Let’s just get right to it. Large tree pruning costs aren’t cheap. And there’s a reason for that. It takes experience, heavy-duty equipment, and the kind of precision that only comes from climbing trees and cutting them back for years. If you’re looking at a big tree in your yard and wondering what it’ll cost to prune it, here’s what goes into that number.
Why Large Tree Pruning Costs More
Big trees = big problems if done wrong.
Most homeowners don’t realize this: Pruning a 10-foot crepe myrtle is a world apart from working on a 60-foot oak or a 70-foot sycamore. For starters, it takes a crew, not just one guy and a ladder. We’re talking about trained climbers (sometimes with ropes and saddles), ground workers to handle the brush, and in many cases, aerial lifts or bucket trucks to get to those high branches safely.
You’re paying for:
- Safety (ours and yours)
- Insurance (because accidents happen)
- Skill (knowing what to cut, and more importantly, what not to cut)
Typical cost for a large tree? Anywhere from $400 to $2,000, depending on size, condition, access, and risk. Not exaggerating.
When You Should Prune a Large Tree
Timing matters. You don’t just go out and hack away whenever you feel like it. Pruning at the wrong time can hurt the tree. Badly.
Best time?
For most species, it’s late winter to early spring, before the sap gets running. That’s when the tree is dormant, so pruning stress is lower. It also means fewer pests and diseases floating around to infect fresh cuts.
But if the tree is a safety hazard or dropping dead limbs in summer? Then you don’t wait. You prune it now safety trumps ideal timing.
How We Do Large Tree Pruning
There’s a method to it. You don’t just start chopping. A real pruning job looks like this:
- Walk the tree – figure out its structure, what needs to come off, what’s rubbing, what’s dead, what’s in the way of structures or power lines.
- Access – Can we climb it? Need a bucket truck? Is it near your house or deck?
- Make selective cuts – We don’t top trees. Ever. We make proper pruning cuts at the branch collar. Clean and safe.
- Lower limbs – If they’re heavy, we rig them down with ropes so nothing gets damaged.
- Clean up – We don’t leave your yard looking like a war zone.
It’s labour-intensive, and it takes experience. Bad cuts or rushed work can ruin a tree permanently.
Read more
Common Mistakes People Make (or Pay For Later)
This is where homeowners get into trouble:
- Hiring cheap, uninsured guys with chainsaws – It might look like a deal until your roof gets crushed or your tree dies.
- Topping the tree – Worst thing you can do. It weakens the structure, makes the tree ugly, and leads to more rapid re-growth (which costs you more long term).
- Not pruning at all – Waiting too long leads to broken limbs, storm damage, or tree removal. You think pruning is expensive? Try removing a 70-footer after it crashes into your garage.
Read more
What Happens If You Don’t Prune Large Trees
Letting large trees go wild is asking for a mess.
Unpruned trees:
- Develop dead or weak limbs
- Grow into power lines
- Rub against your roof
- Block sunlight and airflow
- Become more top-heavy and unstable during storms
We’ve had clients wait until limbs are falling on cars before they call. At that point, it’s not a maintenance job anymore it’s an emergency. And emergency tree work is always more expensive. Always.
Final Thoughts
Large tree pruning isn’t optional. It’s maintenance that keeps your property safe and your trees healthy. Yeah, the cost might sting a little upfront, but the cost of ignoring it? That’s worse damage, risk, and even full tree removal down the line.
You don’t want the cheapest. You want it done right. Pruned properly, your tree will stay strong for decades. Done wrong, and you’ll be dealing with rot, poor regrowth, or worse a hazard in your yard.
Omar Tree Service LLC has been doing it right for 30 years. If you’re in Kansas City and need large tree pruning. It is fully licensed, insured, and not afraid of tall trees.
Give us a call. We show up, we do it safely, and we don’t leave until the job is done right.
Jose Maldonado
Owner, Omar Tree Service LLC
Located: 3020 Bellaire Ave, Kansas City, MO
Phone: +1 (816) 694-6352
Read More About
