We've got a large Chinese tallow that is in very bad shape and needs to be removed. I'm submitting a permit request to the City, but waiting to get a couple of quotes.

What should I be expecting cost wise?

Tree is 30-40' tall, 24" diameter, trunk is very diseased and you can see daylight through is where it's rotting out. only things close to it are a chainlink fence and other trees. It's about 30ft from the house.

T's & P's. I fully expect the city to fight you on removing a diseased crap chinese tallow.

Well, they very explicitly state their policy that diseased/dead trees are given a priority review period of 10 days and they don't charge fees for the permitting if they qualify. I don't expect there to be any issues. Tallows are also invasive.

Most of the City of Austin departments are nowhere close to as bad as people like to make it seem like they are. Especially if you read and comprehend the code they are following.

It is widely regarded as a prolific harmful invasive species and should be removed. If they try to protect it, they are idiots.

it's a joke fellas.

I had no clue that you have to get a permit for something that is obvious.

Harkrider 93 said:

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I had no clue that you have to get a permit for something that is obvious.

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Any tree over 19" DBH, regardless of species, requires a permit for removal. If it's, dead, diseased, or an imminent hazard, they do not require a fee.

DBH = diameter at breast height (4.5ft)

Potcake said:

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We had a big hackberry cut down several years ago. Luckily it bifurcated below the DBH so each was less than 19".

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Yeah, so, that's not how that measurement works. If they were both 18" then that would be considered a 27" hackberry. Glad the long arm of the city enforcement didn't catch you.

Hmm, I have no recollection.

So I can't find anything in the Code about branch trunks, but the Timber Cruising Handbook says:

"14.12b Forked Trees. A forked tree is a tree with two or more stems originating from one stump. Consider forking to start at the point where daylight is seen. When a tree forks below 4.5 feet, consider as two trees and measure DBH on each stem at 4.5 feet above the ground on the high side (fig. 02c)..."

rather be fishing said:

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So I can't find anything in the Code about branch trunks, but the Timber Cruising Handbook says:

"14.12b Forked Trees. A forked tree is a tree with two or more stems originating from one stump. Consider forking to start at the point where daylight is seen. When a tree forks below 4.5 feet, consider as two trees and measure DBH on each stem at 4.5 feet above the ground on the high side (fig. 02c)..."

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Goes back to one the point that the code may not be as easy to follow as some hope. There is a separate guide in the city of Austin that details how to measure trees. And I think it also talks about it in the ECM.

If it forks under breast height, take the full diameter of the largest fork and half the diameter of the other trunks.

However, that measurement technique is different from round rock which is different from leander which is different from....on and on.

rather be fishing said:

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We've got a large Chinese tallow that is in very bad shape and needs to be removed. I'm submitting a permit request to the City, but waiting to get a couple of quotes.

What should I be expecting cost wise?

Tree is 30-40' tall, 24" diameter, trunk is very diseased and you can see daylight through is where it's rotting out. only things close to it are a chainlink fence and other trees. It's about 30ft from the house.

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My guess on cost to remove and grind the stump would be $800 to $1,000

If you hit a snag, you may need an arborist. I usually use Davey Trees or a couple of others when I need one.

Wife thinks we paid 300-400
https://imgur.com/a/VROds91

ETA, I apparently don't know how to use the Imgur app since they shut the mobile site down.

Obligatory: About Tree Fiddy

I always use a reputable tree company w/ arborist to work on my live oaks and in this case I would assume around $1k. You could probably hire joe chainsaw for a lot cheaper in this case so long as you are comfortable it won't cause property damage.

I use imgbb.com now on mobile. Doesn't require an app, can upload multiple pictures at once, then it'll let you do a 1-click copy for all of the html text.

Based on the proximity to the fence and neighbor's property, and not wanting to damage other trees, we'll probably go the more reputable route. The integrity of the trunk is very sketchy.

[url=https://ibb.co/j5PcmBT][/url]

Based on the pictures, the city should not have an issue with giving you a permit to remove.

