Tree Removal is necessary when the health of a tree has deteriorated or when a tree poses a risk of harm to your personal property. The table below is meant to provide an understanding of the major factors that determine pricing and give an estimated range of cost for the top twenty tree species in the Western Pennsylvania area to help you plan accordingly. Different species each have unique characteristics that are factored into the cost of removal, such as the wood hardness and density (fun fact, Locust trees have thorns!). This can affect the tools and considerations needed to complete the job safely and effectively.
Some additional factors that can affect cost include the presence of Poison Ivy/Oak/Sumac, the approval of and ability to use heavy machinery on your property, and the soil condition and time of year (for example, spring rains can increase the lawn restoration work required to ensure your lawn looks like we were never there).
Not Sure what type of tree you have in your yard? Check out this useful guide from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) to determine the type of tree on your property.
| Tree Service Reference Guide | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type of Tree | Trunk Diameter Range (in.) | Tree Crown Range (ft.) | Height Range (ft.) | Accessibility/Risk (See Glossary of Terms) | Log/Debris Removal | Price Range |
| Ash* (Fraxinus) | 24"- 65" | 24' -45' | 65' - 150' | Easy/Low - Difficult/High | See options in Glossary of Terms | $750 - $5,000 |
| Aspen (Populus) | 20" - 36" | 20' - 30' | 30'-70' | Easy/Low - Difficult/High | See options in Glossary of Terms | $750-$1,700 |
| Beech (Fagus) | 12" - 75" | 10' - 50' | 50'-75' | Easy/Low - Difficult/High | See options in Glossary of Terms | $750 - $4,500 |
| Black Gum (Nyssa) | 36"-60" | 20' - 30' | 75'-95' | Easy/Low - Difficult/High | See options in Glossary of Terms | $900 - $4,500 |
| Birch (Betula) | 15" - 30" | 40' - 60' | 50'-100' | Easy/Low - Difficult/High | See options in Glossary of Terms | $750 - $,3,500 |
| Cherry (Prunus) | 12" - 36" | 20' - 60' | 25'-75' | Easy/Low - Difficult/High | See options in Glossary of Terms | $500 - $3,200 |
| Chinese Chestnut* (Castenea) | 20" - 48" | 40' - 50' | 40'-60' | Easy/Low - Difficult/High | See options in Glossary of Terms | $750 - $3,500 |
| Elder (Sambucus) | 24" - 36" | 12' - 30' | 12'-30' | Easy/Low - Difficult/High | See options in Glossary of Terms | $750 - $1,500 |
| Elm* (Ulmus) | 24" - 72" | 40' - 120' | 15'-100' | Easy/Low - Difficult/High | See options in Glossary of Terms | $1,200 - $10,000+ |
| Hemlock* (Tsuga) | 12" - 36" | 12' - 30' | 60'-140' | Easy/Low - Difficult/High | See options in Glossary of Terms | $500 - $3,200 |
| Hickory (Carya) | 20" - 48" | 30' - 50' | 70'-130' | Easy/Low - Difficult/High | See options in Glossary of Terms | $900 - $5,000 |
| Hornbeam (Carpinus) | 4" - 12" | 5' - 20' | 30'-60' | Easy/Low - Difficult/High | See options in Glossary of Terms | $400 - $1,500 |
| Locust (Robinia) | 32" - 48" | 25' - 35' | 50'-75' | Easy/Low - Difficult/High | See options in Glossary of Terms | $1,200 - $6,000 |
| Maple (Acer) | 20" - 80" | 30' - 50' | 10'-100' | Easy/Low - Difficult/High | See options in Glossary of Terms | $900 - $10,000+ |
| Oak(Quercus) | 36" - 48" | 50' - 120' | 60'-100' | Easy/Low - Difficult/High | See options in Glossary of Terms | $900 - $6,500 |
| Pine(Pinus) | 36" - 48" | 20' - 40' | 70'-120' | Easy/Low - Difficult/High | See options in Glossary of Termsl | $750 - $3,000 |
| Poplar(Populus) | 24" - 72" | 40' - 50' | 75'-140' | Easy/Low - Difficult/High | See options in Glossary of Terms | $1,200 - $10,000+ |
| Spruce(Picea) | 18" - 32" | 15' - 25' | 50'-150' | Easy/Low - Difficult/High | See options in Glossary of Terms | $750 - $3,000 |
| Sumac (Rhus) | 12" - 20" | 10' - 15' | 25'-60' | Easy/Low - Difficult/High | See options in Glossary of Terms | $400 - $750 |
| Sycamore (Platanus) | 36" - 96" | 40' - 70' | 70'-125' | Easy/Low - Difficult/High | See options in Glossary of Terms | $1,500 - $10,000+ |
Glossary of Terms:
Accessibility/Risk:
- (Accessibility) The ease of access to the tree to complete the necessary work to remove the tree to a small stump.
