Tree Pruning Cost

To prune a tree in Minneapolis, Minnesota, you will need $75 to $2000. If your home has trees with a height of below 60 feet, you will enjoy a lower tree pruning cost, with professionals charging $150 to $650 to prune most medium-sized trees. 

The cost of pruning a tree varies depending on various factors. Since these factors impact trees differently, the only way to get the exact cost of pruning a specific tree is to get an estimate from a tree pruning company. However, understanding how different factors increase or decrease the tree pruning cost can help you get an idea of the budget you will need for your tree maintenance procedure. 

Tree Pruning Cost Factors in Minneapolis, Minnesota 

1. Tree Height and Crown Size 

In Minneapolis, trees are available in varying sizes. You will come across a white oak with a height of 100 feet and a crown spread of 50 to 70 feet. On the same property, you may find a crape myrtle with a height of 30 feet and a crown spread of about 15 feet. 

Under normal circumstances, the white oak will take more time to prune, and may even need more advanced tree pruning gear to boost safety. Compared to crape myrtle, you should expect a higher tree pruning cost for the bigger, more complicated white oak. 

Below, we have listed the tree pruning costs to expect for trees of varying sizes: 

• Small trees – These trees will always have a height below 30 feet. Their crown width will also be much smaller, carrying thinner branches that are much easier to cut and remove. This puts their tree pruning cost between $75 and $400. 
• Medium-sized trees – These trees have a height of between 30 and 60 feet. Compared to small trees, medium trees take more time to prune. Professionals will charge you $150 to $800. 
• Large trees – If your trees have a height of between 60 and 100 feet, professional tree pruners will classify them in the large tree category. To prune your large trees, you will need $800 to $1500. 
• Extremely large trees – These trees have a height above 100 feet. Trees like white pines can reach over 150 feet while the eucalyptus can grow to over 200 feet. To prune these trees, you should expect a tree pruning cost of $1,500 to $2,000. 

2. Tree Species 

If you have tree species that mature at a height above 100 feet, you should expect your tree pruning cost to be higher than that of trees that fit in the small tree category. Some trees are hardwoods – cutting the branches on these trees is much harder compared to pruning softwood trees. 

Below, we have outlined some of the costs to expect when pruning different tree species: 

Avocado Tree Pruning Cost 

In Minneapolis, professional tree pruners often come across dwarf and medium-sized varieties of avocados. These trees have a tree pruning cost of $350 to $700. 

Olive Tree Pruning Cost 

The productivity of olive trees is dependent on pruning. With overcrowded branches, the tree’s flowers fail to get enough sunlight – this keeps them from changing into fruits. For olive trees, the cost of professional tree pruning ranges from $350 to $700. 

Maple Tree Pruning Cost 

Mature maple trees have a height of above 60 feet, sometimes reaching 80 feet. You may, however, need to prune maple trees with a height of about 40 feet. When pruning maple trees, homeowners in Minneapolis spend $400 to $1000. 

Pine Tree Pruning Cost 

Pine trees mature at heights between 40 and 80 feet. Trees like white pine, however, may reach over 150 feet with good growing conditions. This puts the pine tree pruning cost between $200 and $2000. 

Crepe Myrtle Tree Pruning Cost 

Crepe myrtles are some of the smallest trees and shrubs in Minneapolis, generally having a mature height between 3 and 30 feet. The tree pruning cost for crape myrtles ranges from $75 to $400, depending on height. 

Palm tree Pruning Cost 

Palm trees have heights of 20 to 80 feet when they start needing pruning. On the lower end, you will pay $100 for palm tree pruning. The pruning cost, however, increases with height and can reach over $1,500.

3. Accessibility 

Accessibility affects the ease of pruning – with accessible trees being extremely easy to prune and the inaccessible trees needing more effort. 

When a tree is accessible – say, it is standing on open ground with nothing blocking it – a bucket truck can be used during pruning. The bucket truck makes it much easier for the professionals to reach the tree crown. Holding the pruners on the tree crown, bucket trucks improve safety. 

When a tree is in the backyard, with no way for the bucket truck to access it, professionals will have to climb up to the crown manually. This takes more time and is riskier. Manual climbing often pushes the tree pruning cost up by 30% to 40%. If a tree would cost $1000 when very accessible, this cost might increase to between $1,300 and $1,400 in the event of inaccessibility. 

Accessibility also impacts how branches are brought down after being cut. If a tree is standing next to your house or utility lines, the cut branches cannot be dropped freely. Instead, the tree pruners may have to use ropes to control the branches falling path – otherwise, the branches may cause a lot of damage. This may further raise the tree pruning cost because of the extra time and effort needed to make the tree pruning process safer. 

4. Tree Health 

Healthy trees take lesser time to prune – the tree pruners will only be concerned with removing the damaged branches and limbs damaging the tree’s shape. 

When working on trees with ill-health, professionals will need more time to inspect the entire crown. This will help them locate all the infected branches – removing these branches is key to boosting the tree’s health. Since diseased trees may have weakened branches on their tree crowns, their pruning process is also riskier. The increased risk and the additional time needed to prune these trees force the professionals to increase the tree pruning cost.

5. Additional Services 

Some of the services needed during tree pruning may not be covered by the quoted tree pruning cost. The best way to know whether to expect some additional costs is to talk to your tree pruning company. Below, we have listed some of the services that are often paid for separately: 

Treatment Cost 

If your tree is suffering from a health problem, you may need an arborist to determine the health problem affecting the tree. After diagnosing the tree, the arborist will recommend medications to help improve the tree’s health. To pay the arborist and purchase the medications, you may need an extra $50 to $500. 

Cleanup and Dumping 

After pruning, you may want the tree pruners to clean up your compound and carry the branches away. This service may cost you an extra $25 to $100 depending on the amount of waste lying around on your compound. 

Travel Fees 

While this is not a tree service per se, homeowners often find themselves paying a travel fee of $0.5 per mile. In circumstances where the professionals need to cover large distances, the cost may average at $50 to $100. 

As a homeowner, however, you can avoid the travel fee. The best way to do this is to hire tree pruners closest to your home – this will put you in the professional’s service zone, eliminating travel fee. 

Factors Affecting the Timing for Tree Pruning 

Correctly timing the tree pruning procedures allows homeowners to enjoy maximum benefits. The following factors often dictate the ideal time to invest in tree pruning: 

• Safety – When some of the branches on your tree start showing signs of falling, working with tree pruning professionals helps you restore safety. 
• Health – A tree disease starts attacking the branches before moving on to the main trunk. Pruning an infected tree early enough can keep the disease from spreading throughout the tree. 
• Property value – When preparing to sell a property, property owners in Minneapolis often want to make all the tweaks that can help give the property the highest possible value. Tree pruning helps you shape your trees, giving the entire property an aesthetically appealing look. 
• Growth stage – If you have fruit trees in your home, you cannot prune them when they are bearing fruits – you will have to wait until the fruiting season is complete. Expert tree pruners recommend pruning trees when they are dormant – this is a stage where they stop growing actively. This ensures maximum benefits and minimal chances of injuries. 

How to Spend Less on Pruning 

• If you have a small tree with minimal risks, DIY pruning can help you avoid the tree pruning cost. 
• Keep your trees healthy to avoid treatment costs. 
• Hire professionals living close to your properties. This will eliminate the travel fee. 
• If you have trees standing next to powerlines, let the power company handle tree pruning for free. 
• Get multiple tree pruning cost estimates from different companies. Choose a company that charges the lowest price.