Tree Pruning Cost

In Seattle, Washington, professional tree pruning costs $75 – $2000 per tree. The average-sized trees have a more affordable tree pruning cost, with professionals charging $350 to $800. Homeowners with the smallest trees enjoy the lowest tree pruning cost, with professionals charging as low as $75, with the price maxing out at around $400 for trees with a height of below 30 feet. 

Professional tree pruning helps you avoid spending thousands on property repairs and hospital bills. DIY tree pruning puts the property owners at the risk of destroying their homes and/or suffering from serious injuries. To help you estimate the cost of pruning your trees, we will take a deeper look at the different factors that affect the tree pruning cost in Seattle. 

Tree Pruning Cost Factors in Seattle, WA

1. Tree Size 

When using tree size to estimate the tree pruning cost, tree pruners consider 2 size factors – the tree height and the crown size. However, since the size of the tree crown increases with the height of the tree, height has a bigger influence on the tree pruning cost. 

A sequoia tree with a height of between 164 and 279 feet will carry a crown spread of approximately 108 feet. Compared to a California juniper whose crown width is only 20 feet, the sequoia tree will always be costlier to prune. 

In addition to professionals taking more time on the tree crowns of taller trees, they also need a lot of additional time to climb manually to the first branches. With a bigger distance between the crown and the ground, taller trees are riskier to work on. These complications further contribute to a higher tree pruning cost among taller trees. 

Depending on the height of your tree, you will need to pay tree pruning cost in the ranges mentioned below: 

• Small tree pruning cost – In Seattle, trees that fit in the small category have a height of below 30 feet. These trees will set you back $75 to $400. 
• Medium tree pruning cost – This is the most common tree category in Seattle, Washington. These trees have a height of 30 – 60 feet. Professionals charge $150 to $800 to trim medium-sized trees. 
• Large tree pruning cost – Your tree will be classified in the large category if it has a height of 60 to 80 feet. To prune your large trees, you will need $800 to $1,500. 
• Very large tree pruning cost – These are trees with a height of more than 80 feet. These trees have the highest tree pruning cost, with Seattle tree service providers charging $1,500 to $2,000. 

2. Tree Species 

The tree height and crown spread are dependent on tree species. This is why white oaks will always mature at a height of about 100 feet and a crown spread of 50 to 70 feet while the crape myrtle will always be small with a height of below 30 feet and a crown spread below 20 feet. 

Tree species also influence the trees crown shape. Some tree species have a complicated crown spread which needs a lot of time to shape. The branch size of trees varies depending on tree species, with some species having limbs bigger than others. 

Below, we have outlined some common tree species and their cost of pruning: 

Crape Myrtle Tree Pruning Cost 

Crape myrtle is available in the form of a shrub and a small tree. In Seattle, this tree has a height of 3 to 30 feet. The tree pruners will charge you $75 to $400 to prune your crape myrtle. 

Palm Tree Pruning Cost 

The cost of pruning your palm trees will vary depending on their size. Palms with a height of 20 to 60 feet will cost you $100 to $800. Palms with a height between 60 and 100 feet will have a tree pruning cost between $800 and $1500. 

Pine Tree Pruning Cost 

You can find pine trees at heights ranging from 40 feet to over 150 feet. Depending on the size of your pine tree, you should expect a tree pruning cost of $200 to $2,000. 

Maple Tree Pruning Cost 

Maple trees reach maturity at heights between 40 and 80 feet. You will be charged $400 to $1000 to prune your maple tree. 

Olive Tree Prunin Cost 

Olive trees need regular pruning for them to stay productive. Ignoring tree pruning causes the olive trees to have an overcrowded crown – this keeps the flowering branches from accessing enough sunlight. Without enough sunlight, the flowers fail to turn into fruits, which reduces productivity. To prune your olive trees, you will need $350 to $700. 

Avocado Tree Pruning Cost 

Avocados are available in both the large and dwarf versions. Pruning avocado trees costs $350 to $700. 

3. Accessibility 

When your trees are accessible, a bucket truck can be used during pruning. The bucket trucks make the tree pruning procedure much easier and improve safety, minimizing the possibility of falling from the crown. 

While bucket trucks are perfect for trees in the front yard, they may not be usable for trees standing in your backyard. To use the bucket trucks, the tree service providers needle ample parking space, which may not be available near some trees. 

In the event the bucket truck cannot be used, the tree pruners will have to climb the tree manually. Manual climbing is associated with a higher risk and more time – both qualities force the tree service providers to increase the tree pruning cost by 30% to 40%. If your tree would cost $600 to prune with a bucket truck, manual climbing may increase the tree pruning cost to about $780 – $840. 

4. Risk of Property Damage 

Trees standing next to utility lines and buildings are costlier to prune. This is because they need more work to bring the branches down without causing property damage. In some cases, the tree pruners have to tie the branches they intend to cut with ropes and then use these ropes to lower the limbs down. 

This requires more time and takes more effort. The professionals may need to increase the tree pruning cost to cover the extra time needed. The extra cost, however, is much less compared to the amount you would have to spend on property repairs in the event of property damage. 

5. Tree Health 

Trees in Seattle are often affected by diseases and pests. These make the trees weaker and hence riskier to work on. To avoid stepping on weakened branches and falling, the professionals have to take more safety gear up the tree. 

Pruning a diseased tree involves getting rid of all the infected branches. While this does keep the disease from spreading to other parts of the tree, it increases the time needed to complete the tree pruning procedure, which leads to a higher tree pruning cost. 

6. Additional Costs 

The tree pruning cost in your quotation may not cover all the services you may need during tree pruning. You may pay for some services separately. Some of the common additional costs include: 

Treatment Costs

While removing all the infected branches during tree pruning does keep the disease from spreading, you may need to work with an arborist. The arborist will diagnose the tree, determining the health complication affecting it. 

Your arborist will also recommend the best medications you can use to restore your tree’s health. Purchasing the medication and paying the arborists can add an extra $50 to $500 to the quoted tree pruning cost. 

Cleanup and Dumping 

You wouldn’t want the tree pruners to leave our compound covered in branches and leaves. For clean up services, the professionals may charge you an extra $50 to $100. 

Travel Fees 

This is a service that can be avoided quite easily. All you have to do is work with a team that resides close to your home. Deciding to work with a team that has to cover numerous miles to get to your home will attract a travel fee of about $0.5 per mile. Some professionals may charge you a fixed cost between $50 and $200. 

Factors Affecting the Tree Pruning Timing 

To determine the most ideal time for pruning your trees, you may need to consider the factors outlined below: 

• Safety – If your tree has weakly-attached or broken branches, you should prune it immediately to eliminate the possibility of property damage. 
• Tree health – If you have a tree that is showing signs of ill-health on some of its branches, you must prune it to remove the diseased branches. This will keep the disease from spreading. 
• Growth stage – Professionals recommend pruning in the dormant stage, a period where the trees stop growing actively for a few months. This minimizes the probability of tree injury during pruning. 

How to Save on Tree Pruning 

• Use DIY pruning on the small, non-risky trees.
• Avoid the travel fee by working with professionals closest to your home. 
• Keep your trees healthy to avoid the treatment cost. 
• Prune your trees regularly to keep them from developing excessive overgrowth which could attract a higher tree pruning cost. 
• Plant small trees on your landscape.