Tree Trimming Cost

When ignored, trees tend to lose their aesthetic appeal, with overgrown branches messing with the natural tree shape. In addition to making the entire compound look unattractive, unmaintained trees can become hazardous, with some of their branches threatening to fall. Luckily, working with professional tree trimmers can boost the tree beauty and also eliminate any hazardous limbs from the tree crown. 

In Greenville, different professionals will have varying tree trimming costs. However, almost every tree trimming company uses a similar set of factors to determine the ideal tree trimming cost. In this article, we will take a deeper look at the average tree trimming cost, and the factors that can raise or lower the cost. 

The Average Tree Trimming Cost in Greenville 

To have your tree trimmed by professionals, you will need to set aside $300 to $1000. Most property owners, however, spend $80 to $350 since most of the trees in Greenville fit in the small to medium-size category. Below, we will take a look at the reasons why tree trimming professionals charge varying prices for different trees. 

Factors Affecting the Tree Trimming Cost in Greenville 

1. Tree Height 

Taller trees take more time to trim. Climbing up an 80 feet tree will take more time compared to going up a 15-foot crepe myrtle. Also, the 80-foot tree, in most cases will have large branches, a bigger tree crown, and a more complicated shape. All this makes the biggest tree the most expensive to trim. 

Depending on how big your tree is, you should expect to be charged the costs outlined below: 

• Small trees – Trees with a height of below 30 feet are classified in the small tree category. Trimming a small tree costs between $80 and $400. 
• Medium trees – If you have a tree with a height of 30 to 60 feet, you should plan a budget of $150 to $875. 
• Large trees – These have a height of more than 60 feet. Tree maintenance for these trees is generally costly, with property owners paying $200 to $1000 for tree trimming. 

2. Accessibility 

Trees with buildings, utility lines, and other amenities surrounding them are generally more expensive to trim. This is generally because of the extra effort needed to make sure that the cut branches do not cause property damage. When trimming a tree next to your house, professional tree trimmers will tie the branches with a rope and then lower them down slowly, ensuring that they do not touch your building. 

Nowadays, most tree trimmers use bucket trucks to make their work easier when trimming trees. Instead of climbing up a tree manually, the tree trimmers just hop in the bucket, get lifted to the tree crown where they are held safely until they complete the tree trimming procedure. 

In some cases, however, the bucket truck is unusable. Consider a case where a tree is surrounded by other trees – the limited accessibility means that there is no way the bucket truck can be parked near the tree that needs pruning. In such a case, tree trimmers have to climb the tree – this increases the tree trimming cost by 30% to 40%. 

If you are being charged $500 to trim a 70 feet tree with the bucket truck, your tree trimming cost may increase to between $650 and $700 if it is impossible to use the bucket truck. 

3. Tree Health 

Trees in Greenville are often affected by both pests and diseases. In the event a tree is unhealthy, its trimming will be much more difficult. Since there is no telling which branches have been weakened by the pest or disease, the professionals have to use more safety tools just to avoid falling if they step on weak branches. 

Also, the tree trimmers have to double-check every part of the tree just to ensure they have removed all the affected branches. This takes much more time compared to trimming a healthy tree, which leads to a higher tree trimming cost. 

Once the trimming is complete, an arborist may be invited to your home to diagnose the tree. The arborist will also recommend the treatment options you can use to restore the tree’s health. The cost of arborist service and the cost of the medications/pesticides he/she recommends can add an extra $50 to $500 to your bill. 

4. Stability 

A wide range of conditions can affect tree stability. All these conditions increase the tree trimming cost since extra care is generally needed when handling the tree trimming process. Below, we have outlined some of the conditions: 

• Large cracks – These indicate that the tree has suffered significant trauma in the past. They are a good sign that the tree is very unstable and cabling may be needed to keep it from falling. Cabling will take more resources and time – this often leads to a higher tree trimming cost. 
• Weather damage – Greenville is no stranger to strong winds. Storms and lightning strikes could also be part of weather factors that cause damage. If a tree is compromised by weather factors, a lot of work may have to be done to keep it from dying or falling on your property. 
• Rotting trunk – The first sign of a rotting trunk is fungi growing on the tree trunk. An arborist may be needed to inspect such a tree to determine whether it can recover from the issue. If it cannot, the arborist may recommend tree removal to improve safety around your property. 

5. Travel Fees

Most property owners in Greenville can avoid the travel fee by working with a professional near their homes. Tree service providers have a predefined area where they offer all their services without adding a travel fee to the tree owner’s bill. 

Some homeowners, however, prefer to work with tree professionals living a significant distance from their homes. This could be because they got positive results from the professionals in the past. If the tree trimmers have to cover a significant distance to get to your property, you should expect a travel fee of at least $0.5 per mile. In some cases, you may be charged a fixed cost of $50 to $200. 

6. Number of Trees 

Trimming just one tree is generally more costly compared to trimming a group of trees at the same time. Tree trimmers charge a higher cost to take care of the fixed costs that remain the same irrespective of the number of trees being trimmed – the fixed costs may include the license costs, permit fees, fuel costs, and travel time. 

If you intend to trim a single 30-foot tree, you may be charged $250. However, if you intend to trim 10 thirty-foot trees at the same time, you may enjoy a discount of $50 per tree, which can reduce the total cost to $2000 instead of $2500. 

Tree Trimming Cost Per Hour 

Most tree trimmers prefer to charge a fixed cost. It is almost impossible to find a company that charges on a per hour basis. 

This is because of the numerous factors that generally affect the time needed to trim a tree. A tree service company with more advanced gear will complete the trimming earlier than a team with ancient tools. Also, the number of workers can affect the number of hours spent on a project. 

Most companies, however, may factor in $25 to $50 per hour for each worker they bring to your home. Overall, however, the quote you will receive will have fixed costs calculated to take care of the labor costs, travel time, machine use, insurance costs, overhead, and licensing. 

DIY Vs. Hiring a Tree Trimming Company 

 DIY tree trimming can be a good way of saving money if our trees are small and non-risky. However, if your trees are big, allow professional tree trimmers to handle the procedure. 

In the event you decide to trim your trees as a DIY project, consider the following: 

Equipment Cost

To trim your trees, you will need the basic gear outlined below: 

• Gas pole pruner – You can get this for $150 to $300. 
• Heavy-duty gas tree trimmer – This is available for rent at a rate of $50 per day. 
• Safety gear – You will spend an average of $50 to $150 on gloves, goggles, helmet, and safety boots. 
• Ladder – This will set you back $150 to $500. 
• Loppers and hand-held pruners – You will need $30 to $50 to buy one of these. 

After finishing the tree trimming, you will need to rent a truck to remove the cut branches and leaves from your yard. To dump the waste, you may be charged $25 to $100. Sometimes, the money you end up spending on DIY trimming is more than you would have spent on the payment of professional tree trimmers. 

Risks

DIY tree trimming does carry some risks, these include: 

• If you fall from the tree, you may break your limbs 
• If you make a mistake with your cutting tools, you could injure yourself 
• If you have no prior tree trimming experience, you may damage your tree
• If the branches fall on important amenities, you may have to spend thousands on repairs