Tree Pruning Cost

Shrubs and trees are capable of adding both ambiance and aesthetic appeal to your property. Generally, trees and shrubs are low-maintenance. However, for them to retain their aesthetic appeal and stay healthy, they need some care.

Tree pruning is an extremely important maintenance practice. Maybe you haven’t pruned your trees for a while now because you do not know the tree pruning costs to expect. In this article, we will help you figure out the tree pruning cost you may incur if you do decide to have your trees pruned.

Fresno Tree Pruning Cost

Fresno tree pruning cost ranges between $176 and $658. The average tree pruning cost is $417. This price is totally worth it. If you fail to prune or trim your shrubs and trees, they could end up growing too dense. This can keep the sunlight from touching the plant’s interior. Also, if your plants are too dense, water may be prevented from reaching the plants. If a plant can’t access enough water and sunlight, it will end up dying. Since the tree may appear lush on the outside, you may not notice that your plant is dying until it is too late.

Fresno Tree Pruning Cost Factors

Different trees will have varying tree pruning costs. The tree pruning cost range is dependent on a couple of factors. These factors include:

• The tree’s size
• Tree location
• Type of tree
• The tree’s health

When getting a Fresno tree pruning quote from Quality Tree Care, tree pruning professionals will have to consider the above factors. These will affect the average tree pruning cost you will have to incur to make your property visually appealing again. If you own larger trees which have a greater girth, you should expect the tree pruning cost to be higher. Often, certain tree types will have thicker branches which are tougher to cut. Such trees will also have a higher tree pruning cost. When compared to trees with pests or diseases, healthy trees are much easier to prune. If your trees have pests or diseases, these could increase the tree pruning cost.

Tree Pruning Timing

A common question that people who have trees on their property ask themselves is, “what is the most appropriate time to have my trees pruned?” The answer to this question will depend on 3 main factors. We have the factors below:

• Aesthetics– As long as the tree pruner does not give your tree an unnatural size or shape, tree pruning will help maintain your tree’s aesthetic appeal.
• Safety– Trees can grow to a point where they obstruct proper vision while you drive. Also, they could grow dangerously close to utility lines. Broken or dead branches can fall off even when you do not expect them to. This will obviously cause risk to both your property and family’s safety.
• Health – Pruning can help solve numerous tree health problems. For example, if you happen to catch a disease early, you can cut it off before it spreads to the rest of the tree.

At Quality Tree Care, we recommend pruning trees when they are dormant. By “dormant” we mean when the tree is not actively growing. Different trees will have varying growth periods. It is important that you understand your tree’s growth period. The only time you may need to prune your tree while it is not dormant is if it causes a safety hazard.

Fresno Tree Pruning Cost for Large Trees

When compared to smaller trees, large trees will cost more to prune. Bigger trees will obviously have more branches. These branches will probably be more difficult to reach considering the width and height of the tree. If your tree is over 60 feet tall, the tree pruning cost you will incur will range between $800 and $1000. This cost will depend on the number of trees and their location. Incredibly tall trees will have higher costs. After inspecting your trees, Quality Tree Care should give you a quote showing the tree pruning cost to expect.

Additional Fresno Tree Pruning Cost Considerations

In some instances, you may need to be prepared to incur some additional tree pruning costs. For example, if for the tree pruner to get to your property he/she needs to travel a long distance, you may incur a travel fee. Also, you may have to pay for the equipment or materials, labor, and less obvious factors such as the tree’s location. If the tree is sick or there are insects on the tree, you may need to pay for pesticide application and disease control. To avoid unpleasant surprises, it is always a good idea that you request Quality Tree Care to include all the extra costs in the quote.

Seasonal Factors to Consider When Pruning Trees

Although different trees will enter their dormant season at varying stages, a proven seasonal pattern that you can follow for general tree care is available. We have outlined the pattern below:

Spring

During the spring, you should water and fertilize your trees. This will help the trees grow healthy and strong in the summer. In the spring, most trees’ leaves, branches, and buds are actively growing. This makes pruning the trees a bad idea. You can focus on planting new trees during the spring period.

Summer

The best thing to do during this period is to leave the trees alone. If necessary, only conduct hazard removal practices and minor trimming. If the weather is unusually dry, you may need to water your trees. If you water your grass regularly, the trees should be fine too.

Fall

The majority of the trees will enter their dormant phase in the fall. This is the ideal time to conduct major trimming or pruning operations. During this season, you should:

• Remove both dead and diseased branches.
• Trim the sides and the top to improve the shape of the tree and to allow the tree to access more sunlight.
• Complete any other work that needs more than just a couple of snips.

Winter

If necessary, protect the trees against the snow and cold. Otherwise, leave the trees alone. You can use this season to fell the dead or dying trees. Also, remove the trees which may possibly damage your property. It is important to note that winter is also an ideal time to prune the trees. Also, since the arborists are usually less busy, you can use their services at a lower cost.

