Tree Pruning Cost

In Lexington, property owners pay $75 to $2000 to prune a single tree. With most homes having small to medium-sized trees, most people spend $350 – $650 on professional tree pruning. Property owners with medium-sized trees with minimal risks spend $450 on the tree pruning procedure. 

The tree pruning cost changes depending on how big a tree is, how complicated the entire procedure is, and whether it is possible to use advanced machinery to make the tree pruning procedure easier. A deeper look at all the factors that affect the tree pruning cost should make it easier for you to plan your pruning budget. 

Factors Affecting the Tree Pruning Cost in Lexington 

1. Tree Size 

When it comes to tree size, professionals consider two major aspects – the tree height and the crown spread. However, in almost all trees growing in Lexington, the taller trees have a bigger crown spread. 

Tall trees have the highest tree pruning cost – and it is easy to see why. As the height of a tree increases, the difficulty of getting to the tree crown also increases. In most cases, the tallest trees will also have the largest branches – more time is needed to cut the thick branches. 

Depending on how big your tree is, you should expect to pay the prices outlined below: 

• Small trees – These trees do not exceed a height of 30 feet. This makes them the most affordable trees to prune, with professionals charging $75 to $400. 
• Medium trees – These mature at heights of 30 to 60 feet. To prune one medium-sized tree, professionals in Lexington charge $150 – $800. 
• Large trees – If your tree is taller than 60 feet, you should expect a tree pruning cost of between $800 and $1500. 
• Extremely large trees – These trees reach maturity at heights of more than 80 feet. To prune one of these trees, you will need $1500 to $2000. 

2. Tree Species 

The height at which a tree matures depends on its species. If you have cherry trees in your compound, these will be much cheaper to prune as they mature at heights of 12 to 15 feet.  A property owner with oak trees will expect a higher tree pruning cost as oaks are known to mature at heights above 80 feet. 

Different tree species are favored by varying crown shapes. Some tree species may have a more complicated shape – this could require more time to implement. Below, we have outlined the tree pruning cost for the common tree varieties in Lexington: 

Lemon Trees 

Although lemon trees are capable of growing fruits on shaded branches, tree pruning is still required to improve productivity and the health of the tree. Lemon trees mature at a height of 15 feet. To prune one of these trees, you will need $100 to $400. 

Cherry Trees

This is one of the smallest fruit trees, generally reaching maturity at a height of 12 – 15 feet. It is extremely affordable to prune, generally costing $100 to $400. 

Palm Trees 

In Lexington, you will find palm trees maturing at heights of between 20 and 80 feet. Depending on whether your tree fits in the small, medium-size, or large category, you should expect a tree pruning cost of $100 to $1500. 

Pear and Fig Trees 

Pear and fig trees mature at a height of more than 30 feet. They fit in the medium-sized group, although some of the trees may fall in the small category. To prune these trees, you will need $250 – $550. 

Apple Trees 

This is one of the most popular trees in Lexington. It is also one of the most demanding trees when it comes to pruning. If property owners ignore pruning, the tree may not bear fruits. This makes pruning necessary for both the tree’s health and survival. Most apple trees have wide branches – these often increase the tree pruning cost to about $300 – $600. 

Plum Trees 

Plums do not need pruning as precise as the one conducted on apple and pear trees. However, the tree still benefits from thinning out of old wood to ensure maximum productivity. In Lexington, plum trees cost $200 – $500 to prune. 

Peach Trees 

If you ignore peach tree pruning, the trees often become susceptible to shorter lives and infections. In Lexington, you can help your tree avoid diseases by investing $350 to $700 in its pruning. 

3. Accessibility 

Trees that are standing on open ground are generally cheaper to prune. The first thing that reduces the tree pruning cost is the fact that the branches can be allowed to fall freely. When trees are standing next to powerlines, the branches have to be lowered down with ropes to keep them from causing property damage. 

The next thing that makes trees in open fields affordable to prune is the fact that the bucket truck can be used. Bucket trucks make the tree pruning process much easier since all that the professionals need to do is get in the bucket and get hoisted to the tree crown – the truck holds the tree pruner safely, eliminating the possibility of a fatal fall. 

In the event the bucket truck cannot be used, professionals have to go up the tree manually. In such a circumstance, the risk of falling is higher and the time needed to complete the tree pruning process increases. For this reason, the tree pruners increase the tree pruning cost by 30% to 40%. If you were supposed to pay $1000 for bucket truck pruning, manual climbing could increase the cost from the $1000 to about $1,300 – $1,400. 

4. Tree Health 

Pruning a healthy tree is generally easier compared to pruning a tree of the same size but with pests or disease. A healthy tree will have its stability intact – this means that the safety of the tree pruners will not be compromised in any way. 

An unhealthy tree, on the other hand, will have weak branches all over. If the tree pruner steps on the wrong branch, he/she could end up falling – for this reason pruning a diseased tree requires more safety gear and more precautions. This can increase the amount of time spent on the tree, which could lead to a higher tree pruning cost. 

After pruning, most unhealthy trees do need an arborist to inspect them and determine the health complication they are dealing with. The arborist will also prescribe the medications and/or pesticides to spend up the rate at which the tree recovers. The arborist service and the medications you purchase could add an extra $50 – $500 to your quoted tree pruning cost. 

5. Additional Services 

Tree pruning often brings up extra services that are generally not covered by the quoted cost. To avoid unpleasant surprises, you should always ask your tree pruner to do a summary of all the services that the quoted cost caters for. Below, we have outlined some of the extra costs you may end up dealing with: 

Travel Fees 

If your tree pruning team has to travel a significant distance to get to your home, you may spend an average of $0.5 per mile. This can easily add up to $50 – $200 depending on the distance covered. To avoid the travel fees, consider working with a team closest to your home. 

Cleanup and Dumping 

You probably do not want the cut branches to be left lying around on your compound. For cleanup and dumping, you will be charged $25 to $100. 

Factors Affecting Tree Pruning Timing 

According to arborists, the best time to handle tree pruning is during the dormant stage. This is a period where a tree stops growing actively. In Lexington, however, the following circumstances could make tree pruning necessary before the dormant stage: 

Safety 

If your tree has branches that are showing signs of falling, tree pruning has to be conducted immediately to avoid accidents. 

Health 

If you have noticed an infection on your tree, tree pruning should be conducted as soon as possible to keep the health problem from spreading to other parts of the tree. 

Property Value Boost 

Before selling a property, you would probably want it to have the best appearance. Tree pruning is part of the maintenance practices that can boost property value. For this reason, you can plan the tree pruning to coincide with when you intend to put your property on the market. 

How to Save Money on Tree Pruning 

To reduce the amount of money you spend on tree pruning, implement the following tips: 

• If your trees are small – say, 20 feet and below – and they are in a non-risky position, you can use DIY pruning to save some money. 
• Wait for the off-season – that is, when tree work is minimal – to enjoy lower prices. 
• Work with tree pruners closest to your home to avoid the travel fees. 
• Keep your tree healthy to avoid treatment costs. 
• Invest in regular pruning to minimize the amount of time spent on each tree. 
• If your tree is near powerlines, you can let the power company handle tree pruning for you.