Oak tree trimming isn’t cheap, and it shouldn’t be. These are big, heavy, complicated trees. If you’re reading this, you’re probably either staring at one in your yard that’s looking overgrown or worried about some branches hanging over your roof or driveway.
How Much Does Oak Tree Trimming Cost?
For most oak trees in Kansas City, you’re looking at anywhere from $300 to $1,200. Sometimes less, sometimes more. A small oak with easy access might be on the lower end. A massive oak hanging over a power line or leaning over your house? That can push the job closer to $1,500 or more.
Size, height, location, and how close it is to structures or power lines all factor in. Same with how much cleanup is involved. If you’ve got a 60-foot red oak hanging halfway over your roof, it’s not a quick in-and-out job.
Why the Price Jumps Around So Much
Every tree is different. Two oaks on the same street might cost different amounts to trim. One could be wide and heavy with low limbs that need more lifting. The other might be tall and narrow and only need a clean crown.
Also:
- Accessibility matters. Can we get our equipment close? Or are we climbing it?
- Debris haul-off. You want the branches gone? That’s an extra dump run, which adds to the price.
- Health of the tree. If it’s rotting or sick, that changes how we cut it and how careful we need to be.
When’s the Best Time to Trim an Oak Tree?
Winter. Late winter is best in February, early March. That’s when the tree is dormant, and you’re not risking oak wilt.
Do not trim your oak in the spring or early summer. That’s when beetles are out, and they carry oak wilt disease, which can kill your tree. I’ve seen it happen too many times.
If there’s storm damage or a limb’s about to fall, that’s different. We’ll trim when needed. But for routine pruning, wait for winter.
How We Trim Oaks (The Right Way)
We follow proper arborist standards. We’re not just hacking branches off. Trimming an oak is about:
- Removing dead, damaged, or diseased limbs
- Thinning out the canopy for airflow and light
- Clearing branches from over structures or power lines
- Lifting the canopy if it’s too low over walkways or your yard
We never top trees. That’s not pruning, that’s ruining. If someone offers to top your oak, you should stop talking to them right there. That’s how you kill a healthy tree.
Mistakes People Make
This is the part most people don’t want to hear, but here it is:
- Hiring the cheapest guy they can find. A guy with a chainsaw and no insurance is not a tree service. That’s a risk. If he gets hurt or drops a branch through your roof, guess who’s liable? You.
- Trimming at the wrong time. Again, trimming in May or June can invite oak wilt. Don’t mess with that.
- Over-pruning. Taking off too much at once stresses the tree. It weakens it and opens it up to disease.
- Ignoring it too long. Oaks don’t need constant trimming, but they do need care. Letting it go 10+ years without attention means more dead limbs, more hazards, and probably a higher price when you finally deal with it.
What Happens If You Don’t Trim It At All?
A few things can happen, and none of them are good:
- Branches break. Especially during storms. Heavy oak limbs don’t just fall nicely; they crash.
- Growth gets unbalanced. That makes it more likely to split or lean, especially if the tree’s already older.
- You invite pests or disease. Dead wood stays in the canopy, moisture builds up, and insects move in.
- You risk property damage. Roofs, fences, and power lines, I’ve seen oaks cause many expensive problems.
Final Thoughts
Oak tree trimming is one of those things you can’t half-do. If you’re going to live under a giant oak tree, take care of it properly. Pay someone who knows what they’re doing.
At Omar Tree Service LLC, we’ve been trimming oak trees all over Kansas City for decades. We’re licensed and insured, and we don’t take shortcuts. If you want it done right, give me a call.
Jose Maldonado
Owner, Omar Tree Service LLC
Located: 3020 Bellaire Ave, Kansas City, MO
Phone: +1 (816) 694-6352
