Work and Prices
The Work and What It Costs
Ranges rather than single figures, because two trees of the same height can cost very different amounts.
One stands in an open lawn with the chipper parked beside it. The other leans over a conservatory and every branch has to be carried down a side passage by hand. The written quote after the site visit gives you the figure for your tree.
Site visit and quote free within 25 km of Freiburg, €45 beyond, credited against the job.
01
Pruning
Every reduction goes back to a living side branch at least a third of the size of the cut, and every final cut sits outside the branch collar. Heavy reductions are done from October to February; from March to September only light maintenance, after a nest check.
| Work | Price | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Crown reduction or crown liftA single garden tree up to 15 m | €380-950 | About half a day |
| Deadwood removalFrom a mature tree, dead limbs taken back to live wood | €220-600 | On the quote |
What moves the price
- Height
- Over 15 m is quoted on its own.
- Access
- Can the chipper reach the tree, or does every branch go through the house?
- Carrying
- How far the brash travels. Chip left as mulch costs nothing.
02
Felling
We fell trees that are dead, dying, split or standing where they will do harm, never a healthy tree for a view. Where there is room the tree comes down in one, steered by its hinge. Where there is not, it is taken apart from the top and lowered on ropes.
| Work | Price | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Straight fellingA tree under 10 m with room to drop it | from €290 | On the quote |
| Sectional dismantlingNear a house, shed or wall, lowered piece by piece on ropes | €900-2,800 | One to two days |
| LogsCut to 33 cm rounds and stacked where you want them. Taken away instead at €38/m³ beyond the 3 m³ included. | included | On the day |
Felling and heavy reductions: October to February only.
Logs stay yours. We don't buy or sell firewood.
Plate 6
Sectional Dismantling Beside a Wall
Crown first, then the stem in short lengths, top down.
- 1
- the crown, lowered in pieces first
- 2-4
- the stem in short lengths, top down
- W
- the gap to the wall
- Rope
- runs out away from the wall
- Time
- 1-2 days
03
Stump Grinding
The grinder takes the stump out 20 to 30 cm below the surface, the grindings go back into the hole, and the ground is levelled and firmed so you can sow grass straight over it. The price is set per stump by its diameter, and further stumps on the same visit cost less.
| Work | Price | Time |
|---|---|---|
| First stumpUp to 30 cm across | €90 | 30-90 minutes |
| Each further stumpUp to 30 cm across, on the same visit | €45 | 30-90 minutes |
| Larger stumpsFor every cm of diameter above 30 cm | +€3/cm | On the quote |
Worked example: three stumps, one visit
The grinder needs a gate or gap at least 72 cm wide. Anything narrower is ground with a hand-fed machine at the crew-day rate.
Ground 20-30 cm below the surface, backfilled and levelled.
04
Crew Days, Storms and Chip
| Work | Price |
|---|---|
| Crew dayThree people, chipper and grinder on the trailer | €1,040 |
| Half dayThe same crew and machines | €590 |
| Storm damage call-outOn top of the normal rate | +€150 |
| Chip and brash removalUp to 3 m³ included in every job, charged beyond that | €38/m³ |
| Chip left as mulchLeft on site instead of taken away | no charge |
Storm damage threatening a house, path or road: same or next working day where the crew is free. Email photos straight away.
05
Paying for the Work
- Under €1,500
- No deposit
- Above €1,500
- 20% at booking
- Balance
- By bank transfer within 14 days of the invoice
Parishes pay no deposit and are invoiced after the work, on 30-day terms. More on churchyard work.
06
What We Turn Down
Each of these is a no, however it is asked. Where there is a better way, we say what it is.
-
01
Topping a tree or lion-tailing it, even when asked.
Both leave weak regrowth and a tree more likely to fail, so Henrike will explain why and offer a proper reduction instead.
-
02
Felling a healthy tree for a better view, for less leaf litter or for satellite reception.
A healthy tree took decades to grow, and a reduction or crown lift usually answers the problem.
-
03
Any work within reach of overhead power lines.
That work belongs to the grid operator, not to a tree surgery crew.
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04
Heavy cutting between March and September, or any cut that would disturb an occupied nest.
Birds nest in the crown through spring and summer, so heavy work waits for October to February.
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05
Trees standing on a neighbour's land without that owner's written agreement.
The tree belongs to whoever owns the ground it stands on, so we need their agreement in writing first.
-
06
Climbing spikes on any tree that is staying.
Spikes punch a wound with every step, so they only go into a tree that is coming down.
-
07
Hedge-trimming-only jobs.
We pass these to local gardeners, who are set up for them.
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08
Buying or selling firewood.
Logs from your tree stay yours, cut to 33 cm rounds and stacked where you want them, or taken away at the chip rate.
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