Riverside Tree Trimming Cost

Taking care of trees involves a wide variety of maintenance practices, including tree trimming. The number one reason why tree trimming is recommended in Riverside is to ensure that trees retain their aesthetic appeal.

Tree trimming involves sawing off branches which take from the tree’s beauty. This job can be risky, especially to people who are not familiar with the tree trimming process. Riverside residents, who haven’t been involved in tree trimming activities in the past, opt to hire professionals to avoid getting injured, destroying their trees irreparably, or damaging their property with falling branches.

Knowing the tree trimming cost Riverside tree trimmers charge can help with preparations. In this article, we won’t be stating the exact tree trimming cost you need to expect. Instead, we will focus on showing the prices ranges and the factors influencing the tree trimming cost.

Riverside Tree Trimming Cost Factors

Tree care professionals in Riverside charge a minimum of $75 and a maximum of about $1000 to trim trees. This cost varies depending on numerous factors. Below, you will get to learn the factors which may cause the tree trimming cost to be on the higher end or on the lower end.

Location

The location is an extremely crucial factor that tree trimmers have to consider when they are trimming trees in Riverside. To give you an example, if a tree is close to your various utility lines, the tree trimmers will have to study the location and come up with innovative ways to trim the tree without letting the branches fall on the utilities. This means that the professionals may need to use a rope to lower the cut branches down. If more effort and time are needed to complete the tree trimming process without touching your house or utilities, you will have to part with more money.

Size

Lesser branches will have to be removed when trimming smaller trees when compared to trimming big trees. Obviously, due to this reason, if your trees are huge, you should expect the tree trimmers to charge you a higher tree trimming cost. The tree trimming cost approximations based on the tree height are as follows:

• Under 30 feet – Riverside tree trimmers charge approximately $75 to $450 to trim these trees. Some of the trees in Riverside whose height is usually less than 30 feet include Russian Olive and dogwood.
• Between 30 and 60 feet – The average tree trimming cost for these trees will be $150 – $875. Crab apple is an example of a tree in Riverside whose height is in this range.
• 60+ feet – These trees, including the red oak and pine, will require you to part with $200 to $1000 for trimming to be carried out.

Number of Trees

The majority of the tree care professionals will base their overall tree trimming cost on the number of trees they will be trimming. If you have numerous trees on your compound, you may be able to get yourself a price break. Let the tree trimmers know the number of trees you would like them to trim so that they can provide a more realistic cost estimate.

Stability and Strength

Unstable trees are riskier to work on when compared to stable and strong trees. If the tree trimmers have to deal with a higher risk, they will require you to pay a higher tree trimming price.

Additionally, if your tree has just undergone trauma, it may require more than just trimming. For example, after a lightning strike, a tree may require cabling in order to increase its strength and stability. These additional maintenance practices will require you to pull more money out of your pocket.

Diseases and Illnesses

If your tree has health issues, trimming its branches while ensuring that they do not fall in the wrong place could be harder. Care has to be taken to ensure that the branches which are at the verge of breaking do not break during the tree trimming process. Examples of health issues which could increase the tree trimming cost include:

• Abiotic Damage – This type of damage originates from natural events, including frost, hail, strong winds, and dry spells. Its main characteristics include cracked and broken limbs/branches and dried leaves. If the abiotic damage is ignored, it could increase the chances of the tree attracting pests.
• Mushroom/Fungi – These will feed on your tree’s nutrients. Over time, they could make the tree less stable.
• Moist cracks – These are a clear indication that your tree is currently decaying from inside. In most instances, if this damage cannot be reversed, tree removal has to be carried out.

Pests

The majority of the health issues affecting trees in Riverside arise from pests. Rotting and fungal growth are some of the health complications caused by pests. Some of the common pests in Riverside include:

• Emerald ash borer – If you don’t check your ash trees regularly, the emerald ash borer could kill them slowly without your knowledge. If you discover the emerald ash borer early, you should be able to reverse the damage it causes.
• Ants – These indicate that your tree’s foot holding is currently rotting. Consulting a tree care professional when you notice ants can make it possible for you to save the tree.
• Mites – These are capable of making the leaves and buds on your tree weak.
• Shield-lice – This pest is too small to be noticed from a distance. One of its major indicators, however, is waxy secretions. Its damage can be reversed.
• Wood-destroying insects – Insects which usually breed on trees are capable of causing damage. They make your tree more vulnerable to other types of pests.
• Woodpeckers – These are fond of rotting trees. Hence, if you notice them on your tree, there is a chance that the tree could be pretty unstable due to the rotting.

Pests turn trees into hazards by making them weaker and in most instances unstable. This makes the trimming exercise demanding. For this reason, most of the Riverside tree care service providers will charge a high tree trimming cost.

Travel Fee

This is a cost you can easily avoid by hiring local tree care service providers. For example, if your property is in Riverside, all you will have to do is hire tree trimmers in Riverside. Even if you will still have to pay the travel fee, it will be minimal.

Accessibility

If accessing the tree is a problem, for example, if there is no space to use tree trimming machinery, the cost may be higher. This is because the work which could have been done using a machine will have to be done manually.

