The cost of tree trimming varies depending on a variety of factors including the size of the tree, the type of tree, the number of branches and the obstacles around such as power lines or the roof of your home.
Below we look at what you might spend if you hire a pro, DIY and the individual cost of various tasks.
How Does The Tree Size Affect The Cost Of Trimming?
The larger and taller the trees are, the more you expect to pay. This is mainly because such trees have more weight, leaves, and branches, requiring more time, expertise, powerful machines, and safety precautions.
Most companies categorize trees into small, medium, and large.
For trees between 1 and 30 feet, the range is $125 to $500, those between 30 and 60 feet, $200 to $1,000, and those above 60 feet, $400 to $2000.
Apart from the size of the trees, there are other factors that tree service companies consider. They include;
Other cost factors
1. The number of trees
This is a standard measure for most companies. Basically, the more trees there are, the more you can expect to pay for trimming. For this case, look around and identify companies that offer discounts for orders above a specific limit.
2. Location of the trees
For instance, trees growing along a powerline; the company needs to take extra precautions to prevent any damages from occurring. You will therefore have to pay more for these services. Less risky locations are cheaper.
3. Accessibility
How easy is it to reach the trees? Take, for example, a situation where the company's truck cannot reach the trees. This means they have to look for other alternatives to trim and navigate.
You have to pay them more for all the extra costs they will incur.
4. The health of the tree
It is a known fact that disease and pest-infested trees are riskier. It becomes a challenge when trimming as the workers cannot depend on the tree's stability. Therefore, It is advisable to get a tree inspection, which is well worth the extra cost to determine the risk of it failing.
Remember, the more risk the tree poses, both to the arborists and you, the more you're likely to pay for it.
5. Travel expenses
It is never a wise idea to hire a tree trimming company that is far from where you want the job done. Their quote will have to include travel expenses making the whole process expensive.
However, some companies do not charge travel expenses. Consider such organizations before making any decisions.
6. Nature of the situation
Tree trimming companies expect their clients to book the dates they want the services. There are certain situations where you need immediate help, such as trimming tree branches affecting powerlines. For such emergencies, companies charge an extra fee of about $500 depending on the damage.
Cost of palm tree trimming
To get a professional out to trim a palm tree, you will spend between $75 and $120 per tree. It depends on the size of the tree. According to Ben at Go Tree Quotes, the price of palm tree trimming can go right up to $1,200 per tree for very large Canary Island Date Palms
When is the best time to trim a tree?
Tree trimming should be done in late winter or early spring. This is when trees are least vulnerable to pest and diseases and when they have the best chance of recovery.
This is not a hard and fast rule, professional trim trees all year round, but if I had to choose a time to trim, later winter would be it. Fruit trees especially respond best and allow you to harvest a much bigger crop if you time your trimming right.
1. Professional Tree Trimming
This is the best choice for many as it saves on time and effort, but you have to spend more. You can expect to pay between $125 and $2,000 for professional services. These are not fixed rates, and they vary depending on the company you approach.
It is advisable to ask for quotes from different companies and compare them to choose the one which fits your budget. Be aware of companies promising the best results at meagre prices.
2. Do It Yourself Trimming
Some tasks, such as trimming a few trees in your compound, do not require professional help. DIY trimming is best when handling a few trees that are small to medium-sized. For such cases, it is a cheaper method as you only need light equipment and you take less precaution.
You can get a standard trimming machine for about $100 and other safety equipment as an estimate. However, this machine limits you as you cannot do complex cuts or handle huge trees.
Should I DIY or use a professional arborist?
You can DIY tree trimming for anything smaller than 5m or a single-story house. Anything bigger than that and it starts to get a little dangerous to do so. Qualified arborists have the tools and skills to carry out the tasks with ease. GoTreeQuotes states that you can expect to pay between $320 and $1,900 for professional tree trimming services in Australia.
Mark
Is it cheaper to have trees trimmed in winter?
Yes, tree trimming in winter is a great idea as most companies are scratching around for work and generally charge a little less as they are trying to drum up more business. In winter you are basically on the right side of the supply and demand paradigm. There is an oversupply and little demand. This means companies place cheaper bids for the work to win jobs.
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