Real Estate Community Forum

A few weeks ago we had a terrible wind storm that caused my evergreen tree to fall. Thankfully there was no damage to my house, but the tree is huge and its laying in front of my lawn. I'm considering hiring a landscaper to remove the tree, but since I am female, I'm afraid I might get quoted for a higher price just like car repair shops do to girls. I don't want to be scammed. So does anyone here have a rough idea how much it should cost to have an evergreen tree removed? What do landscaper's consider when determining their fee, besides the size of the tree?

I would try to get referrals from friends who may have had a similar problem first. If you have to go without a referral I would check out some websites in your area and see if they have any testimonials of people who were pleased with a particular company. Also, if they are registered with the better business bureau, that is helpful.

I suggest getting at least 3 estimates and do not let each one know what the other amount quoted was.

Hope this helps.

Good Luck

Tree removal for a good sized evergreen should range between $700 and $1,200 when done by a licensed person in my area. This will vary according to the size of the tree and whether you want the pieces removed. Since the tree is already fallen, I’d expect the price to be lower. Climbing and trimming or removing a tall evergreen takes special equipment and is a higher risk to the tree cutter.

Tree rounds, especially if they are cedar, make excellent landscape items. Before you have the pieces taken away, see if there is not a good use in your yard. Branches can be made into very attractive low fences or sturdy trellises. Rounds of wood that are not affected by water rot can be stepping stones. Your garden center will know what use the type of wood you have can be made to fill. Having the pieces run through a chopper and using them as mulch is environmentally friendly and cost effective. Most tree cutters will be selling the pieces to another party or using them any way.

If the evergreen is very sappy, the mulch will need to age so it doesn’t burn plants. A bacterial agent can be purchased to help the process along. If you are going to age it yourself, be aware that a great deal of heat can be generated, and a very large pile may need to be supervised. In areas of high fire danger, a large pile of mulch or stacked wood can draw unwanted attention from the fire department.

Removing the stump is an additional cost, but you will have to decide if it will rot quickly or be there for use as a planter stand. I have removed three and kept four in my yard. All are incense cedars, so rotting is not an issue. I applied a chemical to ward off carpenter ants and further delay decomposition. If the stump is large, it can become dangerous when it rots. Large roots will leave soft spots in the yard that can cause a trip or stumble when the ground collapses. The stump itself can rot from the inside, and can harbor insects or even give way suddenly. Grinding is done with a piece of heavy equipment that removes the stump below the surface of the land. Be prepared to have something to fill the hole with should you choose that method.