Pruning Fruit Trees

If you leave diseased or dead branches on fruit trees, you could jeopardize the quantity and quality of the fruits. For Apple, plum, lemon, peach, cherry, and fig trees to grow delicious fruits, they need pruning. Below, we show you what you need to know when pruning fruit trees:

Apple Trees

The ideal time to prune the Apple trees is in the early winter or late spring. It is extremely crucial that you do this during the first 6 years of the tree’s life. It will teach the tree to grow in an upwards, conical shape. You should also prune the older Apple trees to promote Apple growth and to maintain their conical shape.

Lemon Trees

The ideal time to prune lemon trees is right after the fruit-bearing season. Start off by removing the diseased or dead branches. Cut off any stem that is thinner than a pencil. Also, remove branches that touch the ground to prevent insects. Remove the branches that grow vertically and those that cross other branches. To ensure that sunlight can reach all branches, thin the tree.

Plum Trees

The ideal time to prune plum trees is during the summer, between August and June. This will help you prevent fungal infections that may result from wet weather conditions. The pruning should be done on clear, dry days. Plan to prune the trees when the moisture in the air is as little as possible. Plum trees are supposed to be pruned on a yearly basis. Since the trees are very resilient, a little bit of over-trimming won’t hurt the tree. When pruning the tree, focus on removing the lower branches. Also, ensure that sunlight can reach each and every fruit-bearing stem.

Cherry Trees

Cherry trees’ pruning is generally delicate work. However, the trees are worth the effort. Cherry trees enter their dormant season in the early fall. Hence, the early fall is the ideal time to prune them. Remove the “sucker” or water sprouts. These are new growths at ground level. Do not cut the branches that meet the tree trunk. Also, avoid making numerous small cuts all over the cherry tree. Only focus on cutting the stems that take away from the beauty and growth of the tree. The tree shape should guide you.

Fig Trees

After transplanting your fig tree, prune the tree a couple of times over the first winter. When pruning, it is okay to remove as much as 50% of the branch growth. This will help your fig tree get a strong root system. The strong root system will support the tree for years to come. As time progresses, you will need to prune the fig tree such that it grows branches that are low and horizontal. Select 4 to 6 main branches to hold the fruit. Keep your tree healthy by removing the suckers present at the base.

Do It Yourself (DIY) Tree Pruning

If you are a DIY aficionado and you would like to prune your tree yourself, it is crucial that you know basic tree pruning techniques. Also, you should ensure that you have the right tools before getting started. If you prune your tree the wrong way or too much, you could damage it irreparably.

Tips and Techniques for Pruning or Trimming a Tree

First, you need to select the branch to cut by its size. Branches whose diameter is less than 5 cm or 2 inches are okay to cut. Consider branches whose diameter ranges between 5 and 10 cm (2 to 4 inches) more carefully. If you are not sure whether to remove the branch or leave it on the tree, it is always a good idea to not cut the branch. Any branch whose diameter is bigger than 10 cm or 4 inches should stay on the tree. Remove such a branch only if you have a good reason to remove it, for example, remove the branch if it has a disease or it is a safety hazard.

You can also select the branches to cut based on the angles they make with the rest of the branches. Weak, V-shaped angles are ideal for cutting. Leave branches which are growing on a U-shaped angle on the tree. The ratio to aim for between the tree height and the crown size is 2 to 3. You should avoid cutting more than 0.25 of the tree’s crown all at once.

Below, we have 3 basic crown work techniques:

Crown Thinning

This involves the removal of excess branches from the outer edges and the top of the tree. Crown thinning encourages other branches to grow stronger. You should prune the branches that rub against or cross other branches. During the pruning, ensure that you keep even spaces between the lateral branches.

Crown Raising

This refers to removing the excess foliage and branches from the tree bottom. This is to keep them from obstructing roads or sidewalks. You should keep the branches on at least 2/3 of the tree height.

Crown Reduction

This refers to removing foliage and branches from the top of the tree. This is only supposed to be done if it is necessary for the safety of the property and people or for the tree’s health.

Before cutting a branch, you should identify its collar at the base and its ridge which should be parallel to the branch itself. Cut outside the branch ridge and away from the branch collar.

Tree Pruning Materials and Tools

To prune a tree successfully, you need to have the right tools. Below, we have outlined the tools you might need:

• Bypass pruner– This tool has a sharp, curved blade. It gives you access to narrow-angled stems and cuts neatly.
• The looping shears– These are ideal for slightly larger stems and for extra leverage. You should select the bypass rather than ratchet or gear joints and anvil blades. Some shears have a shock absorption feature that helps lessen arm fatigue.
• Pruning saws– Depending on the branch type you intend to cut, pruning saws are available in different forms. If you intend to cut branches whose diameter is up to 2 inches, you should use fine-toothed saws. For branches whose diameter is at least 3 inches, use coarse-toothed saws.
• Pole pruners– These are similar to regular pruners. However, they are set on a long pole with a rope that helps activate the mechanism. Pole pruners are ideal for pruning branches high up, where using a ladder could damage the tree or is inconvenient. You should exercise caution when using pole pruners near utility lines.
• Hedge clippers– These are ideal for cutting the thin stems off shrubs and hedges.

After each job or whenever you are changing to a different type of tree, it is crucial that you clean your pruning tools. This will help you avoid communicating diseases from one tree to the other. Rubbing alcohol whose concentration is at least 70% is ideal for cleaning. Avoid using bleach or household cleaners.