Fruit Tree Pruning Pricing

[Winsser Care]

I have to give a quote on pruning fifteen 15-20 foot fruit trees. I have not seen them yet but wanted to get some hints on what to look for when pricing a job like this. The customer does not want much off the tops and wants all the branches 6 feet off the ground, i do not know the diameter of the trees yet.

Jordan

[mdvaden]

Since I can't see them, I'll add this much.

They are tall, likely neglected. You don't have to do the whole thing at one time. I sell people on bringing trees in control in two stages, versus "hammering" them.

Lately, I've been leaving the 1/3 of shoots that are smallest on the tree, to reduce the number of sprouts. I remove the biggest sprouts. Tips of sprouts send chemicals down that hinder new shoots. So I don't like to remove them all if a reasonable look can be left.

[Seascape]

I guess id look at them and get an average of hours or minutes per tree and give her a flat rate based on time. What do you think your getting into? Lopper work,saw work? Im thinkin youll see alot of hand pruner before its said and done. Has she said what kinda trees they are?

[Winsser Care]

thanks

thanks for the info so far. I don't know what kind of fruit trees they are but we are in Oregon so i assume it is apples any other pruning or pricing methods?

Jordan

[mdvaden]

In Oregon, we have apple, pear, apricot, peach, plum and cherry.

But one thing is certain - in Oregon, anyone can tell apples from oranges, because we don't have orange trees here, other than some oddball brought outdoors for the summer.

[RRS]

You really need to find out what kind of tree it is. Fruit trees are much more sensitive than some old shrub or hardwood. Some basics if it's an apple are:
1. Remove broken or diseased branches back to the crown.
2. Remove suckers and water sprouts.
3. Remove downturned, crossing, and rubbing branches.
4. Remove branches under 6'.
If she doesn't want too much taken off of it. Next, maybe make some heading cuts on some of the 45 degree, 60 degree, and 90 degree branches that don't want. Make the cuts back to a lateral or fruit bud. If the tree has been taken care of there won't be much to do so don't go crazy. You're much better off not taking enough, and having her ask you to take a little more.

If the tree has been taken care of properly it should have central leader branch system. If this is the case do steps 1-4 then head back the leader. Next, take out some of the stronger laterals in the upper area of the tree. Finally work down the scaffolds with thinning cuts.

If you don't know what any of this stuff means then I would suggest telling her you don't feel comfortable with the job. No offense, just a suggestion. Try to find out what kind of tree it is and the age. If you could get a picture that would be even better.

-Casey

[Stephen M.]

The biggest problem in pricing fruit tree pruning is based on how neglected the trees are and how mature they are; and lastly how cheap your customer is. Most customers expect that you, the expert, can work miricles and do it for a low price. I recently bid a job that had 14 medium sized trees, approx. 10'x10' and a very large, mature neglected apple, and I had to clean up the mess, and take it to the local composting facility. I told the owner it would be between $540 and $640 + tax. No job, but i don't mind since I'm not hurting for work, even at this time of year.

[Winsser Care]

apples, pears and cherries oh my!

Well i finally had a chance to go look at the fruit trees there were 3 (10') cherries, 2 (12') Pears and 12 (15') apples. They had last been trimmed professionaly over 10 years ago and the owner has been trimming them slighly every year. there was not a defined central leader so i did not want to trim them heavily all at once. I told the customer that to avoid to much shock to the trees and to keek their proper form, that i would do light to medium trimming to get the dead broken branches, suckers, and most internal crossing branches taken care of. i I quoted a price of $85 per tree and told them that i would need to come back again to do another go around in the fall or next spring to catch it up to where it should be. Does this sound reasonable? the customer seemed to think it was ok but they need to discuss it before i get a final answer.
my next question to mdvaden is, how long do you wait before the next trimming? How much of the quoted price should be for haul away or chipping of branches?

Thanks for all the good info.
Jordan

[RRS]

I think $85 is a good price for each tree. Those really aren' that big. That give you a good hour/tree, and you'll probably only be on each one for 30-45 minutes each inlcuding cleanup. Do you have a chipper? Also, are you paying for disposal of the chips, or keeping them?

[Winsser Care]

quote cut short

well that is the thing... the customer had a call and had to cut me off while giving the quote. I quoted him the $85 for trimming the trees, i did not mention clean up or chipping. I do not have my own chipper but i thought about telling the customer that if they wanted more than just piling up the branches for them to dispose of it would cost more. Do you think the $85 should include the chipping? They did not accept the quote yet but when/if they call back i will ask about their preferance for disposal of the materials.

Jordan

[Stephen M.]

$85 per tree is reasonable. I would think that clean up wouldn't take more than half a day, if that. I don't like giving any freebees away, but occassional I will throw one in if it helps nail down the job.

[coffeecraver]

$85 is a good price,include the hauling. Just don't get carried away with
pruning too much at one time.

Not more than 25% of the tree removed at one time.
Light pruning now and next year schedule to do it again.

What is the average size of the limbs below 6' ?

That sounds like some heavy pruning,removing all branches 6' off the ground may damage the trees beyond hope.That is too many large wounds at one time.

I would have them sign a paper that states you are not responcipal for any damage that occurs from your pruning.That you are pruning according to their specifications.



The pruning window is getting smaller

Bearing trees in good vigor will not be adversely affected by late pruning is
completed before bloom.But later pruning will reduce vigor.

In orchards with a Black Rot problem,pruning after growth starts may increase the spreadof the disease.

[RRS]

I told the customer that to avoid to much shock to the trees and to keek their proper form, that i would do light to medium trimming to get the dead broken branches, suckers, and most internal crossing branches taken care of.

That sounds good, but I would listen to Coffeecraver. Don't go to crazy removing branches up to 6'. Limb it up to about 4'-5' and if you have some questionable branches above that, I would leave them alone, and ask the customer what she wants to do at that point.

As for the cleanup. Find out if they have a place on the property that they use as a disposal area for leaves, branches, etc. If they have that many fruit trees on the property chances are they may. If not, I probably wouldn't bother chipping them since you don't have a chipper. That sounds like two good trailer loads. I'd probably tell her the landfill fee will be added at the end of the job because it's hard for you to estimate the weight. If you don't want to do that I'd tell her $150 for disposal. Around here it's $45/ton. I'd say you'll be right around 3000lbs.

[Winsser Care]

thanks

thanks for all of your input. This forum sure gives me the confidence i need to be successsful in this business. I am pretty shy when it comes to talking to new people but when i am sure of the information i am giving it makes it so much easier! This forum is great, even though i know a lot, it sure helps to hear it from other sources before i have to sell some one else on it! Thanks Everyone! All information is good information.

Jordan