Cheapest Time of Year for Tree Removal (Cheap Tree Removal Trick for Half Off)

It’s human nature to search for the cheapest time of year for tree removal, but it’s not always possible.

Nationally, the average price for removing a tree is about $850, but that can change dramatically and painfully for your budget depending on the size of the tree, its location, and if you want the stump and roots removed with it.

However, you can, in general, use one trick for cheap tree removal, which can reduce the price by about half.

Use this tree removal calculator to figure the basic price, then keep reading to find out the cheapest time of year for tree removal.

Cheapest Time of Year for Tree Removal (Best Time for Tree Removal)

In the summer months, trees are in full bloom, branches are heavy with fruits, flowers, and leaves are bursting with green, they’re getting that much sunlight.

It’s during these months that arborists and tree services are at their busiest, scaling up and down tall trees, trimming, pruning, and generally tending to the trees’ well being.

Now would not be a good time to ask how much does tree removal cost. However, free tree removal services may be available, such as free tree removal for seniors or free tree removal in exchange for wood.

(Image: Joshua Fernandez⁹)

Not only would you have to join the list of clients they already have booked, but the price will probably convince you that that tree teetering precariously over your house will hang in there for just a little bit longer.

It will be better to wait until the sun has shifted its attention to another part of the country and the weather has turned decidedly chillier before you try to lower your tree removal cost by removing trees in winter.

Best Time of Year To Cut Down Trees (Winter Tree Removal)

The cheapest time of year for tree removal has to be the winter months of February and March, classed as the dormant period for trees when the leaves are gone, the branches are bare, and the ground is frozen.

This time of year is regarded as ideal for removing a tree,⁶ and it is also beneficial for the environment at the same time. With the surrounding ground being frozen, there will be less upheaval to the neighboring flora when the stump and roots are being dug up.

But best of all, most of the tree companies are low on work and are offering discounts to get work in to keep them busy through these few slow months.

So, if that teetering tree hasn’t teetered all the way over, now would be a good time to ask what is a good price for tree removal.

How Much To Get Trees Cut Down: How Much Do Arborists Charge?

It is important to recognize that arborists are qualified in their area of expertise which is arboriculture. They have undergone lengthy exams, gained certifications over years of study, and know trees from the roots to the crown.

A qualified arborist will charge anywhere from $230 up to $2,000 for a tree removal service depending on the size, location, and complexity.

That is not to say that a local tree company will deliver an inferior service and there will be several in your area that will have an online presence to verify if is it always cheaper to remove a tree in winter and to get competitive quotes.

The Best Time of Year To Hire Tree Service: How Much Does It Cost To Have a Tree Trimmed?

Even though it is not as severe an undertaking as cutting down an entire tree, trimming requires the expertise of a specialist so it is done correctly.

For instance, some tree companies may advise “topping,” or removing the top branches from your trees, expanding the service that you had initially called them in for, actually causing harm rather than help.

An unnecessary procedure like this may cause the tree to become stressed, prone to other illnesses, and possibly other major health problems. Certain species can also be more expensive.

By using a certified arborist at the cheapest time of year for tree removal,¹ any undetected diseases lurking among the leaves could be detected while the tree is being examined, and if any problems are discovered they can be treated before it becomes fatal.

A company inexperienced and untrained in disease detection could easily overlook any growing spores or fungi, and just remove the few dead branches without getting to the root of the problem.

(Image: Joshua Fernandez⁸)

An online tree removal cost calculator would reveal the best time of year to hire their services, which is normally the slow winter season, and would also require information such as

• Zip Code
• Type of Tree
• Height of the tree
• Width of the tree
• Location of the property
• Trim or pruning required
• Root removal
• Trunk and stump removal
• Number of trees
• Start date
• Financing required

When To Take Tree Down (Cheapest Time of Year for Tree Removal: Cheap Tree Removal Trick for Half Off)

There are a few signs that no matter how long a tree has been in your yard that is time for it to be uprooted and hauled away.

Storm damage, pests, or a disease that has run rampant throughout the tree, weakening the trunk and roots, can be a clear sign that it’s time to call in the professionals.

The trick is knowing how to negotiate tree removal.

A tree specialist can determine if a tree is salvageable by determining if removal is the only option if there is a danger to property or persons if it falls over, or just if the tree is dying.

Several clear signs that a tree is perishing are dead branches, the trunk becoming hollow and weak, or the bark and leaves appearing lifeless.

