Cost of trimming palm trees in phoenix (rental, HOA)

[scrunch22]

Hi. I just moved into a rental property at the end of June and the homeowner got a letter yesterday from the HOA stating that the palms need to be trimmed asap. I am responsible for maintaining landscape. Is $80 per palm reasonable? I'm from NY so I know nothing about this. They are really tall..about 2 stories. I think it sounds ok but need 2nd opinion.. Thanx!!

[Zippyman]

I've paid between $40-$80 per palm before, it isn't so much the height that makes the cost difference, it's the guy doing the work. If you've got more than one I wouldn't be afraid to haggle a little. If you're paying $80, you should expect the trimmer to take all the fronds, not stuff your trash bin.

[DetroitN8V]

That's garbage that you have to pay to have them trimmed, especially since you just moved in. I'd argue that 15+ foot trees don't fall within landscaping. That's grass, rocks and plants. Does your lease specifically call out the trees?

[wit-nit]

$40-75.00 is generally the norm depending how big/tall the trees are. That cost is for trimming and hauling off the debris and cleaning any mess they make. Part of that cost goes to paying the dump to dump the trash.
Make sure they're insured for liability in case someone falls from a tree and gets seriously hurt.

[Italy04]

We just moved out of a rental where we had to take care of the landscaping. While we did have to do the palms I agree with DetroitN8V-that's pretty harsh for you to have to do 1 month after you move in. Obviously if they need done that bad they have needed trimmed for awhile!!!!!!!

[elcajones]

That cost is so low considering the workload. I can't believe how hard they work to barely come out ahead at all.

[observer53]

Originally Posted by elcajones

That cost is so low considering the workload. I can't believe how hard they work to barely come out ahead at all.

True. Ask the trimmer who died the other day when he fell on his head. It's hot, dangerous work.

[Zippyman]

Originally Posted by Italy04

We just moved out of a rental where we had to take care of the landscaping. While we did have to do the palms I agree with DetroitN8V-that's pretty harsh for you to have to do 1 month after you move in. Obviously if they need done that bad they have needed trimmed for awhile!!!!!!!

+1 -

personally, I'd expect the landlord to take care of this because if nothing else the previous tenant didn't. As a landlord, I've always taken care of the palms myself, although "taking care of them" now often means hiring a licensed tree guy to chop them down & grind the stump. Even well-trimmed palms throw debris all year round & the cost (and risk) of hiring people to trim them outweighs any aesthetics they provide.

[Voebe]

That sounds over-priced, but the cost is often dependent on the size of the job. The bigger the job, the lower the per-tree price gets. Contact that HOA, and tell them that you're complying as quickly as possible but you'd appreciate it if they could give you a few names for estimates. If they have a guy they use every year, he might cut you a better deal.

[ScottsdaleMark]

Originally Posted by Zippyman

I've paid between $40-$80 per palm before, it isn't so much the height that makes the cost difference, it's the guy doing the work. If you've got more than one I wouldn't be afraid to haggle a little. If you're paying $80, you should expect the trimmer to take all the fronds, not stuff your trash bin.

For the OP, I think the landlord should pay for it, but ultimately unless landscaping is covered in the contract, they may say it's your problem/expense.

Important point, particularly if you have a lot of palm trees, is whether they are going to haul away the fronds and bark debris or not. Because if you have a lot of trees, it may be more than your city's bulk trash program will collect in one go -- or, if they will collect it, you have to store it until it's collection time, then haul it all out there, and properly organize it so they will collect it. This can be a huge hassle, particularly if you have a lot of palm trees.

So, definitely be sure you discuss who's dealing with the debris before you agree to any price. It's worth it to pay for the trimmer to deal with the disposal because in my experience they are going to give you a better price than anyone else you could call.

I have observed that the tree trimmer spends more time cleaning up all the debris, hauling it over to the curb or his truck, loading it up, driving to the dump, etc., than he does actually going up the tree, trimming it and coming down. Tree trimming is hard work and dealing with the debris can be a huge project as well.

I love palm trees, but they are an expensive landscaping feature, that's for sure, and it's a recurring cost. Every. Single. Year.