Start with the result you want.
“Tidy the hedge” might mean a light trim, a substantial reduction or removing a section altogether. Describe the change in everyday language: more light, a lower boundary, a space cleared for a lawn, or a fence replacing an unwanted hedge.
Photos help explain the starting point, but access, condition and the finish usually need checking in person. You do not need to climb, reach over a boundary or measure a tall tree to ask for a quote.
Six things to compare.
The exact work
Which plants, sides or areas are included? What stays untouched? For hedge trimming and reductions, agree the height and width you want rather than relying on “cut back”.
The finish at ground level
Tree removal does not automatically mean the stump is gone. Check whether grinding, dealing with the grindings, extra soil or lawn work is included or separately quoted.
Waste and materials
Confirm what is taken away and what is left for you. Branches, logs, green waste, old fencing and unwanted household items are not interchangeable. Our garden clearances focus on vegetation and overgrowth.
Access and protection
Tell the contractor about steps, narrow gates, parking and the route through the garden. Mention anything fragile or important to protect. Access can change the labour and equipment a job needs.
Materials and preparation
For fencing or a new lawn, compare the specification as well as the finished appearance. Levels, edging, the existing ground and moving materials in or out can account for a substantial part of the work.
The total and next step
Ask for a clear written description of the work and the total price, including any applicable tax and stated exclusions. Check when the work could happen, how changes are agreed and what care the finished area will need.
From real Sharp Hedges work
Three jobs. Three different quoting decisions.
These photographs show why the finish you want matters as much as the starting size. Each link opens the real job and explains what was done.
Hedge work
Hedge reduction: agree what remains.
This hedge was kept as a living screen, with its top brought down and its sides shaped. The result is more precise than “cut it back”: for another hedge, the species, condition and healthy foliage may set a different sensible limit.
See the documented job
Tree pruning · Durham
Tree reduction: describe the goal.
For this Durham conifer, the owner wanted less height while retaining privacy. The owner-confirmed approximate change was from 25 feet to 14 feet. Those figures describe this job, not a target that can be transferred to every tree.
See the documented job
Stump grinding
Stump work: settle the ground finish.
This stump was ground in a garden bed, leaving loose ground material across the surface. A useful quote says whether grinding is included, how access will work and what happens to the grindings; it should not imply that every root will be excavated.
See the documented jobSeveral jobs? Describe the end goal.
If you want a hedge removed and a fence installed, ask about both together. Remaining roots, post positions and the period without screening matter. A stump removed ahead of a new lawn also needs a different discussion from a stump simply ground below the surface.
These are separate items of work, not an automatic package or discount. In our form you can select several services and explain the overall result once.
This selects both services in the form. You can change them before sending.
Why we do not give a one-size-fits-all price.
Height alone does not describe a hedge job, and the size of a garden does not tell us how dense the growth is. Access, material handling, obstacles and the agreed finish affect the quote. A low headline price is not useful if it leaves out work you expected.
We offer free in-person quotes for suitable work across County Durham and the wider North East. Start with your postcode and a description; we will discuss the next step with you.
For independent advice on choosing a tree-work contractor, see the Arboricultural Association’s choosing your arborist checklist (PDF). For protected trees, start with our council-checking guide; a quote is not permission to carry out restricted work.