Roughly how much does it cost to have a large tree chopped down?

[MuffinMclay]

It is a silver birch. I'm not very good at guessing heights, but it is higher than our (normal height) house and quite wide.

I'm thinking we'd have have it chopped down to ground level, but not have the roots and stump removed (that would involve digging up grass and disrupting a flowerbed).

Any idea how much this might cost. We're in Herts, so south east prices.

I am not a tree-hugger, but why on earth would anyone want to remove a beautiful old tree, unless it is causing dangers such as the risk of falling on a house? Just my opinion, and you know what they say about opinions!!

Well I am a tree-hugger of sorts, but can see why people would want to fell some conifers and leylandii. They can be very oppressive in the wrong location. Otherwise, the only time I'd fell a tree would be if it was about to keel over or was causing subsidence.
Saying that - have 2 mahoosive hollies in our back garden that take up much too much space because they don't have a trunk as such - more bushlike than treelike. And they make our garden look very gloomy. So - maybe - one at least will have to go.

hi Pooka - thanks for your nice explanation - yes, I understand re these trees you mentioned. Back in South Africa the Government started cutting down all the trees that were not indigenous to SA as they apparently used too much water and influenced the indigenous plants negatively.

Oh well, it still makes you sad to kill them, but sometimes there are good reasons.

Re your back garden - they don't sound like proper old trees, but more like bushes as you describe, so that is understandable.

We stay in Highgate and the other day we drove home via Jackson's lane and they were busy taking down a massive, old tree - I almost wanted to cry!!

A

I know what you mean about it being sad. Even if there is a really good reason - like the indigenous reason you referred to.

I've been looking at my tree a lot today and perhaps I've been a bit hasty. It is a nice tree really, just a bit big. I think I'll give it another year and see how I feel then.

hi MuffinMclay!

I am so happy to hear you will give the tree a second chance! I just had a look on the internet for this tree and they are not too bad looking with their silver trunks!

I am sure the tree is not that handsome in winter, but in summer it should look beautiful again. And also, I am no expert, but maybe you can get somebody to cut some of the lower branches to make the tree a bit smaller / shaped as you wish!

lots of hugs

A

Ditto what Rabbitbreath said - could you maybe see how you feel in summer (good to have a shady part of the garden IMO) and possibly think about having it pruned next spring?

I have a beautiful laburnum tree that is pretty elderly and I don't think would take kindly to being pruned. I love it though - it means that there is always a shady spot at any point of the day for putting paddling pool under when it's hot. But because of it's position, and the fact it has a high trunk and trailing branches, the shady spot moves so can still grow things under it.

I'm sure it will look lovely in summer. Last summer (the first one in this house) is a bit of a blur, and I can't remember, but it did produce gorgeous leaves in the autumn. And with all the money I've saved on tree chopping I can buy a paddling pool tp put underneath for ds.

If you change your mind my DH is tree surgeon. Stick a piccy on your profile and he might be able to give you an idea.