Tree Trimming Cost

For trees to catch someone’s eye, they need to have a nice shape, a good branch structure, and a look that complements your landscape. Luckily for property owners, all this can be achieved through a simple procedure known as tree trimming.

The easiest way to trim your trees is to work with experienced professionals. Kansas City tree service providers charge between $80 and $1000 to trim trees. The tree trimming cost for average-sized trees ranges from $250 to $500. Below, we will show the factors that often cause variations in the tree trimming cost.

Factors Affecting the Tree Trimming Cost in Kansas City

1. Tree Height

Reaching the tree crown will be harder when handling trimming for a taller tree. To complete the trimming, most tree service providers will have to bring sophisticated climbing and support gear. Bigger trees have complicated shapes and bigger branches – shaping them takes more work than smaller trees.

Kansas City property owners spend the amounts outlined below when trimming their trees:

• Under 30 feet – Professionals charge $75 – $400 to trim trees with a height of below 30 feet. In Kansas City, some of the trees in this height category include Dogwood and Russian Olive.
• 30 – 60 feet – These trees cost $150 – $875 to trim. An example of a tree that is often charged this price is crab apples.
• 60+ feet – Pine trees and red oak are some of the biggest trees in Kansas City, often growing to above sixty feet. Such trees cost $200 – $1000 to trim.

2. Accessibility

Trees standing on open grounds allow tree trimmers to use modern gear to make their work easier. For example, they can use bucket trucks to get to the top branches instead of having to climb the tree manually – this can lower the trimming cost.

Trees that are inaccessible force tree trimming experts to use manual options to reach the crown. Compared to when using a bucket truck, climbing to the top of a tree is more difficult, and hence may incur a high cost.

For example, if you have an oak tree with a height of 70 feet in open ground, you may be charged $1000 to trim it with a bucket truck. If, however, the tree is enclosed and cannot be accessed easily, the cost may increase to $1,400.

3. Tree Stability

If a tree has experienced some type of trauma and its stability cannot be trusted, the tree trimmers may have to employ stabilizing mechanisms before going up its trunk. Also, once the trimming is conducted, permanent solutions may need to be employed to help the tree as it heals and regains stability. All this will increase the amount you end up paying for the tree trimming procedure.

4. Tree Health

Being living things, trees also suffer from health issues. Pests are also a common issue among trees in Kansas City. Pests and diseases can destroy a tree’s stability, making it dangerous to work on. Since additional care will be necessary, the professionals may charge a higher tree trimming cost.

Once the trimming is done, you will need to invest in the tree’s treatment – everything from arborist service fee to the cost of the needed prescriptions/pesticides. This can add approximately $50 – $500 to the trimming cost.

5. Travel Fees

If you invite trimming experts located near where you need them to handle the tree trimming, you won’t incur any travel fees. If, however, the tree trimming experts you have invited reside far away – that is, you are outside their service zone – you will have to spend some money on the travel fee.

When charging on a per-mile basis, most professionals will require you to pay $0.5 for each mile covered outside their service zone. Sometimes, however, you may have to pay a flat rate of between $50 and $200 depending on the time the professionals spend on the road.

6. Number of Trees

When homeowners decide to trim multiple trees together, the amount they pay for each tree reduces. For example, let’s assume that you intend to trim one tree with a height of 150 feet – for this tree, you may be charged an average of $1000. However, if you intend to trim ten trees with a height of 150 feet, the total cost might be $9000 – this means that you get a discount of $100 on each tree.

The higher cost of trimming a single tree is generally a result of numerous fixed costs, including overhead costs, license charges, permits, and insurance costs.

DIY Tree Trimming

While DIY tree trimming might sound like a good idea, we generally do not recommend this option, especially for tall trees or trees that are near sensitive structures. If, however, your tree is short and non-risky, you can avoid the tree trimming cost by handling the tree service yourself. Below, we will show you what you will need to handle tree trimming.

Tree Trimming Gear

When trimming small, non-risky trees, you won’t need complicated gear. You will just need the following:

• Gas pole pruner – You can get one of these for between $150 and $300.
• Ladder – In Kansas City, ladders cost between $150 and $600.
• Safety gear – To avoid falling and getting injured, you must invest in a quality safety harness. To protect your eyes, hands, and head, you should get a pair of goggles, safety gloves, and a helmet respectively. On average, safety gear can cost $50 to $150.
• Hand-held pruners and loppers – These will cost you anywhere from $30 – $50.

Know the Risks

Tree trimming is generally associated with a variety of risks. The main ones are:

• Injuries – Trimming involves working at a significant height with sharp tools. A simple slip could leave you with a deep cut. If you are not attached properly to the tree when cutting a branch, you could end up falling and breaking a few bones. This means that you could end up with thousands of dollars to pay in hospital bills.
• Property damage – Controlling the cut branches is usually hard for property owners with no experience. This is why we recommend DIY trimming for trees that are far away from sensitive structures and utility lines. If a branch falls on your home, you may end up with thousands to pay in repair costs.
• Tree damage – If you saw off the wrong branches, you may end up wrecking your tree irreparably. This could force you to spend money on the tree’s removal and replacement.

How to Trim a Tree Correctly

When trimming a tree, you will need to keep the following tips in mind at all times:

Consider Branch Size

Experts recommend sawing off branches with a diameter of below 5 cm. When the diameter exceeds 5 cm, careful consideration is usually needed. Branches with a diameter of more than 10 cm should only be removed if they are unhealthy or posing a safety risk.

Look at the Branch Angle

Branches should be left on the tree if they are forming a strong U-shaped angle with the main trunk. Branches forming a weak V-shaped angle can be removed.

How Old is the Branch?

Younger branches are not just easier to manage – they also feature a lower risk of scarring. This makes them ideal for removal, unlike the older branches.

Check Your Cutting Procedure

When cutting a branch, experts recommend locating the branch ridge and collar. Next, you will need to cut away from the tree’s trunk, just between the collar and the ridge. Make sure your cutting tool is sharp enough to avoid injuring the tree.

Wait for Dormant Stage

When a tree enters the dormant stage, it stops growing actively. This is the best period to conduct tree trimming, whether you are doing it yourself or you are working with professionals and paying the tree trimming cost. This is because you can get a clear view of the branches that should be sawn off the tree.

Sanitize Your Tree Trimming Gear

Once you are done with one tree, take some time to sanitize your tools before getting started on the next. This will help you avoid spreading viruses and bacteria from one tree to the other. Rubbing alcohol featuring a concentration of 70% works perfectly when it comes to sanitizing trimming tools.

How to Spend Less on Tree Trimming Cost

To lower the amount you spend every year trimming trees, use the following tips:

• If you have trees growing next to power lines, allow the power line company to handle the trimming. To increase safety on their powerlines, utility companies handle tree trimming for free.
• Improve the health of your trees to avoid the extra costs often charged to trim unhealthy trees. You can increase tree health through watering, fertilizing, and regular arborist inspections.
• Invest in regular tree trimming. Do not let the branches grow too big or the tree shape become too damaged such that you end up paying too much money to get the tree shape restored.

Work with professionals near your home to avoid having to spend your money on travel fees. Tree trimmers in your region won’t charge you a travel fee, as long as you are in their service zone.