Occasionally, a simple tree root problem can end up being the reason for its removal.⁵

Certain trees have roots that spread far and wide in the search for water and nutrients, and they let nothing stand in their way.

In fact, so strong are some roots that they have broken through asphalt, and paving stones, overbalanced nearby trees, and even threatened the foundations of houses.

In these scenarios, action needs to be taken regardless of whether it is the cheapest time of year for tree removal or if you have to pay the going rate to prevent any potentially expensive property repairs.

There is a feasible method to get a 50% discount, however. Let’s have a look at how that could be possible.

How Can I Save on Tree Removal if I Need It Done in the Busy Season and Not in the Cheapest Time of Year for Tree Removal (Cheap Tree Removal Trick for Half Off)

When the quote is received from a landscaping company it can sometimes be a shock to the system, even after the arborist has explained in detail that the price is what it is due to the awkward location of the tree that makes extracting it difficult.

The phrase back burner immediately springs to mind along with waiting for the cheapest time of year for tree removal.

But because you have procrastinated long enough already, you decide that now is the time to learn how to negotiate tree removal prices so the quote is at least within arms reach of your budget.

(Image: Daniel Frank⁷)

Savings can be made by clearing away any obstructions near the trunk that will restrict the contractor or any machinery from getting close to the tree to be removed. But a trick that can shave off nearly 50% of the quote is where the trunk is cut from the stump.

It is well known that stump removal is the labor-intensive segment of tree removal that not many tree companies relish undertaking.

Why? Because it takes time away from more lucrative jobs that are a lot easier and quicker to do. You can learn how to kill a tree stump yourself and save funds.

Regardless of whether it is the cheapest time of year for tree removal, negotiating with them to cut the trunk free just above ground level will save a bundle. Then since the majority of the hard work has been done, the remainder of the tree stump can be removed by hiring a grinder for a couple of hours to chop it down into more manageable chunks.³

Within a few hours, the stump can be cut it free, all the roots removed, and the hole filled in.

How Much To Cut Down a 50-Foot Pine Tree?

Even if you wait for the cheapest time of the year for tree removal, the size of your tree is still going to dictate how much it is going to cost to uproot it and haul it away. Pricing can be based on certain size categories, and the bigger the tree the pricier it is.

If you’re wondering how much to cut down a 50-foot pine tree, the graph and table below show a rough estimate of its price.

These prices are not cast in stone and can also vary between states, as well as how easy it is to fully extract the tree due to access or overhead obstructions. Even the girth of the trunk can influence the final price and many online calculators will request this information.

Free Tree Removal and Free Tree Removal in Exchange for Wood

You may be surprised to learn that it is possible to get your tree cut down and removed from your property for free, irrespective of if it is the cheapest time of year for tree removal.

In some localities, for example, there are programs that offer free tree removal for seniors to avoid potential risks brought on by decaying, dead, or dying trees, and also households with lower incomes can get assistance.

Landscaping companies have also been known to provide this free service to elders for promotional purposes, and if there is any value in the tree itself they may well cut it down and take it away completely free of charge.

(Image: Sebastian Pociecha¹⁰)

But why would they do that?

Because money grows on trees and they are giving free tree removal in exchange for wood. What happens is that they are exchanging their services for the wood value of your tree.

There are pine and palm trees that are highly valued by the forestry industry due to their species that can fetch a very decent price on the resale market.⁴

If by reselling the tree the specialist will get a bigger profit even after all the work involved in removing the tree itself, it may well be worth their while to give this free service.

Crane-Assisted Tree Removal Cost

If the location of a large tree is in such an awkward position, a crane may be needed to lift it clearly rather than allowing it to fall to the ground and risk any damage to nearby properties. In this situation, you’ll need to know the crane-assisted tree removal cost.

This additional requirement can stretch the budget anywhere from $3,950 to $7,890, depending on the size of the tree, and the size of the crane that is expressed in tonnes.

Most jobs should be covered by a 50-100 tonne crane, but the need for a much longer boom arm may necessitate the use of an even larger crane to get to those hard-to-reach trees.

There is no doubt that the cheapest time of year for tree removal (cheap tree removal trick for half off) is in the winter months of February and March when bare branches reduce the work required by the arborist, and that will reflect in the saving to your bank balance.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cheapest Time of Year for Tree Removal