You must prune your trees to maintain them healthy and vigorous. Trimming focuses on changing the shape and appearance of a tree, whereas pruning removes dead or diseased branches to maintain tree health. It also decreases branch falls that could harm your family and house. So, how much does it cost to get a tree pruned?
Most homeowners pay a 30-foot apple tree $450 to a professional tree pruner. A 10-foot tree with a simple pruning service costs $250, whereas an 80-foot tree near power lines costs $2,500 and requires an arborist to climb.
Tree Trimming vs. Pruning
Although commonly used interchangeably, “pruning” and “trimming” have different meanings. Trees, hedges, and shrubs are trimmed to remove excess branches or improve their look. Pruning keeps the tree healthy by eliminating dead branches, preventing pests and diseases, and extending its lifespan. You and your family are no longer at risk from falling branches.
Expect $350–$650 for pruning. A trimming project costs $175–$750/hour. Each service’s size, location, and difficulty influence its price.
Tree Pruning Prices By Size
The expense of pruning a tree goes beyond the workforce. A tree’s kind, location, and size determine its pruning cost. When reviewing the pricing below, remember you are for an average tree in an accessible place. These exclude electricity line trimming hazard fines. Trees near fences, roofs, sheds, or other buildings that require extra attention while cutting huge branches may also increase rates.
1. Prune A Small Tree
Pruning a modest tree costs $250–$500. Little trees include Japanese maple, lollipop crabapple, Henry anise, and crape myrtle. You can prune small trees quickly and easily. Most organizations serve with just a ladder. A hard-to-reach tree can cost more than usual. Small trees remain the cheapest to prune.
2. Prune A Medium Tree
Expect $390–$720 for pruning. Pruning medium trees takes longer due to their height. Additionally, extra branches may need pruning. Medium trees cost more if they need more maintenance. It includes most ornamental and fruit trees. Pear, plum, magnolia, and hedge maple trees are examples.
3. Prune A Large Tree
Pruning a huge tree costs $500–$1,200. The size of the tree affects its pruning cost. More hours are needed to prune more giant trees. Location, tree health, and pruning danger can also affect cost. Pruning giant trees increases garbage and branch disposal costs.
4. Prune An Extra-Large Tree
Excessively tall trees cost $740–$2,000 to trim. Trees exceeding 50 feet tall are extra-large. The arborist needs unique equipment to access the branches of these trees securely. This pricing is for a tree pruning firm using a bucket truck to reach high limbs. If the arborist climbs the tree, expect to pay above $1,500.
Average Cost To Prune A Tree by Method
Our definition of tree pruning is maintaining its health. There are several ways to accomplish this. More than eliminating dead branches or pests, cleaning, decreasing, or elevating the crown. You may need thinner branches to provide lower layers with enough sunlight.
Crown Cleaning Tree
Average crown cleaning is $150–$650. Trees cost $150, $200, and $650, respectively. Cleaning removes dead, dying, or infected branches from the tree’s top. This service reduces slow branch damage to cars, residences, and fences and is done every few years.
Tree Crown Raising
The cost of crown raising is $250–850. Smaller trees cost $250, big ones $500, and large ones $850. Raising the removal of lower tree limbs allows vehicles and humans to navigate the tree safely. It prevents roof damage by keeping lower branches away from buildings. The canopy rises, allowing more light to reach the grass under the tree.
Tree Thinning
Tree thinning costs $250–$1,000. A typical little tree costs $250. Large trees average $1,000, and medium trees $550. Cutting or removing branches helps light and airflow more evenly across the tree crown. It maintains the tree’s shape and minimizes branch weight to prevent falling. Preventing automobile or roof damage is possible.
How Much Does It Cost To Get A Tree Pruned?
Different tree varieties may be in your yard. Other trees cost different amounts to prune. Most fruit tree pruning is done. America grows many spurring fruit trees. Flowering and fruiting spurs are tiny branches. Proper pruning increases spurs and fruit. Some standard trees with average pruning expenses are shown below.
1. Prune A Cherry Tree
Cherry trees cost $100–$400 to prune. With their low height, these trees are cheap to prune. The tiniest fruit trees, they grow to 12–15 feet.
For their first three to five years, you should prune cherry trees annually. Cherry branches stop fruiting after five years. The tree yields less fruit if mature branches are trimmed for reasons other than health. Prune only in late winter or early spring when buds begin to break. It’s essential to prune now to speed up tree healing.
2. Lemon Tree Pruning
Lemon trees are a little like cherry trees, making them accessible and affordable to trim around $100–$400 per tree. Lemon trees develop fruit throughout the tree, including dark regions, so chopping them back for more light is unnecessary. Despite this, lemon trees need occasional pruning. Pruning lemon and other citrus trees in mid-winter or the start of spring before the buds break is best.
3. Average Cost To Prune A Palm Tree
Pruning palms costs $200–$500. Different palm tree types and sizes affect trimming expenses. Palm type does not affect pruning expense, fortunately. Size and location determine cost alone. Although palms can grow tall, professional arborists can manage them. Homeowners should not prune tall palms.
Spring is great for palm tree pruning. Deceased fronds can shelter the tree from winter cold. Do not believe the idea that palms grow quicker after pruning. Pruning palms too much is unhealthy.
4. Plum Tree Pruning
Plum tree pruning costs $200–$500, depending on size and health. Apple and pear trees require precision pruning, whereas plum trees do not. However, trimming the old wood helps them produce more fruit. Plum trees need annual pruning in spring or summer. Pruning these young trees will help them grow properly. Do not prune flowering plums.
