I have received a bid package on 7 different locations and they want a seperate bid on the mowing and shrub work. This is the first time I have given a dedicated bid just to the shrubbery, I usually combine the 2 and the price is what ever I can get. This time is different. When I take in to account my shrub work I usually count the # to be trimmed and charge around 5-6 minutes a shrub. This is for shaping and clean-up. Heres my example. 20 shrubs x 5 minutes per = 100 minutes x 6 cuts a year = 600 minutes div. x 60 = 10.0 hrs total time for the year x $45.00 per hour = $450.00. That is normally blended into the full package to get a total price for mowing and shrub work. Should I figure it the same way seperately or is there a better way to do this. I don't want it to sound astronomical but there is a whole bunch of shrub work here.
Since the shrub trimming could conceivably become a separate contract with a different contractor doing the mowing, you might want to factor in some other things. Remember to include some clean-up time and a haul/dump fee for each occurance unless you dispose of the trimmings on-site. Maybe include some travel time if that's indicated. Also, be sure that their specifications call for shearing rather than pruning or you may end up having to hand prune and thin shrubs to please the manager. Or raise the price to include some of that if necessary.
What shrubs are you going to be cutting six times per year. The only ones I can think of are taxus, boxwood, etc. but even those shouldn't be cut that many times. Just curious.
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Integrated Landscape Solutions
Lexington, KY
Shrubs in the south eat a lot of grits, they need to be re-shaped more often than the ice-plants ya'll have. For real!! I have to trim the shrubs at one of my restaurants monthly, also at my apt. complex. 2 maybe 3 months out of the year you can leave them alone. You can't just trim them twice a year and maintain a nice appearance.
Ok, I see what you all are saying now. The people whose shrubs your doing want them to stay the same way, shape, or form year round. Things like topiary or special form shrubs can be done like this. I guess here in good ole KY the shrubs don't grow as fast. I'd say max. # of trimmings per shrubs would be about 3. Some maybe higher.
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Integrated Landscape Solutions
Lexington, KY
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