they were already too tall when we moved in. We have asked the housing association a few times if they could cut them back for us but they never reply.

Any advice?

organic_wanabe

I think the cost will depend on where you live, everything is expensive here in Edinburgh! The best time to have them lopped is in May and/or September. Last month we had three sides of our garden trimmed at a cost of £100 per side (so £300). My DH said that it was well worth the money as he hates doing it! Thankfully, we only splash out every 5 years or so and he manages to keep it under control for the rest of the time. They are great for our privacy and thankfully all our neighbours are also happy with them - but things would no doubt change if we let them get out of control.

mrdexter

I had two cut down to the ground about 5 years ago, they were 3 stories tall, garden sloped away from the house and they were higher than my chimney. At the time it cost me £120 including removal and injecting the exposed trunk with poison.

jlwhite

That doesn't sound too bad. I was thinking a lot more than that. How did they do them, (there isn't room for them to fall sideways). We are in Buckinghamshire. Would it be a tree surgeon I'd need or landscaper or someone different?

mrdexter

He was in the yellow pages as a tree surgeon. Don't forget that price was 5 years ago.

They had one lad up the tree to lop it off in sections, and one lad on the ground. They cut each section to fit on the back of their wagon, so little cutting required once they were down, so I don't think your proximity to the house would be a problem.

lorryt

Quick tips from a tree surgeon don’t pay anyone to inject or poison the roots of your conifer type trees I have never seen one come back from being cut down also be aware when selecting your tree surgeon if he doesn’t come with a chipper on the back of his truck and appropriate safety gear on ask him what he does with the waist materials.

He will tell you they are going to the waist recycling plant when there’s a good chance he has his own recycling plant and you may recognise your trees in the lay-by on the way to work the next day and you can spend the rest of the day wondering how much of your council tax is spent on fly tipping instead of improving your local amenities, employ !!!!!`s and put honest taxpayers out of a job.

if you want more advice on recognising a profesional tree surgeon send IM

elsien

I'd say if at all possible get them cut down completely ( depending on your agreement with the housing associaton, obviously) . My tree surgeon charged nearly as much to cut mine back as he did to cut them down completely, because trimming them took almost as much time. A few years later they were taller and wider than ever, and I could never grow anything anywhere near them. Now they're gone, it's made a huge difference to the garden. (although I did feel guilty about the birds being homeless, despite having it done in the autumn.)

kazwookie

I'd look for the local men in Bucks who cut the grass verges (you know the ones in the white lorries / van with green signage) and offer them cash, to pop round one evening and do the deed, they do also have chipper on the 2nd flat bed lorry!