Does anyone know roughly how much tree surgeons cost?

[RamblingRosa]

Just a ball park idea.

I've never needed one before. We've got a big eucalyptus in our garden and some neighbours keep on dropping hints that they'd like us to cut it back (I think because it casts too much shadow on their gardens).

I personally like it but I'm feeling neighbourly and thinking I should probably get it cut back.

Don't know where to begin though.

Do I need a tree surgeon or just a good gardener?

And how much do you think I'd be looking at forking out?

tree surgeons came and cut back 2 trees (well, bushes really, one holly one bay) in my garden to about half their height, so from about 20 foot to about 10 foot. cost 425 cash which was waaaay cheaper than a couple of others who quoted. 2 guys, a mornings work, but quite a lot for them to take away in their van.

Thanks. Wow. That's a lot. Did you just find them in the yellow pages?

yup, got 3 companies to quote, other 2 were much more expensive. they have to have insurance etc which i think is why its such a lot more money than you expect...

I've just been quoted £250 to take down my eucalyptus. But this ia because it needs to be taken down in stagesso it doesn't damage neighbours shed and wooden structure that it growing threw.

Thanks. Does "taking down" mean cutting back to a more smaller size or does it mean cutting down altogether?

We had a tree surgeon in to take down a small row of knacked old evergreens (about 12 foot tall, but with quite thick trunks) - they charged about £400.

But they removed everything, stumps and all, and took it all away. It would have been an impossible task for us to do ourselves.

Get a couple in for quotes - they will also advise you how best to manage your tree. Unfortunately, Eucalyptus grows like fury, so you'll probably need to cut it back every few years.