DIY Riverside Tree Pruning Versus Working with Professionals

Trimming your trees yourself is an ideal way to avoid the tree trimming cost. However, this option is only valid if you have trimmed trees in the past. If tree trimming is 100% new to you, hiring a tree trimming professional may be a better idea.

If you happen to fall from a 60 feet tall tree, you could end up with deep cuts from your tree trimming tools and broken bones. Additionally, if branches fall on your house or utilities, the cost of repairs may be incredibly high. This tells you that DIY trimming for tall trees is not a good idea.

Trimming shorter trees may not be very dangerous. However, before you decide to trim your short trees, consider the following.

Necessary Tools

If this will be your first tree trimming project, you may need to rent or invest in purchasing the tools below:

• Handheld pruners and loopers – These go for about $50. They are ideal for simpler jobs.
• Gas pole pruner – To get one of these, you may need to part with $180. It is capable of handling harder jobs.
• For advanced projects, it may be necessary for you to rent a gas trimmer.
• For safety purposes, you may need to invest in personal protection equipment, including goggles, helmet, and gloves.

Involved Risks

The risks become bigger as the height of the tree you plan to trim increases. For example, the harm done by falling from a 15 feet tree will be much less compared to the damage done by falling from a 60 feet tree.

Apart from broken bones and cuts from your tools, you may end damaging your property. You won’t be able to control where your branches fall very accurately if you are not familiar with trimming trees. The branches could end up landing on your house and causing damage that requires you to use thousands of dollars to fix.

Tips and Techniques

If you are determined to avoid spending money on tree trimming and the trees you want to trim are not too tall, you can learn the tree trimming tips and then trim your trees by yourself. The tips and techniques below will help you avoid the tree trimming cost while trimming your tree correctly.

Tree Trimming Tips

Trim the Trees During the Dormant Stage

This is the stage when your trees cease to grow actively. Since the branches and buds won’t be growing, you will get a much easier time when trimming the trees.

After getting rid of the older limbs and buds, you will be able to give the newer buds a chance to grow into healthier and stronger buds when the dormant season is finally over. You can trim your trees when they are actively growing if your goal is to reduce the growth rate.

Branch Size

You should try to avoid cutting branches whose diameter exceeds 10 cm. Branches with a diameter of 5 to 10 cm can be allowed to stay on the tree. Removing branches whose size is less than 5 cm won’t affect the tree negatively.

Branch Angle

Branches featuring weak V angles can be removed. Branches making strong U angles can be allowed to stay.

Ratio

Tree care experts recommend a crown to height ratio of 2:3. Aim for this ratio when conducting the tree trimming.

Saw Young Branches Off

Younger branches won’t scar. Also, their management is extremely easy compared to the branches which have been on the tree for a long time. This makes cutting them a good idea.

Avoid Leaving Huge Stubs

After sawing off a branch, you should still have the collar on the tree. Also, you shouldn’t have a huge stub.

Trimming Techniques

Take a Look at the Target Branch

This will help you determine where the collar and the ridge are. The collar will be at the bottom of the base while the ridge should be parallel to the angle made by the branch on the tree trunk.

Making the Cut

The cut is supposed to be made outside the branch ridge. Ensure that the cut is angled down and away from the stem. Take care to avoid injuring the collar. Ensure you use this same technique on the other branches available on your tree.

Long Stems

These can be cut by following the sequence of the three steps outlined below:

Step 1: Make the initial cut facing away from the stem part you would like to keep.

Step 2: Make the 2^nd cut above the stem ridge but inside the crotch.

Step 3: Finally, cut through the stem. Make sure the cut is parallel to stem ridge.

Pruning Versus Trimming

Although trimming and pruning are 2 maintenance practices involving the removal of tree branches, they do not refer to the same thing. Below, we explain the differences.

Trimming

This is generally done to make the tree more appealing aesthetically. Branches are removed without considering whether they are diseased, pest-infested, broken, or have any flaws. Any branch making the tree less appealing is removed during trimming. While tree owners can handle the trimming themselves, working with professionals is recommended if the tree is huge.

Pruning

This maintenance practice helps tree owners get rid of branches which have health complications, are broken, are infested with pests, or have other types of flaws. Unlike trimming, the major goal of pruning the trees is to ensure that their health is improved. Since professionals can figure out the branches which need to be removed or allowed to stay on the tree, allowing professionals to handle the tree pruning is always a much better idea.

Reducing the Tree Trimming Cost

In some instances, avoiding the tree trimming cost completely is impossible. However, this does not necessarily mean that you cannot reduce the cost. Use the tips below to reduce the tree trimming cost:

Take Advantage of Utility Company Services

For example, if your tree is close to the power lines, the power line company can trim the tree for you for free. This will be done to improve safety.

Routine Maintenance

Instead of waiting for a long time before investing in tree trimming, consider trimming your tree regularly.

Quick Action

Do not allow the issues on your tree to proceed to the point which makes them irreversible. The faster you handle tree issues, the lesser you spend on the maintenance.

Water the Trees

If the weather is too dry, you should water your trees. This will keep the trees both healthy and strong. By ensuring that your tree is getting enough water, you should be able to avoid cutting drying branches.