5. Pruning Pears
On average, pear tree pruning costs $250–550. Pear trees grow to 30 feet. Thus, pruning them costs more than lesser types. Apple and pear tree trimming are very similar.
Late winter pruning should be done before pears’ buds bloom. Trimming early might cause winter harm while cutting late can reduce fruit and weaken branches.
6. Fig Tree Pruning
Pear and fig trees are comparable in height and breadth; thus, pruning costs $250 to $550. Cut fig trees leak sap heavily. Cutting them increases the risk of introducing infections. Therefore, avoid pruning when bleeding is expected. A dormant fig tree is best pruned in winter.
7. Apple Pruning
Due to their girth and spreading branches, apple trees cost $300–$600 to prune. Numerous states and areas prune apple trees as they are popular. Their longevity and strength depend on pruning, as unpruned trees may not bear fruit.
Before growing for the next season, you should clip apple trees yearly in late winter or early spring. Prevent summer pruning for apple trees to ensure a good yield.
8. Prune A Peach Tree
Pruning a peach tree costs $350–$700. All year, peach trees are beautiful. Be sure to prune peaches at the right time for your climate.
Peach trees that aren’t pruned get worse and die faster. Peaches need annual pruning. Early spring is the optimum time to prune a peach tree before the sap runs. It pest-proofs your tree and simplifies the job. Avoid pruning peach trees in winter.
9. Average Cost To Prune An Olive Tree
Olive trees are enormous and spreading, creating $350–$700 trimming costs. Strong sunlight is needed for olive fruit since olive blooms under continual shade will not set in big numbers and generate little oil. Thus, pruning ensures sunlight reaches all tree parts.
Late January, before blossoms, is the optimal time to prune olive trees. Once buds open, you can prune olive trees in spring and summer. Avoid fall and winter olive tree pruning.
10. Avocado Tree Pruning
The average tree cost is $350–$700. Avocado tree pruning costs vary for each tree. Some avocado trees are dwarfs, while others can reach 40 feet. Trim avocados only in January–April. The trees may not bear fruit if cut otherwise. Avocados blossom from their stems, not their flowers.
11. Trimming Maples
Due to their vast height range, maple pruning costs $400–$1,000. Over 60-foot maples are some of the largest home and garden trees.
Experts advise late winter or early spring maple tree pruning. Fall pruning may trigger fungal infections in maples. When pruning maple trees, only dead branches are removed. Beautiful blooms are guaranteed next season.
12. Oak Tree Pruning
Due to their height, oak trees cost $850–$1,350 to prune. The average oak tree is over 100 feet tall. An arborist must use a bucket truck or climb to prune the tree correctly. The broad, thick branches also generate more tree waste you must remove.
Only prune oak trees in winter and spring. November–April is ideal. In areas with shorter winters, prune accordingly. Oak wilt, which is nearly impossible to stop, is prevented by pruning during this period.
Pruning Conifers Cost by Type of Tree
The classic Christmas tree belongs to the conifer family. These trees develop cone-shaped naturally. Similar to yews, they produce needles, cones, and fruit. Although many conifers are evergreens, this family does not. Southern trees get bald in winter.
Pine, sequoia, cypress, and spruce are the most frequent conifers. The majority of these trees need little pruning.
1. Cypress trees pruned
Cypress pruning costs $800–$1,200. These little conifers are the cheapest to prune. The average cypress tree is 80 feet tall.
Before growth, prune cypress trees. Spring marks a fresh increase for most cypresses in most climates. With correct trimming, young cypress trees form cones with little maintenance.
2. Tree Pruning Spruce
Pruned spruce trees cost $1,000–$2,000. With heights from 60 to 200 feet, spruce tree pruning costs vary. Laterally growing spruce trees require different pruning than other conifers.
Only prune spruce trees in winter. These are dormant trees. Pruning the tree involves pruning the lateral buds just above the branch start.
3. Pine Tree Trimming
Pinus trees cost $1,500–$2,500 to prune. When mature, these trees reach 150–200 feet. Pines come from pine trees. They also make fragrant pinecone fire starters.
July and June are good months to prune pine trees. Buds are candle-growing now. Pine growth can be inhibited by snapping off half the candle. For a shorter pine tree, prune annually.
4. Sequoia Pruning
Sequoia tree periodic pruning costs $2,500–$4,500. Huge trees. These 30-foot-diameter trees can become 250 feet tall, making it hard to find a qualified pruner. To prune these trees, expect to pay more.
Minor pruning is possible year-round on sequoias. Winter is best for significant pruning. The latent sequoia cannot be infected.
5. Pruning Hourly Cost
Since tree trimming focuses on health rather than style or design, you need a specialist. DIY might damage the tree, preventing it from growing or blooming. Therefore, use a pro.
Most tree businesses know how to prune. Certified arborists at some tree companies offer sophisticated services. Tree arborists are trained in tree biology and learn how to keep trees healthy. Since arborists are more skilled, they charge more than tree care firms. The price depends on tree type, size, and health.
Projects, not hours, determine tree pruning costs. Cost depends on tree height, location, and pruning complexity. It keeps tree companies reasonably priced. However, some pros charge per hour for pruning. Depending on location, tree pruners typically cost $85–$120 per hour.
Tree Pruning Average Cost by Reason
While tree pruning is usually done for health reasons, you may need to employ a professional for other reasons. Safety, aesthetics, tree structure, and insurance are reasons. Since each reason requires a distinct feeling of urgency, tree-cutting costs vary. Extra effort or emergencies add $100 to $250 to your pruning project.
Pruning too much, too late, or in the incorrect places can damage a tree permanently. Although it won’t kill it, pruning can weaken a tree.
Thank you for reading…..