I am not sure about the other two trees but in this area the price for a crepe myrtle plus planting for that size would just be about $150.

What would they cost you at a nursery? I know around here, that crape would run you $375 at retail. I say jump on it.

Note that giant clumsy specimens are likely to have a harder time of it than small ones, in addition to costing more up front.

Since it includes installation and delivery, I'd say it is not too far off.

Are you really only buying a tree and the labor to put it in the ground? Hopefully, you are buying and valuing the cost of the tree, shipping & handling, proper materials and methods for the planting, and a warranty of some sort.

Hopefully, you have some reason to believe that the person giving you the price is giving you the value equal to that price. It is one tbing to charge for that added value and another to deliver on it.

You can find someone, if you look hard enough, who will charge you a low labor rate and the cost of the plant. The question is whether you value having the particular individual who is giving you the prices above more than the cheaper guy. No one here knows that more than you do.

My neighbor had an arborist at her house two weeks ago to price out some tree work. I was going to have some trees removed by someone else as well. Her arborist gave me a price 2.5 times higher than the guy who did my work. I chose the other guy because all I needed was removal (with insurance) and there was nothing to screw up. The lower priced guy was adequate for the job at hand, in other words.

My neighbor had tree pruning to do. She must not have liked the price she got because she hired the out of work neighbor to do it. He has zero knowledge, an electric chainsaw, no insurance (not even health insurance since he is out of work), an extention ladder and some old pruners and lopers. That is a bit more of a risky venture that may have been worth the dough for the added expertise, insurance, knowledge, and ability to haul away the debris.

On the other hand, it may have made the difference between getting the job done and not getting the job done. It was the neighbors set of values which made her decision.

The price down here to plant is equal to the price of the tree and carries a 1 year "no die" warranty. The prices look OK to me. Make sure that they take the wire basket off when they plant.

My experience is the same as stevega's, the arborist said full installation and guarantee would be about double the nursery cost of the tree. But if your landscaper isn't a trained arborist, do your homework about variety, placement, etc. I think you're paying as much for expertise--right tree in the right place, that sort of thing--as you are for the actual labor.

Mis-handling and inept planting are very common. We don't have the mulch volcano epidemic out here yet but it is quite usual to see large expensive specimens of thirsty deciduous trees like red maples installed on the final planting site in a wilted condition.

Plus there is caliper size vs. height, what kind of crape (very common variety or what; large standard size or what)and the quality and form of the tree. For example, at a box store you can sometimes get a great buy because they don't always seem to know what they're getting or they buy mixed lots or special deals (like I have found a more unusual variety of shrub or perennial mixed in at the same low price as common ones), or you can find that they have a large-ish tree for a low-ish price but it has a poor shape, bent leader, root bound, or some similar problems.

Jersey? What exit? Isn't it going to be a zone challenge for Crapemyrtle?

Wychexet. Wouldn't that be a great name for a town?

Off topic, I know, but there's a lot more to NJ than highways and exits ... we just keep the beautiful spots to ourselves lest the outsiders ruin them.

Seriously, most of this state is USDA Zone 7 or 6, with just a tad up in the northwest corner designated as 5. We have several mature - and healthy - lagerstroemia at the park where I work.

Just kidding I'm from Teaneck