Toronto Tree Removal and Trimming Price Guide

SIZE
It’s not necessarily the height of the tree but rather the volume. A 30 foot tree with a full broad canopy will be significantly more difficult and time consuming to service as opposed to a super tall skinny tree. In terms of pruning, having only a specific section of the tree serviced rather than the entire canopy will of course be cheaper. For example, you may only have one offending branch to be removed.

LOCATION AND ACCESS
The size and layout of your property will play a factor in determining the cost of service. The larger your property is and the more difficult to access, the more you can expect to pay. Generally, a tree located in the front yard will be cheaper to service than one in the backyard, simply because it is a shorter and easier route to access.

WHAT IS UNDERNEATH AND AROUND THE TREE
Expect to pay on the higher end of costs if your trees are growing over any structures such as houses, garages, sheds, fences and pools or close to electrical lines or utility wires. For obvious reasons, obstacles make tree work harder.

CONDITION OF THE TREE
If your tree is decaying rotten and structurally compromised, it will be more difficult to work in. Perhaps your tree has a significant lean or maybe it has been dead for many seasons. A tree in poor condition will require a more meticulous time consuming approach.

SPECIES
Some species are more difficult to deal with than others. This has to do with the nature of the wood and growth patterns which create a variety of woods either difficult or easy to deal with. Generally, very brittle trees and trees with dense and heavy woods are on the harder spectrum of difficulty. For the purpose of keeping this guide simple we won’t get into too much detail regarding species, as the above 4 factors are primarily used to determine the cost of service.

All these factors contribute to how long the job will take and how difficult it will be, it’s how we come up with your quote. Below is a chart that should give you an idea of what you can expect to pay for service.

DEFINITIONS FOR CHART BELOW

LOW – trees with minimal amount of above factors

MEDIUM – trees with a moderate amount of above factors

HIGH – trees with a high amount of above factors

KEEP THE WOOD AND OR TREE DEBRIS
Hauling away all the debris costs time and money. If you have a use for the wood or perhaps can handle the clean up on your own you can expect to save money.

CHOOSE TO TRIM YOUR TREE INSTEAD OF REMOVING IT
This may not always be an option, but trimming is generally cheaper as compared to removal. There have been many occasions where our clients have been told their trees needed removal when in fact some restorative pruning was all the tree needed. Make sure you have a qualified Arborist assess your tree.

KEEP THE STUMP OR BASE OF THE TREE
No stump grinding service equals money saved. If your tree is in the corner of your yard or you can live with the stump, you can save some money by simply letting the tree stump naturally rot away. Some people even opt to leave the base of the tree and turn it into a seat, a bird feeding station even a sculpture, your imagination is your best friend.

You may be thinking, the most obvious and effective way to save money on tree removal is to do it yourself. The problem with this option is that tree removal is extremely dangerous. On more than one occasion through the years we’ve literally met with home owners who are permanently crippled as result of attempting to service their own trees. Saving money is great, but not at the cost of your health and well being. We strongly do not recommend DIY tree removal.

KEEP THE WOOD AND OR TREE DEBRIS
Same as with tree removal, keeping the debris will save you money.

MINIMIZE THE PRUNING DOSAGE
Sometimes all your tree may need is a routine clean up of any dead or dangerous branches. Thorough canopy reductions can be costly endeavors and are sometimes simply unnecessary. Again, it’s important here to seek the advise of a competent honest Arborist. Less cutting equals more money saved.

MAKE SURE TO HIRE A QUALIFIED ARBORIST
All too often we have to remove trees because they were incorrectly trimmed in the past. Poor trimming practice causes permanent damage in trees that can lead to costly tree removal and the loss of your valued asset.

Again you may be thinking, the obvious way to save money on tree trimming is to do it yourself. Trimming trees can as well be extremely dangerous. If you can however keep both feet on the ground and are confident in the craft of pruning trees, this may be your best bet to save on your tree maintenance costs. Keep in mind that pruning your tree will cause permanent effects and if done incorrectly can significantly reduce its life span.

They say “you get what you pay for”. In tree service, it’s no different, as with any other product or service out there, you will pay more for an experienced seasoned professional. But why take any chances with your property.