Pricing Trees

[Green Acres]

I have a project that I was going to bid on. It if for a company that is building a new church. The project consist of planting 35 trees ranging in size from 1.5"-2". I was wondering how other people price things like this. They will have to be staked and mulched. Also there are 7 burning bushes that will need to be planted (3 gal. size). Thanks

 

[The Cowboy]

The finished product should cost them at least 3 times what you paid for it, including labor. This is the chicagoland non-scrub rate. A 100 dollar tree would be 300 installed. This is a general guideline for alot of landscaping around here. I would probably do a discount for the church though, unless they have deep pockets.

 

[impactlandscaping]

Yeah, if the church has deep pockets, charge them more... ..that makes sense. Just like the delusions of grandure people have about charging the wealthy and affluent more, just because they should be able to afford it. RIGHT...


Green Acres, charge what you need to make a profit. Only you really know what you need to make to turn a profit...how much profit is up to you. It also depends on the site access and what equipment you'll be using to install the trees. Using a auger on a mini ex or bocat is a lot different than digging each hole by hand..just price accordingly. Don't forget to add the costs of 35 anchor systems and necessary soil amendments if needed.

 

[The Cowboy]

Yeah, if the church has deep pockets, charge them more... ..that makes sense. Just like the delusions of grandure people have about charging the wealthy and affluent more, just because they should be able to afford it. RIGHT...]

Hey, that is not at all what I meant. I have a set rate I go by as a standard, I use my discretion to determine if a discount is necessary. Same way I don't charge full prices to some of the single moms I work for. If they are in finacial difficulty I chop a bit off. Doesn't mean I am unethical about charging the rest a full price. You are right about those rich people though, most times they are the ones asking for the discount.

 

[hoskm01]

Yeah, I give all my single mom customers a discount too... But not cause I feel bad for them, if you know what I mean...




Just kidding

My services are just as valuable to a bum on the street as they are to Bill Gates. I would charge each the same to plant a tree whether it be next to your box or next to your mansion.

Are these trees really 1.5"-2" or could that be feet?

 

[Green Acres]

The trees are 1.5"-2" in caliber. I have a bocat so I will use it to auger the holes with. That is the only way to dig trees I feel. My only thought is with pricing that certain trees cost more per tree but you are doing the same amount of labor to plant it. Like on a $200 tree if you charge 3x the price you would make $400 dollars off of it. Then a $100 tree at 3x the cost you would make $200 for the same amount of work. I was thinking of just charging a flat rate per tree like $150 or something.

 

[DixieFerris]

We always give a person more of a deal if we are planting numerous trees for them (like 5,10,15, etc) then 1 or 2. Last year the tree we planted most was 12-15' white pines, which retail at $165, our cost is $117, and we installed for $250 each including fertilizer spikes and mulch around the base. We plant them with a rented Toro Dingo and either a 24" auger or 30" depending on the size and the cherry picker for it. In a 7 hour day, we did one job of 15 trees and in a 8-9 hour day we did 21 of those trees for 2 guys. anytime you can average over $200/hr gross, that seems more than fair to me. Maples, other pines, clump birch, etc all came in around the same price, roughly $100-150 per tree installed

 

[paolaken]

don't forget replacement cost. is that on you or them?

 

[sheshovel]

Tree roots do not just go streight down ,the most important roots spread and grow within the top 3 or 4 inches of soil,the other roots put down support the tree and store food .That is why if you auger in tree's it is important to loosen the soil around the hole in at least a 2' or 3' radius about a spade deep.= as well as augering in the hole.Fertilizer is not nessecesary and can even be detrimental to the roots of a young tree.
Also if you auger in a tree,make sure you are not just creating a "sump" that water will sit in and not drain..rotting the roots and killing the tree

 

[impactlandscaping]

We never offer discounts to anyone. Years ago, when we first started, I felt it necessary to give Sr's and clergy discounts to obtain their service. What I quickly found out, is if you discount your prices, the client sees it as "extra off the top", and will not value your service. If you do not value the service you are selling, the client won't either....period. Everyone pays the same, regardless if they are rich, poor, white, purple, etc...If they don't wan't to pay, we don't play..simple. If I can't get the numbers I want on the bottom line when running a quote, we won't take the job..period. Man , this eggnog is good...


Merry Christmas everyone!!