Need help with bid fast!

[JMiller08]

Hey guys i need help on a bid. Its an area roughly 25x50 with a few large trees. Area needs topsoil built up and leveled and built up around trees. Whats a good depth of topsoil? How much topsoil will i need? What should i charge for topsoil at 18 a yard screened and a 20 delivery fee? All the soil will be dumped in the drive and have to be wheelbarrowed in by hand. Any and all suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Keep in mind i also need to buy seed and straw. This is only half the yard the other half will be done in fall if we get this part right. Thanks guys.

[amscapes03]

Hard to say without seeing some pics. What do you mean by "built up"? Is the soil to poor in quality for seeding/sod. Are there some areas in this 1250 sf that require 10,11,12 inches of top soil while other areas only need 4,5,6 inches?

[JMiller08]

The lady wants all the roots from the trees covered up so about 5 inches thick there to cover those about 10 feet all the way around two trees. some spots will only require about 3 to 5 inches it looks like. I think sod is out of the question because of her budget. So just seed and straw it is the way its looking. What would you charge per man hour just to labor the dirt?

[JB1]

You might as well cut the trees down.

[JMiller08]

Thats out of the question lol

[amscapes03]

5 inches over the entire area would be around 19 yards at $30.00 per yard and $45.00 for delivery. 6 bales of straw at $10.00 each. 10 pounds of good quality seed should cover around 2000 sf for $30.00. Starter fert. $30.00. Materials total around $735.00. How many guys doing the job?

[2stroke]

You might as well cut the trees down.

i think he is saying that u cannot cover the exposed roots with soil, or u will kill the trees.

[amscapes03]

$45.00 per man hour minimum.

[amscapes03]

Never heard of covering exposed tree roots with soil killing the tree before.

[greenbaylawns]

$45.00 per man hour minimum.

I second that, unless you have 10 illegals doing it then 120 an hour

[greenbaylawns]

If it's just you, 45 an hour is pretty good. If not got to Burger King and don't worry about it

[JB1]

Never heard of covering exposed tree roots with soil killing the tree before.


The internet is a great tool , look it up.

[amscapes03]

Thanks for the tip about the internet. Situations are always different, size and type of tree, wet or poor drainage location. I've covered countless tree roots with loam through the years and to the best of my knowledge haven't killed one yet. I'm not saying it isn't possible. I've just never come across it.

[JMiller08]

I dont think there will be a problem these trees are huge probably 2 and a half feet in diameter. Very tall also probably 50 or so feet. They are very established i dont think a few inches of soil will hurt any. Also 45 a hour sounds like a good price to me. One more thing, is there anything i need to do to the soil underneath the new topsoil as far as prep wise or can i just cover the existing and seed it?

[amscapes03]

If your putting down 4 to 5 inches.....no, i wouldn't do anything to the existing soil. Maybe spring rake the area clean before putting down the new stuff. If 19 yards is needed to cover the area, get 13 yards of loam and 6 yards of compost. Mix them together at 2 to 1. That'll give you a nice rich super loam. Seed and starter fert. and you'll be good to go. Lets us know how you make out.