My H ripped out all the old scrubs. It was very hard work. He just used a shovel to dig them up and an axe to break up the big roots so they could be pulled up easier.
For the ground cover you have to dig it all up. Time consuming but there’s no way around it. My beds were filled with pachy.
Off hand I’d think at least $5k for your tree.
Yikes on your leaky water line.
@CountingDown We bought a house that had a large oak tree all tangle up with some overhead power lines. An arborist was able to cut it down and remove it for about $250 - I think the roots are still there but it’s an income property so that doesn’t bother me 
$250? How is that even possible???
We had 18 trees take down at our Cape house, most were in the 8-12" range, but several were 12"+ and two were giant, almost 2’ in diameter. And we had a bunch of the other trees trimmed and some bushes removed.
Total cost was around $4500.
Unless it’s an extremely difficult removal involving a crane or other heavy equipment besides a bucket truck, $5000 seems wildly high for one tree.
We had a somewhat large Douglas fir (think 4+ feet in trunk diameter at chest height) removed for $300 back in the day. The neighbors took the chopped up tree for firewood because their wood burning fireplace was grandfathered in and could be used. Then we spent $300 to grind the stump below the dirt level. $5k for a tree sounds very high. We lucked out here at the new place as the diseased maple decided to come down on its own.
Google DSLReports Ballpark estimate for cost to remove 100’ Oak 5 feet from house.
There are posted pictures of the tree being removed.
$4400 all cash.
And that was in 2009.
The tree’s cost will not only be due to it’s size, but to how easy they can get to it. If it’s near a place that they can bring a crane or cherry picker, it will be much less money than if they have to take it down in smaller pieces, and haul all of them out. And 5 feet from a gas line? They probably won’t touch the stump.
But you can smother grass or ground cover, it just takes patience. Mow it down short, keep the clippings right on top, add a couple of inches of compost, then a good layer of cardboard (brings up earthworms) and newspaper, then top it off with a thick layer of mulch to hide the whole mess. Wait 6 months or a bit more and you’ll have lovely soil.
In our liberal Bay Area town we can’t cut down trees that are larger than 12" diameter. They are called “heritage trees”.
^^same here, @cbreeze
We can’t cut trees larger than 6" where I live. They are called “essential treees” Danger to structure or disease would be allowable exceptions, and the expen$$$ive licensed arborist report and a permit are required. And then a licensed arborist has to supervise the removal. Ca-ching. I tell you, the giant rotted tree that fell on its own was a blessing, even though it took us several weekends to deal with it chunk by chunk.
If this tree goes, it takes out S2’s bedroom, my sewing g room, a corner of the kitchen and the front entry. I’m assuming $3500 minimum. Some of the trees that have fallen/been taken down have significant inner rot. The one next door was hollowed out and looked like an auto tire. An arborist could get a crane in our driveway. If we went with the random tree guys who ■■■■■ the neighborhood, it would be cheaper, but I think DH and I will agree that we need to hire a professional. Who needs the liability? I’m concerned that dropping the tree in chunks will disturb the ground enough that it might cause trouble with the gas line. Grinding the stump will be a whole 'nuther story.
DH hardly mows the grass. Will be interesting to see how this goes now that S2 is not around to do it! Can’t imagine him pulling shrubs. Until we bought this house, he’d always lived in an apartment. This is just not in his universe.
It would be very difficult for me to live where people are telling me what to do with my trees. I’m a tree lover, too. I planted and nurtured all but the original 2 on the 4 acres I sold recently. Probably about 55 trees. After 20 years, they looked very nice, but boy…is tree work expensive. I don’t like government interference, especially when they are mandating, but not funding 
Well, coastal California is a special situation with trees and water use, droughts and erosion control and so on. I haven’t lived there in a long time, but friends in my old home town talk about the trees being very stressed in recent years. For those who love the aesthetic of Carmel, know that it is because they heavily regulate the cutting of trees to keep their urban forest.
Regarding tree costs, I think it is quite localized. Tree work is frighteningly expensive where I live in the upper Midwest. One reason I am relieved to be out of the old house, is because I had a gorgeous urban forest and taking out a single one of those massive trees would be in the $5000 range. I had about 10 scrub elms that had gotten too tall. They regulate elm trees here due to disease and fine if not removed. The estimate was $3000 to take them out. My sig other said that was nonsense and he would do it. So we rented a cherry picker. They delivered to the house, showed me how to drive it from the basket and away we went. He cut and I hauled brush all weekend. Seeing what was required, and the risk to life and limb, made me realize perhaps these tree folks do earn their keep. Affordable? Not for some of us.
Regarding stump removal, google copper nails and you will find instructions on how to kill a stump.
Depending on the tree…we had two large walnut trees at our home in TX, both were diseased/dying. We were paid $$ as they carefully cut the trees to use the wood. Back in the early 1980’s - I think we got $450 for one tree and a little less for the other.
Conifers will not resurrect from stumps. So if a conifer is taken out, you can leave the stump alone unless it is close to the house. Maples and some other invasive trees will, so killing the stump is needed to kill the tree.
Some recommend getting rid of as much of the stump as possible if the tree was next to a structure. Reoval of the stump is needed because if the stump rots next to the house, it will attract insects (carpenter ants, anyone?) and when it rots, it will create a void in the dirt that could lead to soil shifting. It is better to grind it well below the dirt level and backfill with well-packed dirt.
This stump killing trick works very well, even for maples:
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/use-roundup-large-stumps-72099.html
It’s funny you mention copper nails. Sometimes when I buy a house to remodel back out to the market, there is a tree or two that is blocking maximum view potential of the house. My carpenter always jokes… I need to go down there with a copper nail. I never really believed that would work
You are some bad-butt woman!!!
Hi all, likely a long shot but home depot has a number of kohler items for the bathroom (toilets, medicine chests, etc.) 1/2 price today only in case anyone is in the market: https://www.homedepot.com/SpecialBuy/SpecialBuyOfTheDay?cm_mmc=CJ--1225267--10368321&AID=10368321&PID=1225267&SID=247359742df611e8a21d46e4c7109be00INT&cj=true
I must have pouted about getting a book of pavers with out a price list (OK - I point blank said I cannot shop without prices) and my landscaper checked their warehouse and if I use discontinued pavers they have in stock I save $2300. Plus they’re beautiful and it helps to have my choices narrowed down so much!