Tree Pruning Cost

To prune a tree in Greenville, you will need to set aside $75 to $2000. If your tree is average-sized, you may be charged about $450. However, most property owners in Greenville pay $350 to $650 since most of the trees in the region fall in the medium-size category but with varying levels of risks. 

When planning a tree pruning budget, you should get a cost estimate from a team of professionals – this is the only way to know the exact amount you should expect to pay. In this detailed guide, we will take a look at the factors that affect the tree pruning cost – while this may not give you the exact price tag for your tree, it should give you a rough idea of what to expect. 

Factors Affecting Tree Pruning Cost in Greenville 

1. Tree Height 

If you have a tree taller than 100 feet, you should expect to pay more for the tree than you would for a 30 feet tree. Climbing up the 100 feet tree will take more time. Also, the fact that the distance between the ground and the 100-foot tree crown is much bigger means that the risk of injury is considerably bigger – the tree pruners will have to bring more safety gear. 

Taller trees tend to have large branches and wide crowns. Tree pruners generally need more time to complete the tree pruning. All this means a higher tree pruning cost for the taller trees. 

Depending on how tall your tree is, you should expect to pay the tree pruning costs outlined below: 

• Short trees – For a tree to fit in this category, it has to be shorter than 30 feet. With an average of $75 to $400, you should be able to prune almost any short tree. 
• Medium-sized trees – Trees in this category have a height of between 30 and 60 feet. Pruning these trees costs $150 to $800. 
• Large trees – If your tree has a height of 50 to 80 feet, you should expect a tree pruning quote of between $800 and $1,500. 
• Very large trees – These trees are taller than 80 feet. The cost of pruning the trees sits between $1500 and $2000. 

2. Tree Species 

Different tree species have varying needs when it comes to their pruning. Some tree species will have a very complicated natural tree shape – cutting the tree crown to this shape may take more time. 

While oak trees grow to reach 80+ feet, crepe myrtles mature at heights of between 3 and 30 feet. Pruning the oak tree will cost more than the crepe myrtle, not just because of the tree height, but because one tree is hardwood while the other is softwood. 

Below, we have the tree pruning costs you should expect for different tree species: 

Avocado Tree Pruning Cost 

The cost of pruning avocado trees sits between $350 and $700. In Greenville, homeowners plant both dwarf varieties and larger varieties – the two species will have different price tags. 

Olive Tree Pruning Cost 

The productivity of olive trees is largely dependent on tree pruning. If you ignore pruning, the flowering branches will get covered by shade – this will keep the flowers from setting and growing fruits. For a cost of $350 to $700, however, you can remove the excess branches, open up the tree crown and allowing sunlight to pass through. 

Maple Tree Pruning Cost

The average maple tree will grow to a height of 60+ feet. However, the tree is available in a wide variation of heights, with some maples falling under 40 feet and others growing to over 80 feet. Depending on how big your maple is, you should expect a tree pruning cost of $400 to $1000. 

Pine Tree Pruning Cost 

Pine is one of the tallest trees in Greenville. While you can find a 40-feet pine, this height is very rare for the tree species. Most pine varieties grow to heights of between 80 and 150 feet. This places their tree pruning cost between $200 and $2000. 

Crepe Myrtle Tree Pruning Cost 

Property owners with crepe myrtles in their homes enjoy the lowest pruning costs. The tree matures at heights of between 3 and 30 feet – this places it in the small tree category. To prune a crepe myrtle, you need to set aside $75 to $400. 

Palm Tree Pruning Cost 

In Greenville, palm trees grow to heights of between 20 and 80 feet. The shorter palms are more affordable, with their tree pruning cost hovering around $100 to $500. When the height starts approaching the 80 feet mark, the tree pruning cost increases to $1,500. 

1. Accessibility 

Bucket trucks have revolutionized the tree pruning industry. They improve safety and make the tree pruning procedure much easier. Instead of carrying saws and climbing the tree manually with harnesses to improve safety, tree pruners nowadays just get in the bucket truck and get lifted to the point where they need to conduct the tree pruning. 

Bucket trucks, however, are only usable in areas where access to the tree is not hindered. If your tree is surrounded by other trees, the bucket truck may be unusable. A tree professional will have to climb up the tree – this can increase the tree pruning cost by 30% to 40%. 

If you had been quoted $1000 to prune a tree with the bucket truck, the inability to use the bucket truck will force you to spend $300 to $400 extra – you will end up paying a total of $1,300 to $1,400. 

2. Proximity to Utilities 

Trees that are growing near houses, power lines, car sheds, and other important structures are generally riskier to work on. For such trees, the risk of property damage is generally high. 

To avoid dropping the branches on your structures, the tree pruners tie the branches they intend to cut with ropes. The ropes are then lowered down slowly. This requires more effort and time – you will end up paying a higher tree pruning cost for trees standing next to sensitive structures. 

3. Tree Health 

Pests and diseases weaken the branches, turning them into risky anchor points for the harnesses used by professional pruners. This calls for additional protective gear. When pruning trees with health problems, the professionals have to take their time to remove every affected branch. All this increases the tree pruning cost. 

Once the tree pruning is complete, the pruners have to work with an arborist to determine the health affecting your tree. The arborist will inspect the tree, determine the disease or pest bothering it and recommend the best pesticides or medications you can use. The price of working with an arborist and the cost of the recommended solutions can add $50 to $500 to the quoted tree pruning cost. 

4. Additional Services 

Before agreeing to hire a company, determine the services covered by the quoted cost. In most cases, the price only covers sawing off branches from the tree and bringing them down. If your tree service provider confirms this, you should expect the following additional costs: 

Treatment Costs 

If your tree is diseased or has a pest infestation, you will need to pay an arborist to inspect it and recommend treatment options. The treatment options and the cost of hiring the arborist can add $50 – $500 to your tree pruning cost. 

Cleanup and Dumping 

Tree pruning puts branches on your compound. This can make the entire place look messy and unappealing. However, for $25 to $100, you can get the tree pruning professionals to clean your compound. 

Travel Fees

If you invite professionals who live too far from your property, you may be required to pay $0.5 per mile. If the distance is significant, this could add up to $50 to $200. Working with professionals near your home, however, can help you avoid the travel fee. 

How to Correctly Time Tree Pruning 

Arborists recommend pruning trees when they are dormant. This is a period when trees stop growing actively. 

Pruning the trees in the dormant stage, however, is not always possible. In most cases, the scenarios outlined below make immediate tree pruning necessary. 

To Improve Safety

Sometimes, the tree may have branches that are threatening to fall. Waiting for the dormant stage creates a situation where you may end up with significant injuries or property damage. 

To Boost Property Value 

If you are selling your property, you would like its trees to look great. This will attract the highest value for the property. 

To Improve Tree Health 

If a tree is suffering from a health problem, pruning it as soon as possible can keep the disease from moving from the branches to the main trunk. Although the tree may need medications to heal completely, pruning will increase the rate at which it heals.

How to Save on Tree Pruning 

• Wait for the offseason to hire tree pruners.
• Don’t pay professionals to prune any trees near powerlines. The power company will prune them for free. 
• Ask for estimates from different tree service providers. This will allow you to choose the most affordable company.
• Keep your trees healthy to avoid treatment costs. 
• Consider taking advantage of DIY pruning for small non-risky trees.