Hedge trimming fee went up a bit

last year

The guy who trims my very tall privet hedge every September told me today that he hates to tell me this, but he can't do it for anything less than $1,000 this time. ugh.

Yes, he has to rent a lift, uses two trucks (one to haul the lift), and it takes all day....but geeze. He normally charges me $600 and has been doing it for the last five years. He said he could do the face for the usual fee, but not the top. I understand, gas, and he has a helper but geeze.

Trying to think of what I can sell to make $1,000. And, no I'm not cutting the hedge down.

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Comments (10)

Springroz
last year
My DH needed a truck for about 1.5 days last week, so he called one of the rentals. $780!!
daisychain Zn3b
last year
Holy cramoley! I've been putting off doing my hedge as it is a solid 2 hour project, but this puts it in perspective.

I'd love to see a pick of your hedge. I'm a sucker for a well trimmed hedge, so I totally get that you need to get it done, but, man, that is a lot of $$$.
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maddielee
last year
He may have found he needs to pay his helper a living wage. Add in the cost of equipment rental, his insurance cost and a paycheck for himself you quickly can reach $1000.

To remove a dead oak, we paid over $2,000 last month. Three hours, lift truck, crew of 6. We had 6 estimates rangeing from 1500 to 4500.
schoolhouse_gwagain
Original Author
last year
I don't have any photos of the hedge after being trimmed. It's appx. 12' tall, 50' long give or take. Then there's another 20' or so beyond which borders the garden. It's probably 7' tall. I used to do that one myself but finally decided to ask for help. I agree he deserves more money, it's just disheartening.

$2,000 to take a tree down? I paid $1400 to have a tree company come and prune a Siberian Elm, and another $1200 to have the old Maple trimmed up. They did a great job, but that was almost three years ago and both trees could use another go, altho not as extensive I don't think as the first time; but that's something else to mull over.
schoolhouse_gwagain
Original Author
last year
I just went out and took these two photos. Pre-trim obviously. I couldn't get it all in one photo. I did step it out and the length is more like 75', and the other course about 30'.

The part at the very end (on the right in photo near house) is shorter and not as tall, and I used to do that. I probably still could.
jojoco
last year
last modified: last year
Maybe Im just used to high landscsping costs, but $1000 for trimming a hedge of that scope doesnt seem unreasonable to me. Prices are skyrocketing everywhere

eta: I realize my response may come off as insensitive to your reaction to the price hike. thats not my intention—it is a huge jump and I can understand your initial sticker shock..
schoolhouse_gwagain
Original Author
last year
One thing I should mention is that the hedge only gets trimmed on ONE side, the side facing the road. The other side or inner part forms an arch, I do the maint. on that. Because of the arch, only some of the top gets trimmed on the side facing the road. If they cut all the top off, there would be no arch. They need the lift esp. for the top, and not a whole lot gets trimmed off. But it's too high to reach otherwise.

Upper near the house, same thing, the side facing the road only. I used to trim that(and the top) myself, but the guys have started to help me by doing it.
arcy_gw
last year
#2 daughter has an evergreen hedge across the front of her property. It's up on a retaining wall from the sidewalk. The city sited her for over hanging branches, she trimmed it, they said not good enough, she trimmed it again. If she had them do it they would charge her. We wondered how much it might end up. Sounds like her two attempts were worth the sweat.
maddielee
last year
@schoolhouse_gwagain, its a beautiful hedge. Worth keeping it healthy.
nicole___
last year
THAT is a HUGE.....long.....hedge! Very pretty! I think $1000 is a deal!

I have a tiny hedge at one of the rentals. I use an electric hedge trimmer. Takes me maybe 10 minutes. I need to never again complain that the renters should do it. 😊

Hedge trimming fee went up a bit

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Springroz

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Hedge trimming fee went up a bit

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Springroz

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