Tree Trimming Cost

Using trees to improve property value is not a one-time thing. If you ignore trees after planting them, they will lose their natural shape over time, have dead branches, and overgrown limbs that make them look unappealing. This can cause your property’s value to decrease. The good news, however, is that you can restore the property value through trimming.

In Jacksonville, tree trimming costs between $80 and $1000. Those with average-sized trees, however, spend between $250 and $500 on the tree trimming. Below, we will look at how different factors affect the amount you spend on trimming.

Factors Affecting the Tree Trimming Cost in Jacksonville

1. Tree Height

When trimming tall trees, reaching the crown is usually a hassle. The tree trimmers often have to arm themselves with more safety and support gear than they might need when trimming a shorter tree.

Taller trees have complicated shapes, with large than average branches that need to be sawn off. This means that they generally need more work to trim. All this warrants a higher tree trimming cost for tall trees.

Below, we have estimate trimming costs for trees of varying heights:

• 60+ feet – Red oaks and pine trees tend to be the tallest trees in Jacksonville, rarely standing at a height of below 60 feet. Such trees will have a trimming cost of between $200 and $1000.
• 30 to 60 feet – Crab apples tend to fall in the medium size class. These types of trees cost between $150 and $875 to trim.
• Under 30 feet – Dogwood and Russian Olive are some of the shortest trees in Jacksonville, with an average height of below 30 feet. These trees cost $75 to $400 to trim.

2. Accessibility

Accessible trees – that is, trees on open grounds and with no utilities to block them – have a much more affordable trimming cost. When a tree is on open ground, professionals can use a bucket truck to make their work easier. However, if the same tree is surrounded by houses and utility lines, the professionals will have to climb up the tree manually, which will take more effort and time.

To give you an example of how accessibility can affect the tree trimming cost, we will show you an example of a tree with a height of approximately 70 feet. If the tree is standing on open ground, professionals can use a bucket truck to reach its crown, with the cost amounting to about $1000. If the tree is surrounded by utilities making bucket truck use impossible, the tree trimming cost can increase to $1,400.

3. Tree Stability

Tree stability can be affected by a wide variety of factors, including storms and heavy activities taking place near the tree’s roots. Instability reduces tree trimming safety, often forcing the tree trimming experts to stabilize the tree before ascending to its trunk – this means that they spend more time on an unstable tree than they would on a stable tree. This can increase the cost of trimming the tree.

4. Tree Health

Unhealthy trees often have weak points that are not always visible to the tree owners. Before trimming such trees, a serious inspection may need to be carried out – this can sometimes take a lot of time.

Once the tree trimming is commenced, extra cautionary steps may need to be taken. After the tree trimming, an arborist may be needed to diagnose the tree and recommend the best meds to treat the tree’s health problem.

All this clearly shows that unhealthy trees have a higher trimming cost than healthy trees. The cost of arborist inspection and the meds needed to treat the tree can add between $50 to $500 to the trimming cost.

5. Travel Fees

Tree owners only spend money on travel fees when they invite tree trimmers who live too far from their properties. The travel fee can amount to about $50 to $200 depending on the distance traveled by the professionals, with a mile costing $0.5.

The key to avoiding the travel fee is working with professionals who are closest to your property. Tree trimmers in Jacksonville have a service zone for which they do not charge a travel fee.

6. Number of Trees

Bulk trimming is one of the best ways to save money. To give you an example, if you are being charged $500 to trim a 40-feet tree, you may be charged a total of $4500 to trim 10 such trees. This means that you end up paying $50 less for each tree.

When trimming a single tree, the higher cost comes from fixed costs, including permits, insurance costs, license charges, and overhead costs.

DIY Tree Trimming

When it comes to trimming trees, doing it yourself is not recommended. However, it might be a good idea for people with small, non-risky trees. Below, we have outlined all the things you will need to know before turning trimming into a DIY project.

You Will Need Tree Trimming Gear

If you have never trimmed trees before, you will need to purchase some tree trimming gear. For small non-risky trees, you won’t need complicated gear:

• Gas pole pruner – A gas pole pruner goes for $150 to $300 in Jacksonville.
• Ladder – You can get a good ladder for $150 to $600 depending on its height and quality.
• Safety gear – To protect yourself when trimming a tree, you will need a helmet, goggles, a safety harness, and gloves. All these can set you back $50 to $150.
• Hand-held pruners and loppers – On average, these cost between $30 and $50.

Understand the Risks

Tree trimming is a risky procedure. Some of the risks you might face during tree trimming include:

Injuries

When trimming a tree, you will have to climb to its crown with a sharp cutting tool. The tool can slip and inflict a deep cut on your body. If you do not have all the necessary safety gear, you could fall from a significant height, which could lead to broken bones, and in some cases, life-altering injuries. injuries could cost you thousands in hospital bills.

Property Damage

If you are working on tree trimming alone, controlling where the branches fall once you cut them may be a hard task. If you are trimming a tree near utility lines, you could drop the branches on power lines, leading to power loss in the entire locality – and in extreme instances, you may be risking electrocution. If the branches fall on your house, you will have to spend thousands on repairs.

Tree Damage

When trimming a tree, you will need to saw off the right branches correctly. Removing the wrong branches or cutting the right branches using the wrong method could damage the tree. This could force to spend money on tree removal and replacement.

Know the Correct Trimming Procedure

As long as you are getting a few simple steps right, tree trimming should be easy for you. Below, we have outlined the steps:

1. Wait for the Dormant Season

Tree stop growing actively in the dormant stage – this stage generally lasts from autumn through winter. Unless there is a safety risk, it is always advisable to trim trees while they are dormant – this offers a better view of the branches that need to be removed.

2. Consider the Size of the Branch

You can remove any branch with a diameter of less than 5 cm. However, the moment the diameter hits 5cm, you have to be more careful. Unless a branch that has a diameter of more than 10 cm is posing a safety risk or it has a health problem, it is recommended that you leave it on the tree.

3. Check the Angle Between the Branch and the Tree Trunk

Branches forming a weak V-shaped angle can be sawn off. Those forming a strong U-shaped angle should be allowed to stay on the tree.

4. Consider the Branch’s Age

The younger the branch, the lower the risk of scarring and the easier it is to manage. Hence, if possible, remove younger branches.

5. Cut the Branch Correctly

If you follow steps 2 to 4, it should be easy to choose the branches to cut. Once you know which branches need cutting, the next step is using the correct cutting procedure to avoid damaging your tree.

Start by locating the branch’s collar. Next, locate its ridge. Finally, use a sharp tool to cut in between the collar and the ridge, trying your best not to leave a huge stub and not cutting too close to the tree trunk.

6. Sanitize Your Tools

Before moving from one tree to the other, you must use a sanitizer to kill all the germs your tool could have collected on the previous tree. This should help you avoid spreading diseases from one tree to the other.

How to Minimize Your Tree Trimming Budget

To reduce the amount you spend trimming your trees, you can:

• Let utility companies trim trees near power lines. These are trimmed for free to increase safety.
• Improve your tree’s health to avoid spending extra money on tree trimming.
• Invest in regular trimming to minimize the time professionals spend on one tree.
• Trim small, non-risky trees to avoid paying professionals.