SWAG - $750-$1,000 to remove/haul off. Probably does not include stump grinding, but they should be able to cut it at the base and let you finish it.

That's 24" in diameter? Hard to judge size in the picture.

I will say: we used Sid Mourning and they did a great job. But the cost was more than $1000 and it was a 23"....

That picture is from the narrow side of the tree. It actually measures a good bit less than 24". Wife gave me an inaccurate measurement originally.

Cheapest way I have found to remove a tree is to wait til the neighbors are getting their trees trimmed, and then walk over in the afternoon and ask the guy that looks in charge how much he would want (in cash) to remove a tree.

I got a 35 foot cedar tree removed for $300 this way. They did not grind the stump down. I can rent a stump grinder for a day for not much money. Also, I'm not in the City.

Bitter Old Man said:

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Cheapest way I have found to remove a tree is to wait til the neighbors are getting their trees trimmed, and then walk over in the afternoon and ask the guy that looks in charge how much he would want (in cash) to remove a tree.

I got a 35 foot cedar tree removed for $300 this way. They did not grind the stump down. I can rent a stump grinder for a day for not much money. Also, I'm not in the City.

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or you can do what one guy i work with did. he called 3 different tree trimming companies and scheduled them all back to back to back.

as he's finishing up the first quote, the 2nd shows up and says "i can do it X cheaper than what so and so just quoted". as the 2nd is finishing, the 3rd shows up and says, "whatever Y just told you i'll do it 10% cheaper."

they all know each other.

Wow, that is kind of garbage. You could do that over the phone and not waste people's time to come out and haggle in person with some sort of impromptu onsite bidding.

evan_aggie said:

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Wow, that is kind of garbage. You could do that over the phone and not waste people's time to come out and haggle in person with some sort of impromptu onsite bidding.

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i don't think anything about getting quotes to be garbage. actually weird that you consider haggling some sort of taboo.

Furlock Bones said:

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evan_aggie said:

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Wow, that is kind of garbage. You could do that over the phone and not waste people's time to come out and haggle in person with some sort of impromptu onsite bidding.

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i don't think anything about getting quotes to be garbage. actually weird that you consider haggling some sort of taboo.

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Sorry, I misread part of your story. He had 3 people come out for quotes. And I'm assuming all three needed to come out in person to give an estimate. That would be fair, and a good use of the owner's time to not have to meet all three separately.

In my case I told multiple companies the species of tree, and then the diameter of it 4' from the ground. They all gave me quotes on the phone with a small range of a few $ on either side. I'd call one back and say I had a competing bid that was $100-$200 less to see if they had any wiggle.

Originally when I read your story, it sounded like the person may have specifically asked them to all get into cars, drive down to the tree, show up in person for quotes, with the sole intent of having them haggle on the spot. And yes, if they did that, it is kind of ****ty.

evan_aggie said:

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Furlock Bones said:

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evan_aggie said:

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Wow, that is kind of garbage. You could do that over the phone and not waste people's time to come out and haggle in person with some sort of impromptu onsite bidding.

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i don't think anything about getting quotes to be garbage. actually weird that you consider haggling some sort of taboo.

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Sorry, I misread part of your story. He had 3 people come out for quotes. And I'm assuming all three needed to come out in person to give an estimate. That would be fair, and a good use of the owner's time to not have to meet all three separately.

In my case I told multiple companies the species of tree, and then the diameter of it 4' from the ground. They all gave me quotes on the phone with a small range of a few $ on either side. I'd call one back and say I had a competing bid that was $100-$200 less to see if they had any wiggle.

Originally when I read your story, it sounded like the person may have specifically asked them to all get into cars, drive down to the tree, show up in person for quotes, with the sole intent of having them haggle on the spot. And yes, if they did that, it is kind of ****ty.

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no, no he scheduled them all back to back. which saved him time from having to be at home different days. but, literally all of the guys knew the other companies.

tamc93 said:

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If you hit a snag, you may need an arborist. I usually use Davey Trees or a couple of others when I need one.

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Matt T at Davey is Ag.
Also, C tallow can be removed in Austin without consequence.