sloth

This pic is from Nov last year, so is what it looks like now. The customer has always trimmed it themselves in a day, but didn't fancy cutting it back hard. Definitely blackthorn.

When I quoted the job I thought "I'd do that myself in a day", so half day for 2 guys.

This is a new arrangement for me, quoting for someone else's company and jobs while the boss/owner isn't able to do it and be on site themselves. I've had three quotes I gave overrun now, one was probably fair enough, but this and the other had me questioning my expectations of the guys on the tools (and my own expectations and sanity!).

Cheers all...

Some interesting replies.

Now that I look at the pics, I find myself again thinking it's really not that bad! There's a foot of thin untrimmed top growth on it since the Google pics, not a lot. A flail or digger etc a bit ott, I reckon. Only a transit load once chopped up a bit. Cut back with chainsaw, thrown on truck with fork- shite, but simple enough...

That's a 6 foot fence to the right of the front door, the taller section (marked in red) to be brought down to a little taller than that. And the side just cut back to widen the footpath back up.

The blue section, also cut back from the footpath, top left as is.

A third day? Really?

Cheers all. Think I best adjust my expectations!

Customer insisted on that height for privacy/security reasons. In any case I may need to adjust my expectations, or go out myself for a few days as a reminder!

21 minutes ago, Mick Dempsey said:

There’s a backstory here that I think you should share first.

Ha! Fair enough 👍 I quoted as an easy day, probably a half, for 2 guys. They're going back for a 3rd day to 'hopefully' finish. Now either I've been off the tools too long and remember my own abilities with rose tinted glasses, or the new subbies aren't what I want!

This has been bugging me, thoughts please...

20m (65 foot) long blackthorn hedge, 2.4m (8 foot) tall, 2m (6 foot) wide. All tangly from years of tight trimming.

Using a chainsaw to wade into it and remove one side only, then the top, chucked in a truck (parked alongside) to be removed and tipped.

It'd be about 50cm (2 foot, ish) from one side only. Then bring the height from 2.4 to 2m (about 8 foot down to 6.5 foot, ish). Nice easy (if spiky) job I thought... seems not...

How long do you reckon it'd take you, with 2 guys on site? Cheers...

Bargain for someone there!

Really? In this day and age? That's your reply?

Himalayan honeysuckle, Leiceisteria formosa (I'm sure that's not spelled correctly!)

Do the wallets cost?

So if I get a wallet, can it hold multiple coin types? Or does each currency have its own wallet? Can one crypto currency be traded directly for another, and if so, is that trade liable for tax, or not?
I'm not really sure about all this! If it's decentralised and anonymous, how is it taxed? I appreciate if it's sold for GBP etc, then you'll theoretically owe tax on any profit made from increasing value since you purchased the crypto, but how would the government know when you originally got it? Hmm...

Ooh, another to acquire...

The first nature site is quite good Gary, or Roger Philips big book is pretty comprehensive and can be picked up cheap now too...

Maybe the Armillaria was a more recent infection of a struggling tree, and the cause of the canopy decline?

I reckon beech is a good bet, but hard to be sure. Have you looked into its history? Why does it have that name, and is it mentioned in any local history books perhaps?

Nice selection

All very true, and I can think of very few hispidus related failures of apples, and it is a very common host/fungi combination around here. Far more likely is branch breakage from the weight of the apples! But one other thought to consider is that if major branch loss due to extensive decay looks likely, a bit of tip reduction (or propping) could save a greater loss. And the lesser need to lay down reaction wood could allow an aging tree of dwindling energy reserves to use its resources on something more beneficial, like compartmentalisation of the decay, or producing more apples, which may break the branch! Hmm...

... Is it a new pisstaking record?! Or does £45 for a silver birch stick beat that even?

I have a fondness for their blades too. I've got one of the carbon steel ones that takes such a wicked edge, it's almost a shame to dull it! Although I do get to sharpen it again though, which is quite therapeutic...

Fair enough, can't be too cautious I suppose...

I had an odd experience in Southend almost 15 years ago. Went to quote a job and couldn't find the address, so asked a couple of guys walking past. They asked if I had any crack on me, I didn't, then tried insisting I buy some cocaine - really insisting. Not a town I choose to go to often!

Many thanks for your comments .. the postcode is B60 4BB ... fresh is ok as long as its not sycamore or yew
 
 

I was once in a big rush (pushed on job, getting late etc - I see a theme in this thread!) and clean forgot I had the chipper in tow. Reversed round a corner rather sharpish and jack knifed the bloody thing, in full view of about ten other blokes who rented a yard on that farm. Took a while to live that down!

The scales, or squamules if you like, can wash off over time...