Hi! Yep! I got 2 estimates on removing a huge cottenwood tree, half broken off, in my side yard. $1800 to cut down and haul off 80% of the tree. I'll clean up small limbs, and they will leave a 6 inch high stump. This tree is 4 feet in diameter, at waist high, and at ankle level about 6 feet. The stump will look like the top of a huge table. Does this price seem right, to any of you? I guess it's the going rate in southern Indiana. Mikey

That's better than the price I got for a similar job,but they will grind the stump for me.
f.t.

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South Carolina-God's country

The quote doesn't surprise me. Tree work can be expensive. Bucket trucks ain't cheap. Make sure whomever does the work has proof of insurance.

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'Merica!

Sir, that seems to be about the going rate around Denver, too--maybe even a little low compared to here.

By the way, dropping a tree is cheap. Doing it without damaging the house, power lines, etc., is where the cost comes in.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

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Wishin' don't make it so.

That ain't a bad price.

A 6 inch high stump, 6 foot in diameter would look stupid in my opinion. Have them cut it off at about 2 feet high and you would have an awesome outdoor table that could be used for all kinds of things.

Just saying.

I arranged for eight trees to be done earlier this year on different properties that I am responsible for maintaining, and the bill was close to $10,000. Three trees were removed, the others pruned way back. Three were overgrown eucalyptus that were 75-80 feet high. The other big one was a giant podocarpus with about five trunks and a branching diameter of around 50 feet. A mature Brazilian pepper was removed and teh stump ground well below grade so the area could be replanted.

A four-foot trunk denotes a big tree, and close to $2k to get rid of it seems about right. I encourage you to think about getting them to grind out the stump as well, or rent a stump grinder and do it yourself. As time goes by you will want to do something with that side yard, and the stump will massively hinder your ability to do anything sensible with the layout.

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David Wilson

Thanks for all the replies. I guess $1800 is in the ballpark for a tree this big. Someone said a big flat stump would look look stupid, and I agree, but, it is another $350 to have it ground out. It is at the edge of my 2 acre ranch, so it's not really in the way of anthing. I'll think up a story about aliens landing there, for the grandkids to ponder. Mikey

I bought my truck from a widow because her 71 year old (well to do) husband didn't want to pay to have a tree cut down. He was determined to do it himself and save the money.

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I miss my 4546 the most.

That only works when you're already a lumberjack.
If you aren't, let a professional do it.

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Lost it all in a boat accident

At least it didn't fall on the truck.

Spend the cash, the tree people have the equipment and knowledge plus make sure they show you their insurance for damage and personal injury.

I agree with all the above post. Maybe we should run for congress, we could get something done. Don

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"Don't worry be happy"

I'm in the wrong profession. I think they should get rid of the stump for that kind of money, but I live in South Texas 7 miles North of Mexico.

Given the size of the tree you describe and the volume/weight of wood/debris that could be anticipated and figuring the crew hour cost involved, the price is very reasonable. Make absolutely sure that the company doing the work is fully insured or you may have to use your homeowners insurance to deal with any accidents. Make sure the company is correctly licensed. Require references detailing the last three-five jobs and contact the property owners to make sure of what sort of work was done. Take pictures of the jobsite before work begins, during the process of the job, and at the conclusion of the work. Do not render full payment unless and until you are completely satisfied that the contract has been completely satisfied. My father did this work from 1947-2007. Through H.S. and college I worked in the family business. You would not believe how people can mess up a job. It is always more expensive to have to hire a second company to fix what was messed up by another company. JMHO. Sincerely. bruce.

P.S. - The cost noted for the removal of the stump is fair.

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<><

I "saved" money by taking down two 35' river birches in my back yard. Those things are a LOT bigger on the ground than they are standing up. Took me two weekends to finish cutting them up and hauling it to the dump. Next time-I'm gonna pay da money

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Forum consigliere

$1800 is a lot, but not out of line with what you would pay around here. That is hazardous work, and workers' comp insurance is in the top bracket, about $34 per $100 of wages.

I had this tree in my back yard. It cost me $400 to get it down to the ground and hauled off.

The company was licensed, insured and bonded. Took them three hours and they cleaned up the mess. Since the tree was dead, they had to use a lift to raise a man up and work downward.

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We recently had a magnolia tree & a large maple tree taken down and the stump ground out on the maple tree for $1500.00.
The magnolia tree was cut off at ground level and not ground out due to landscaping by the tree.

We are also paying to have a HUGE tree taken down at our son's home and the stump ground out. This one requires a large crane to be used and a log truck to haul off the logs due to the trees size. Cost? $5,000.00, but to us it is well worth it.

The crane will be set up either in front of the house and go over the roof, or go into the side lot and work from there. They wanted to go up the driveway, but I just had a new concrete drive installed for him last year, and we don't want the weight of the crane going onto the driveway, and possibly damaging it.

You're a good dad Bill!
f.t.

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South Carolina-God's country

A 51" dia pin oak tree cost my neighbor $1500 to take down and that included grinding the stump. They were hungry for work and gave a low price to get the job.

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God spelled backwards is dog.

When we bought our present house, some 30 years ago, there were 21 trees on the property, mostly large oaks. After a few years my Missus got tired of raking the leaves; I bought her new rakes, big boxes to gather them up, a large garden cart to haul them away, nothing doing. So, I decided to do away with the trees, one-by-one. It took couple of years by a local fella, at $20 bucks per tree, and 20 bucks for someone else to grind-up the stumps. I left one large oak next to the house, and after couple of storms a few years later, I decided that one should also go... big bucks, $350 big bucks!

Pete

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NRA, GOA Lifer

I had three very large old and diseased elm trees in the back yard of my house in Colorado. Two were hanging over the house and difficult to bring down. The estimate from the tree guys was $10,000.00 to cut them down. I was younger and dumber then and got myself a chain saw to do it myself. Total job took about 6 weeks but I managed it without getting hurt or killed and the only damage was one broken sprinkler head. I hired a guy to grind out the stumps and he charged by the inch. Largest of the trees left a stump that measured 137 inches across.

Looking back on that now I think that might have been one of the dumbest things I ever did. Every single cut had to be carefully planned and every plan worked out but one mistake would have been a disaster.

I had to have 5 huge ancient oaks removed. Your price quote is in range.

It would be good to verify contractor is bonded and insured. Big trees can do a lot of damage if mistakes are made in bringing them down.

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Incoming fire has right of way

To answer your question, that is a fair price for that size and all that work, but if you said its out on the edge of your property, and not anywhere near any outbuildings or capable of falling into or on the neighbors property, then it just a good old "work party"....gho for it, I would, I love the challenge and doing the hard work,,,,,cut one down, we plant two, always have .............anywhere near a house? barn? garage? call the pros..................and do the cleanup to save a few dollars...............did I say I like that kind of "hard work"

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dan
NRA Benefactor,PMA

Thank you. I try to be, and his mom does a good job too. We love both of our children and will do anything we can to help them out. After all, they may have to take care of us later on.