Tree Trimming Cost

In Oklahoma, tree service providers charge $80 to $1000 to trim trees. Homeowners with the smallest trees on their landscapes enjoy the lowest tree trimming cost, with professional tree trimmers charging them $80 to $150. As the size of the trees increases and the entire procedure becomes more complicated, the tree trimming cost increases, generally reaching $1000 for large trees. 

Paying for professional tree trimming features numerous benefits. It helps you avoid property damages that are often caused by branches falling on important utilities. You also avoid falling from the tree and suffering significant injuries. The cost of hiring professionals is generally much lower compared to the cost of repairing your home or treating injuries. 

A large number of factors often affect the tree trimming cost. Taking a deeper look at these factors can help you estimate your tree trimming cost. 

Tree Trimming Cost Factors in Oklahoma City

1. Tree Size 

Tree trimming becomes more complicated with increasing tree height. Taller trees are generally riskier to work on – a fall from a 100-foot tree will be more damaging compared to falling from a 20-foot tree. Also, dropping branches from a 150-foot tree will cause more damage to the nearby utilities compared to dropping branches from a 15-foot tree. 

The size of the crown also depends on tree height. A white oak taller than 100 feet will have a crown width of 50 to 80 feet. A 30-foot crape myrtle, on the other hand, will have a crown spread of about 20 feet. Tree trimming professionals will always use more time on the white oak compared to the crape myrtle. This shows why large trees are costlier to trim, compared to smaller trees. 

• Large tree trimming cost – Trees in this category are taller than 60 feet. Carrying a bigger crown, bigger branches, and requiring additional time to trim, large trees have the highest trimming cost. For one of these trees, you will spend $200 to $1000. 
• Medium tree trimming cost – Medium-sized trees have a height between 30 and 60 feet. To trim these trees, you will need $150 to $875 per tree. 
• Small tree trimming cost – For a tree to fit in the small tree category, its maximum height needs to be below 30 feet. These trees are generally easier to climb and have small crowns with thin branches. Professionals will charge you $80 to $400 to trim your small trees. 

2. Accessibility 

When a tree is accessible, tree trimmers can use a bucket truck to reach the tree crown. Bucket trucks make the tree trimming process safer and speed up the procedure. 

In Oklahoma, however, not all trees are accessible to the bucket truck. While the bucket truck can be used on almost every tree standing in the front yard, it may not find its way to the trees standing in the backyard. 

Whenever a bucket truck is unusable, the tree service providers have to use manual climbing to reach the top branches. Manual climbing takes more time and puts the tree trimmers at a higher risk of falling – this often forces the tree trimmers to increase the tree trimming cost by 30% to 40%. If you would be charged $1000 to trim your 150-foot white pine with a bucket truck, manual climbing could push the tree trimming cost to between $1,300 and $1,400. 

3. Proximity to Utilities 

During tree trimming, professionals have to remove branches from the tree crown and bring them down. This procedure is extremely easy when working on trees standing far away from important utilities – the tree trimmers can allow the branches to fly off to the ground freely. 

When working on a tree standing next to powerlines or a house, the branches are generally lowered down using ropes. Extra time is needed to tie the branches with ropes and then slowly lower them down – this forces the tree trimmers to increase the tree trimming cost. 

4. Tree Health 

In Oklahoma, tree diseases and pests are pretty common. Both health problems weaken the tree wood structure, making it extremely risky to work on. In the event manual climbing is needed, the tree service providers have to take extreme care to avoid stepping on weakened branches and falling. 

Additionally, the professionals will need extra time to inspect the entire crown, making sure that all the diseased and damaged branches have been removed. The extra time needed when working on unhealthy trees increases the tree trimming cost. 

Additionally, a professional arborist may be needed to inspect the tree and determine the health complication affecting it. The arborist will recommend the medications and/or pesticides you need to get to speed up the tree’s recovery rate. The cost of the arborist service and the treatment options you may need to invest in can set you back $50 to $500. 

5. Tree Stability 

Compared to stable trees, unstable trees are costlier to prune. In most cases, the tree trimming experts have to spend some of their time stabilizing the unstable tree – this procedure alone can increase the overall tree trimming cost. 

In Oklahoma, trees are often made unstable by the following: 

• Extreme weather – High winds, lightning strikes, tornadoes, and storms can destabilize trees. In some cases, the trees can be stabilized. In extreme cases, tree removal may be needed to keep the trees from falling and causing extreme property damages. 
• Human activities – Some trees in Oklahoma have their roots too close to the ground. If heavy machinery operates near such trees, they can damage the roots, leaving the trees with a compromised anchor point. This could cause instability. 
• Extreme leans – Trees can be both stable and healthy with a slight lean. However, when the leans increase significantly, this is a sign that the tree may fall. Stabilization, however, may save such a tree. 
• Cracks on the tree trunk – Cracks indicate that a tree has major underlying problems in its wood structure. In some cases, the issues can be fixed. Working with an arborist can help you figure out the best way to deal with a tree showing cracks on its trunk. 

6. Number of Trees 

Professional tree trimmers have to take care of several fixed costs – these include fuel costs, travel costs, licenses, permits, etc. These costs remain the same when trimming multiple trees and when working on a single tree. 

The fact that the professionals generally deal with the same fixed costs but receive a higher compensation when trimming multiple trees together often encourages them to charge a lower per-unit price. If you are being charged $500 to trim one 60-foot tree, you may be charged a total of $4500 to trim 10 trees of the same size. Bulk trimming will help you save $50 on each tree. 

7. Travel Fees 

Homeowners only deal with the travel fee when they decide to work with tree trimmers residing too far from their homes. You will be charged $0.5 per mile covered or a fixed cost sitting between $50 and $200. 

In Oklahoma, it is extremely easy to avoid the travel fee. All you have to do is hire a team closest to your property. This will put your property in the tree trimmers service zone, eliminating the travel fee. 

Tree Trimming Cost Per Hour 

Tree trimmers in Oklahoma prefer charging a fixed cost over the hourly cost. This is because tree trimming is often affected by a wide range of factors. 

A company with a large number of experienced workers and modern tools will take lesser time to trim a tree than a company with inexperienced workers and ancient tools. If both companies were to charge the same hourly rate, the first company would operate at a loss while the second company will take too much money from you. 

However, while you won’t find a company that quotes an hourly cost, most tree trimming companies do factor in an hourly rate of $25 to $50 for each of their workers. 

DIY Vs Hiring Professionals 

Most homeowners are attracted to the idea of DIY tree trimming as it seems like a good idea to save some money. However, before deciding to trim your trees without help, you will need to consider the risks and costs involved. 

DIY Trimming Risks 

• If you are inexperienced, you may damage your tree’s crown 
• If the branches land on your house, the repair costs could set you back thousands of dollars 
• The cutting tools may inflict cuts 
• If you fall from the tree crown, you may end up with broken limbs 

DIY Tree Trimming Costs 

Before trimming your trees, you will need to make an expensive trip to the hardware to get the tools below: 

• Ladder: $150 – $500
• Safety gear: $50 – $150
• Gas pole pruner: $150 – $300
• Heavy-duty gas trimmer: $50 to rent per day
• Hand-held pruners and loppers: $50

If you are willing to purchase the tree trimming tools mentioned above and your trees feature minimal risks, DIY trimming may be a good idea. However, if you have large trees standing next to important utilities, paying professionals may be a better idea.