- (Risk) The level of danger associated with working on the tree. This could be a number of factors, such as the health of the tree. For example, dying trees often cannot be climbed to complete the removal and require the use of specialized equipment. Risk can also be related to the proximity of the tree to personal property. For example, tree crowns that stretch over a home carry a higher level of risk and require the use of more sophisticated and advanced arboreal techniques for their safe removal.
Log / Debris Removal:
- Drop-Leave as it Lays: This is the least expensive option for tree removal where the tree is safely dropped to the ground. This leaves the tree as it lays and the breakdown of the tree and all clean up is completed by the homeowner. This is only available when there is open space to allow for the safe dropping of a full tree.
- Partial Clean Up-Branches: This option includes the disposal of all branches, but leaves the logs as cut and as they lay from the tree felling process. The processing of logs into smaller size or for use as firewood is completed by the homeowner.
- Full Debris Removal: This option removes all components of the tree that was felled and the area looks as it did prior to the tree service with only a small stump remaining.
- +Firewood Processing: An add on service available is the splitting of logs from the tree into firewood for future use (FYI-wood will need at least six months to one year to season properly to meet most county guidelines).
- +Stump Grinding: Another add on option is stump grinding. This option grinds the stump to below grade, so that soil and lawn seeding can be completed to hide the remaining stump from the tree. (please note some trees have roots that stretch on surface away from the root. These can be removed as well, but fall under a different service for root removal).
- +Stump Grinding and Lawn work: This add on includes the stump grinding, as described above, but also includes the soil, seeding, and compost/straw coverage to reseed area for new lawn growth (or other lawn options such as clover or other groundcover, if traditional lawn is not desired in area).
* Notes on trees above:
Ash trees are listed as Critically Endangered on the UCRN Red List. This is predominantly due to Ash Disease and the Emerald Ash Borer Beetle. Ash trees, or Fraxinus, is a genus of flowering plants of the lilac and olive family Oleaceae. If you own an Ash tree and are interested in having it assessed for disease or evidence of the Emerald Ash Borer Beetle, in an effort to prolong its life, please contact us. Our Arborists would be happy to help and provide an assessment!
While the American Chestnut tree is not extinct, it is rare to see these majestic trees anymore. This was once an abundant tree centuries ago, but due to over logging, have dissapeared as a common sight from our landscape. These trees towered well over 100 feet and had a massive trunk diameter of over ten feet! For this reason, the alternative, Chinese Chestnut, that has grown popular in the U.S. since the early 1900s is listed in the chart above.
The American Elm tree have been signifcantly affected by Dutch Elm Disease (DED). This fungus can kill a healthy Elm tree in as little as three weeks. The fungus is typically spread by three types of boring beetle, European, Banded, and Native Elm Bark Beetles. Some preventative measures that can be taken to protect your elm are to only prune elms in the fall or winter, past the active season for the beetles. A quick indicator that your tree has been infected is if you see flagging. Flagging is the dying and shriveling of leaves that remain in place on the tree. Elms that appear to have DED should be removed immediately; especially if there are other Elms nearby, as the beetles will move on and carry the fungus with them. The removal of Elms can be completed at any time of year and should be done as soon as possible, if Dutch Elm Disease is found. There are special disposal processes that should be followed by your tree service team to avoid the spread of this fungus.
Hemlocks are facing a major threat from an insect called the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid (HWA). This tiny insect inserts a feeder into the Hemlock's needles and steals the nutrients. Without needles, the Hemlock will die. These insects are easy to see on your tree. They produce a sticky white substance to protect themselves, which will be seen on the branches near the needles. The good news is that these can be treated by a trained arborist and the prognosis for the tree's recovery is good, if caught in time.