It’s important for your trees to be professionally trimmed from time to time. Your overgrown trees can become weaker and less likely to survive, and it can prevent the landscape below from getting sufficient sunlight. Plus, dead or diseased branches can potentially fall during strong winds to potentially damage your property or injure someone. That’s why you should search online to find out if it’s time for you to get your trees trimmed.
It doesn’t have to cost a lot of money to get your trees professionally done. Searching online for quotes and being strategic with your service can help cut costs on your invoice.
Here are some ways you can score a deal on tree trimming services.
Prioritize Certain Trees
If there are a number of trees needing to be trimmed in your yard, focus on the ones that need the most maintenance first. This will allow you to pay a smaller amount of money over time instead of a lump sum all at once.
Keep in mind that different tree sizes and types will have varying costs. To give you an idea of what you would pay, here are the general costs to remove at least 10 to 20 percent of foliage for various tree sizes:
- Small: $250 to $525 for 15 to 20 foot tall trees
- Medium: $390 to $720 for 20 to 30 foot tall trees
- Large: $500 to $1,200 for 30 to 50 foot tall trees
- X-Large: $740 to $2,000 for 50 to 100 foot tall trees
You’ll pay less money by hiring a trimmer for the major jobs in your yard alone. The biggest problems will be out of the way, and you’ll be able to break down your costs over time.
Schedule Work During The Off-Season
Every industry has its peak season. For tree trimming professionals, they’re the busiest during the spring and summer. The increased demand will make it difficult for you to get a discount on service and it’s likely you’ll be paying full price or higher.
Instead of waiting for the warm weather to maintain your yard, request service in the winter. Workers are less busy and their need for customers can make them less resistant to giving you a discount. You could save a minimum of 25 percent simply by hiring tree trimmers in the winter. Plus, you won’t have to wait days or weeks for scheduled maintenance since the worker’s schedule will be less packed.
Put It On The City’s Tab
Depending on where the tree is located in your yard, it could be trimmed free of charge. Municipalities usually own the land between the sidewalk and the street. You can request the city trims it for free if it’s in need of maintenance since it’s not on your legal property.
If the city won’t do it, another person in town might. People might volunteer to do your tree trimming for free or a small fee if they’re allowed to keep the wood and branches. It’s worth a shot before hiring a company, and all you have to do is post an ad online to see if there’s any interest.
Do Some Of It Yourself
You should ask for a breakdown of costs before hiring a tree trimming professional. Some things you might find on a bill include timber cutting, chipping and pruning. Each task involved in the process has a charge, so you could save money by doing some tasks yourself. Before scheduling an appointment with a tree trimmer, see if there are some manageable tasks you can do on your own.
You could end up shaving some costs off your final bill by requiring less labor from a professional. For example, you could ask for the cut branches and leaves to be left on site instead of having them pack and discard it for you. Getting rid of them yourself could earn you a less expensive bill.
Get At Least Three Quotes Before Hiring
Before settling on a tree trimming company, make sure to do your research. Avoid doing businesses that pay for flashy advertisements online because their marketing costs could inflate prices, leaving customers to pay more. You should only do business with local companies to prevent being charged for transportation costs.
The Better Business Bureau says to never sign a contract on the spot, even if a discount is given. Contractors who demand a decision right away and only accept cash as a form of payment are red flags of a shady company. Also be wary of someone going door-to-door offering tree-trimming services.
A good rule of thumb is to see what at least three to five companies have to offer. Ask for a cost breakdown and a free quote so you know exactly what you’ll be paying for. See if you can do any of the jobs yourself and make sure to check if the tree is located on city owned property.