Fun day

[Stumper]

I pruned 36 trees. I'm cleaning up a dwarf orchard that has not recieved any care in several years. Last years's drought didn't help things. the Asian pears on the high side of the orchard were in pretty bad shape. The apples on the lower area are in pretty good health but there is some fireblight and old dead leaders. I love orchard pruning-it seems to strike just the right balance of required attention and simple work to be relaxing.

 

[treeman82]

What do you charge to prune orchard trees, roughly?

 

[Stumper]

82, The price varies a great deal (naturally) depending on size and condition of the trees. Those 36 trees were priced at $8.50 per tree. There is no clean up on my part. The 36 trees took 5 hours and 15 minutes. I have another 31 to do as part of the same contract. The owners have a total of about 300 trees but are planning on doing things in stages and are starting with the trees that recieve the best watering if irrigation water is unavailabe(as it was this past year). By way of contrast I have another small orchard which I recently pruned. 15 trees for $495. -much larger trees ( though not huge) and all the debris was chipped.In actuality that one was priced a little low since it took the bulk of 2 days to complete.

 

[treeman82]

Do you save any of that fruit wood for burning? I know several people who LOVE apple, pear, cherry, etc for firewood and will pay extra for it.

 

[Stumper]

Yes, I save some at times. If the job doesn't invovle cleanup I don't mess with it but if I'm hauling I save the wood. I love to cook over apple and I have sold a little. The best deal I ever made on wood was taking a cord of apple to a favorite barbecue place. The owner insisted on giving me $100 plus a free lunch every week for the rest of the season!

 

[treeclimber165]

Nuthin' like a killer BBQ sandwich from a wood burning pit! I've had the pleasure of sampling many wonderful offerings from various BBQ restaurants in exchange for some good wood. Excellent strategy when funds are low and you have a small amount of exceptional wood to dispose of!

 

[treeman82]

I have to ask this though... I know I said that people ask me for it when I get my hands on it. However at home we only light a fire in the fireplace once every couple of years, and when I help "people" burn fires it is not with anything special... so I must ask... what is so nice about burning fruit wood? Specifically apple.

 

[Stumper]

I'm not sure why people burn apple just for heat ,
Except that the fire smells good enough to eat!

 

[treeman82]

Anybody know what causes the wood to smell so nice when it burns?

 

[treeclimber165]

I know citrus wood burns very hot and clean with little smoke and pretty colored flames. I've heard apple is just as good or better. Very appealing for Mr. and Mrs. Yuppie who want a 'clean' pleasant fire in their fireplace. The aroma is more pleasant than dirtier wood also.

 

[TREETX]

"What do you charge to prune orchard trees, roughly?"

Matt, man hour, man hour, man hour. A good way to think when pricing.

Long day here