Tree Pruning Cost

Tree pruning is a complicated procedure that requires skills and tools that most homeowners do not own. To get maximum benefits from the tree maintenance procedure, you have to remove the right branches and also make cuts in the right places – otherwise, you may damage your tree irreparably. To avoid irreparable tree damage, property owners often prefer to work with professional tree pruners. 

The cost of professional tree pruning ranges from $75 to about $2000. With medium-sized trees, you will enjoy a lower tree pruning cost, ranging between $350 and $650. In the following section, we will help you understand why the tree pruning cost varies for different trees. 

Tree Pruning Cost Factors in Columbus, OH

1. Size of the Tree 

When estimating the cost of pruning a tree, professionals consider both tree height and the size of the crown. The size of the tree crown, however, has a direct relationship with tree height – the crown spread will increase/decrease with tree height. 

Working on tall trees is riskier compared to pruning small trees. First, on tall trees, the tree pruners will be working at a significant distance from the ground – therefore, falling will have a probability of causing significant injuries and death. Second, dropping branches from a 150-foot white pine can cause more damage than dropping branches from a 25-foot crape myrtle. To avoid injuries and property damages, tree pruners have to make bigger safety plans when working on large trees. 

As you would expect most tall trees will also have a large crown. This means more time spent snipping branches on the crown. 

Depending on how tall your tree is, professionals will charge you the following tree pruning costs: 

• Very large tree pruning cost – Also known as extremely large trees, very large trees reach maturity at a height of more than 100 feet. Pruning these trees is costly, with tree owners often paying $1,500 to $2000 for professional service. 
• Large tree pruning cost – These trees are generally 60 to 100 feet tall. Pruning them costs $800 to $1,500. 
• Medium tree pruning cost – If you have trees with a height of 30 to 60 feet, you should expect a tree pruning cost of between $150 and $800. 
• Small tree pruning cost – Small trees have the most affordable pruning cost – this is understandable considering the have a height of under 30 feet. Professionals will charge you $75 to $400 to prune your small trees. 

2. Tree Species 

The characteristics that a specific tree will have at maturity are determined by the tree’s species. This explains why you will always find maple trees with a height of between 40 and 80 feet, while the California juniper will never reach 50 feet. 

In addition to affecting the tree height, species also affects the crown shape and crown size. Some tree species will have complicated crowns that require more time to prune. 

Below, we have outlined the costs of pruning tree species that are common in Columbus landscapes: 

Pine Tree Pruning Cost

Pine trees are available in a variety of subspecies, with some as short as 40 feet, and others taller than 150 feet. Depending on how large your pine tree is, you will need $200 to $2000 to prune it. 

Maple Tree Pruning Cost 

Maple trees grow to a height of 40 to 80 feet, depending on the growth conditions. Professional tree pruners charge $400 to $1000 to prune pine trees.

Olive Tree Pruning Cost 

Pruning olive trees helps boost its productivity. Allowing its flowering branches to access sunlight, tree pruning helps a high number of flowers set and become fruits. To prune your olive tree, you will be charged $350 to $700. 

Avocado Tree Pruning Cost 

Avocadoes are available in both medium-sized and dwarf varieties. Depending on the category in which your avocado tree fits, you should expect a tree pruning cost of $350 to $700. 

3. Bucket Truck Use 

To make tree pruning easier, tree service providers have replaced traditional tree climbing gear with bucket trucks. Instead of relying on harnesses to stay attached to the tree during pruning, professionals nowadays take advantage of bucket trucks which reduce the probability of falling to almost 0%. 

In addition to safety, bucket trucks make it extremely easy for the tree pruners to reach the tree crown. These factors often make tree pruning less costly when it is possible to use a bucket truck. 

When a tree is standing in the backyard, with zero bucket truck accessibility or without parking space for the truck, professionals will have to go up the tree trunk manually. The less safety and the extra time needed often raises the tree pruning cost by 30% to 40%. 

A 100-foot tree may cost $1,500 to prune with a bucket truck. However, if manual climbing is the only option, you should expect to pay an average of $1950 to $2,100. 

4. Proximity to Utilities 

How close a tree is to your home or useful utilities has a direct influence on the risk of property damage. If your house sits under the tree crown, professional tree pruners will have the branches they intend to cut tied with ropes to keep them from falling unexpectedly. After cutting, several men – or a crane in the event of a huge branch – will be needed to bring the branch down, ensuring that it does not damage your house. 

When a tree is standing on open ground, with nothing useful nearby, tree pruning is easier as the tree pruners will not need to control the branches’ falling path. This makes trees near utilities more expensive to prune. 

5. Tree Health 

Pests and diseases are notorious for weakening tree branches and the overall wood structure. If a tree pruner has to climb up the diseased tree, he will need additional safety tools since relying on the branches could lead to a fatal fall. 

When pruning a diseased tree, professionals need to inspect every branch so that they can remove every infected branch. This time-consuming procedure helps ensure that all the infected branches have been removed. Reduced safety and the extra time needed to prune unhealthy trees generally causes the tree pruning cost to increase. 

Arborists are often needed in areas where an unhealthy tree is being pruned. The arborist will inspect the tree, helping property owners figure out the health complication affecting it. The arborist service and the cost of the medications or pesticides you will need to buy for your tree can add an extra $50 to $500 to your tree pruning cost. 

6. Additional Services

In addition to the quoted tree pruning cost, you may find yourself spending some extra money on several additional services. These may include: 

Cleanup Services 

Not many homeowners would want branches to be left lying around on their properties. Professional tree pruners can help you with cleanup and dumping. However, you may need to pay an extra $50 to $100. 

Travel Fees 

While this is not a tree-related service, it is an extra cost that some tree owners incur during tree pruning. You will, however, only deal with travel fees when you hire tree pruners who have to cover a large number of miles to get to your home. The travel rate is generally $0.5 per mile or a fixed cost of $50 to $200. 

Tree Pruning Timing 

According to professional arborists, the best time to handle tree pruning is when the tree is in the dormant stage. In Columbus, OH, most trees stop growing actively in late fall and the dormant stage can sometimes last through winter. 

Due to unavoidable circumstances, however, tree owners often find themselves pruning trees before or after the dormant stage. Some of the reasons you may want to prune your tree outside the dormant stage include: 

• To improve safety – If a tree is carrying hazardous branches, tree pruning should be done as soon as possible to avoid injuries and property damage. 
• Stop disease spread – If you notice signs of ill health on some of the tree’s branches, prune it as soon as possible to keep the disease from spreading. 
• Improve property value – If you are selling your property, pruning trees beforehand can boost the tree’s market value. 

Saving Money on Tree Pruning 

• If you have small trees or shrubs on your landscape, take advantage of DIY pruning. 
• Hire tree pruning professionals closest to your home. This will help you avoid the travel fee.
• Invest in regular tree pruning. This will ensure your trees are always in shape, generally needing minimal work during each pruning procedure. This can reduce the amount charged by professionals. 
• Do your best to maintain healthy trees. This will help you avoid paying for arborist services and medications/pesticides during tree pruning.   
• Property owners with trees near powerlines can take advantage of the tree pruning procedures conducted by the power company to improve safety around their powerlines. 
• If your trees can wait, postpone the tree pruning procedure until tree work reduces. Hiring during the offseason allows you to enjoy lower prices.