Tree Trimming Cost

Tree trimming allows homeowners to improve their property’s aesthetic appeal, improve tree’s safety by removing hazardous branches, and give their tree a shape that complements their landscapes. To get maximum benefits from the tree service, most property owners prefer to work with professional tree trimmers.

Professional tree trimming cost ranges from $75 to $1,500 in Louisville. The average cost, however, is approximately $460, with most tree owners paying $200 to $760. The tree trimming cost, however, is affected by a wide range of factors.

Factors Affecting Tree Trimming Cost in Louisville

1. Tree Height

Reaching the tree crown is generally harder when working on tall trees. The risks are generally bigger considering that falling from such a height could inflict permanent injuries – this calls for the use of more complicated safety tools to avoid accidents.

Most tall trees have bigger branches. Sawing through the branches can take more time, unlike when removing small branches from a smaller tree. All this shows why taller trees tend to have a higher trimming cost. Below, we have outlined the prices to expect for varying tree heights.

• Large Trees – Trees that fit in this category have a height of above 60 feet. Examples of such trees in Louisville include pine and red oak. The trimming cost for large trees sits in the $200 to $1000 range.
• Medium-sized trees – Trees in this category have a height of between 30 and 60 feet. Trimming crab apples and other medium-sized trees cost $150 to $875.
• Small trees – Russian olive and dogwood trees rarely exceed a height of 30 feet. This puts them in the small tree category. Such trees will cost between $75 and $400 to trim.

2. Accessibility

If your tree is surrounded by utility lines, houses, or other trees you would like to keep, its trimming will be more complicated. Most tree trimmers have bucket trucks they use to reach branches at the top of the tree crown – the bucket truck works only when a tree is in a non-enclosed location.

When a tree is surrounded by hindrances, someone will have to go up the tree manually. This raises the tree trimming cost. To give you an example, if a tree can be trimmed with the bucket truck for $1000, the price could go up to $1,400 if someone has to go up the tree manually.

3. Stability

Tree stability is generally affected by a wide range of factors, including the activities that have taken place next to the tree’s roots, storms, heavy winds, and more. If your tree has stability problems, it will be more dangerous to work on.

To reduce the risk, tree trimmers may need to spend some time stabilizing the tree before commencing tree trimming. Once the trimming is completed, permanent solutions may have to be found. All this can increase the tree trimming cost.

4. Tree Health

Trees with health problems suffer from weak points in multiple points on their crown and trunk. This undermines safety during trimming – the tree trimmers have to result in alternative protection options – for example, harnesses to avoid falling off the tree.

Once the tree has been trimmed, tree treatment is generally necessary – this could include arborist services to help understand the health complication affecting the tree and medications to treat the tree. The additional time needed to trim diseased trees and the amount needed for treatment increase the trimming cost. The treatment cost – in itself – can increase the trimming cost by $50 to $500.

5. Travel Fees

The best way to avoid spending money on travel fees is to work with tree trimmers closest to your property. This should put you in the professional’s service zone.

When serving customers outside their service zone, tree trimmers charge $0.5 per mile traveled. This can amount to $50 to $200 depending on the distance covered or time spent on the road.

6. Number of Trees

If you have multiple trees on your property, trimming them at the same time can help you reduce the tree trimming cost. Bulk trimming attracts a per tree discount.

For example, if you are trimming one 100-foot tree, you may be charged $1000. However, if you trim 10 100-foot trees, you may be charged a total of $9000. This will save you $100 per tree. The higher cost when trimming a single tree is the result of numerous fixed costs – these include travel fees and the cost of getting licenses and permits.

DIY Tree Trimming

Do It Yourself trimming is an ideal option for property owners who would like to save some of their money. This option, however, works out ideally for trees with the smallest height and those in non-risky zones. Below, we will offer tips and ideas on how to handle DIY trimming.

Get Trimming Tools

DIY tree trimming is not always free. If you are doing it for the first time, you will need to invest in some tree trimming gear. Below, we have outlined the gear you will need.

• Gas pole pruner – In Louisville, gas pole pruners go for a price of $150 to $300.
• Ladder – A good ladder is worth $150 to $600.
• Safety gear – To keep yourself safe when trimming a tree, you will need to get gloves, helmet goggles, and a safety harness. These can cost you approximately $50 to $150.
• Hand-held pruners and loppers – Armed with $30 to $50, you should be able to go back home with these tools.

There Are Risks

Tree trimming can be risky, with some trees being riskier than others. However, anytime you decide to trim a tree, you need to be prepared to handle the following risks.

Injuries

Tree trimming has to be conducted on the tree crown – this means that you will have to put some distance between you and the ground when conducting tree trimming. If you make a mistake and fall from the tree, you may suffer broken bones – if the tree is extremely tall, you may lose your life or end up in a wheelchair for life.

Property Damage

If the tree you are operating on is near important structures or utility lines, the risk of damage will be high. You may not have the ability to control where the branches fall – this means that they may end up falling on your house’s roof or the utility lines. This could cost you thousands in repair costs.

Tree Damage

Trimming will only offer benefits if it is conducted correctly. If you just cut off random branches, you will neither benefit the tree’s health nor the look of your compound. In extreme cases, you may even damage your tree irreparably – this could force you to remove and replace the tree, which can be more time consuming and costly.

Tree Trimming Procedure

When trimming a tree, there are some simple tips you need to keep in mind to avoid damaging your tree. The tips include:

Time the Procedure Correctly

The best time to trim a tree is when it is in its dormant stage. This is a period when the tree stops growing actively. For most trees, the period starts in autumn and can last through winter. The only time you should trim your trees outside the dormant season is when you need to improve safety or the tree’s health.

Consider the Branch Size, Angle, and Age

Branch Size

Branches with a diameter of below 5 cm can be removed. Those with diameters of between 5 and 10 cm need careful consideration – these branches should only be removed if they are interfering with the desired shape, have a health problem, or are a safety risk.

Branch Angle

Branches making a V-angle with the tree trunk can be removed. It is recommended that you leave those making a strong U-shaped angle on your tree.

Branch Age

Older branches have a higher risk of scarring and are generally more complicated to manage. This makes it a good idea to focus on removing younger branches while allowing the older branches to remain on the tree.

Cut the Branches Correctly

Before cutting a branch, locate its collar and ridge. Experts recommend cutting between the ridge and the collar, taking care to not leave a huge section on the trunk or cut too close to the trunk.

Sanitize Your Tools

When moving from one tree to the other, remember to sanitize your cutting tools. This will help you avoid spreading diseases from tree to tree.

How to Reduce Your Tree Trimming Cost

To spend less money on your tree trimming cost, you will need to put the following tips into practice:

• Ensure your trees are healthy to avoid paying for extra tree trimming hours because of the expected risks.
• If you have trees near power lines, do not pay professionals to trim them. Allow the power company to handle the trimming for free.
• Use DIY tree trimming on your small non-risky trees.

Trim your trees regularly to make sure that they do not have branches that are too overgrown to the point that professional tree trimmers have to overcharge you.