Over the past few days i have been taking bids to have a large pecan tree removed before a good storm crashes it into my bedroom while sleeping. the last bid i got was this morning, and was by far the best by one of the most recomended for such a task. now keep in mind all i am looking for is to have the tree downed and bruch chipped. all the wood and chips i will deal with.

first bid 800.00 then called later to say 1200.00 and it would take a week to take the tree down.

second bid. 2200.00 and thats not to chip just to drop.

third bid 1550.00 uninsured just drop

final bid. 500 to just drop, 850 to drop and chip. fully insured and insiste it will be a single short days work.


not only will i sleep better with this tree down but i will be able to watch tv again. and inrease sunlight in the back yard 75% more room for figs. the pecan wood should be seasoned good enough come winter for toasty fires, and the mulch will be great for a front yard raised bed project i am taking on.

Send that fellow over. I have a big honey locust causing problems.

It sounds like a big tree. I would rent a high reach and start at bottom and work your way up cutting all the limbs off.  Then as you make it to the top just take off one or two foot sections at a time and work your way down. Whatever you are comfortable with.  Then when you get to where you can just drop the rest down, just do it.  Makes it a safe job. You can even rent a chipper, then spread your mulch. It's not hard, just looks like it is.  But if paying someone is the right price for you and your ability, then that's great too.  Just a suggestion.

Dave your story reminds me of a elderly neighbor a few years back, quite a few years come to think of it. He lived next door out in the country. He had a very large pecan tree that he needed removed because just like you it was too close to the house and the trunk had started decaying. He priced around and finally settled on this one company. The owner told him 300 to drop it and another 100 to cut and get rid of it. He thought it was a bargain as this tree had a trunk of almost 4 foot in dia. and 80 foot tall. He would laugh each time he told the story of how they charge him 300 dollars for less than one hour's work to lay the tree down and only 100 dollars to spend the rest of the day working hard cutting it up and hauling it away.
"gene"

Dave, I had three 90 foot maples taken down. One had a large branch that was 6 inches above the roof. Every time it stormed I worried about it. Having it along with the others taken down was a relief, no more worrying about it smashing the house and garage. I talked to the guys working for a local tree service and they did it on the side for a lot less than if I had their company do it. It cost me $600 to take down all three of them. If I had their company do it the cost would of been $1500 per tree, so you know which way I went. I had to do the cleaning up but that was ok since I have a wood burner so it benefited me. If you see a company working along the road just talk to them it could be well worth it.

I would had taken it on myself but there's a city building close to it on the west side.power lines to the south and my house to the west. So let sombody else who has the insurance to pay for an ooppps I say.

We had a tree who's canopy covered hundreds of feet.   It partially fell over in a storm onto the street.  I called several tree companies and it was many thousands.   I then asked the tree service that contracted with the city.  They removed everything and grinded the stump all for $200.   Don't know how we got away with that.   

Not much use for firewood down here. We were running the AC this week.
"gene"

I believe pecan firewood is used for BBQ. They can sell the firewood for extra cash.

Be good next winter

Mr. Dave, that pecan wood is excellent for barbecuing with and excellent for smoking with. Pecan is probably my second favorite wood to smoke with, apple is probably my favorite, but it's hard to come by. Btw, if you have any wood workers in your area, they may be interested in buying some pieces for turning blocks.

That tree is going to be keeping me warm burning in the fireplace come next winter. I go through about 5 cords every winter. Should get at least 3 or4 out of this tree.

Nearly 30 years ago one of my clients had a large limb fall from a Valley Oak onto his living room, causing serious damage to his house.  This sometimes happen in hot summer weather due to the volume of water going up into the trees.  This was a particularly large and old oak tree, probably 4 feet or more in diameter, as I recall.  His insurance company agreed to pay for a bonded tree service company to fall the rest of the oak tree since it was now off-balance.  The tree company tied onto the tree with wenches to a couple of there trucks.  Some miscalculations were made and the tree ended crashing onto and destroying the remainder of the house   :^0