What's the average cost of tree removal?

Tree size

This is kind of a given but we still need to mention it. The size of the tree you are removing is going to affect the average cost of removal.

 

Tree species

Some trees are just easier to remove than others. Something like a Spruce is simple as it has little branches that are close to the trunk. It only takes an arborist to climb up the trunk cutting the branches as he/she goes. They do not take long to remove.

Compare that with a Radiata Pine tree with large diameter trunks, awkward branch structure and generally, very time consuming to remove.

 

Spread/ number of branches

A tree with a lot of branches can add to cost, but what drastically adds to cost is the spread of the tree. So if a branch goes out a long way, the climber will need to rig up the tree in such a way to “branch walk” out closer to the extremities of the branch to take it down in pieces in a safe manner. This is very time consuming and will cost you more.

 

Trunk diameter

This is an obvious one also. The larger the average size of the tree trunk, the more it is going to cost to remove. With lots of timber comes more time too manually cut it up and lug it away. This takes more time so will cost you more money on average.

 

Time of year

This is a fairly large factor that is often overlooked. With most people not venturing out into their gardens in winter, the demand for tree services drops right off in the colder months leaving tree companies short on work. Getting an estimate for tree removal in winter will save you an average of 25%. Simple supply and demand means winter is a buyers’ market.

 

Location on property/ access

Let’s says you have two identical trees in species, size and shape. One is in your front yard with great access for machinery, the other is in your backyard with a small gate for access. The open with poor access will cost on average twice as much. If you can remove a panel of fence to allow easier access to the tree you can save hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars.

 

Obstacles around tree

This is similar to access, as the more obstacles around the tree, the longer it will take to remove and the more it will cost on average to do so. The most common obstacles include:

– Power line
– Roof or home
– Fence
– Shed
– Garden furniture
– Ornamental garden bed
– Manicured lawn
– Pot plants

As you can see from the list, about half of these can be easily removed. Doing this before you get the company out to quote will save you money.

 

The company you use

This is a factor that also has a large bearing on the price. Bigger companies generally have bigger marketing budgets and larger overheads in general. They make up for this on a high volume of turnover and higher average price for tree removal.

Where possible I would get to page 2 of Google or steer clear of ads on places like Yelp and Yellow pages. Remember, a recommendation from a friend is always the best place to start.