How Much Does Tree Removal Cost?

Seattle residents will spend between $536 and $758 on tree removal, should the tree need to come down for disease or other related problems that force its health to decline or be a danger to the home or power lines in the city. The tree service specialist who comes out will factor in the hours, general labor, height and circumference of the tree, along with any other special circumstances that will go into the tree removal project. The average cost will be $647.

How Much Does Stump Removal Cost?

Stump removal in the Seattle area will cost between $300 and $350 and take up to four hours for the process. This takes into account the type of wood and circumference of the trunk, which will either be uprooted completely or grinded down into wood chips by the arborist. Discuss these options either over the phone or when they come to discuss a quote to see which works best for your budget and purposes for the yard after the stump’s removal.

Average Cost of Tree Maintenance in Seattle

Tree trimming, pruning and cutting will cost Seattle tree owners between $312 and $408, depending on what the trees are like and how many of them need work when the arborist first comes out to work on them. If they are extremely bush, near power lines or have other special cases that will make maintenance take longer, it will cost more. The average price otherwise will be around $360.

Rules and Regulations

While Seattle does not require a permit for the removal of trees on private residences, they do require a permit for removing trees on public right-of-way areas that are privately maintained and not by the City of Seattle. A permit is also required to plant a tree on a public right-of-way area, like on the front lawn near a sidewalk.

June through October in the Seattle area is the worst time to plant a tree. However, this is likely the best time to remove a tree from the ground. It’s dry weather, and the tree will be growing less because it’s not getting a lot of water from the sky and even less from dry soil conditions.

Common Trees to Plant in Seattle

The western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) has been Washington state tree since 1947. Native to the west, it is the largest type of hemlock, reaching a height of 230 feet and can live up to 1200 years. Seattle’s 130,000 trees include many different varieties like the state tree, and with Seattle reLeaf handing out more trees to residents, the percentages will change as years go by. Currently though, these trees are included among the most common types in the city:

• Vine maple (Acer circinatum)
• American sweetgum (Luquidambar styraciflua)
• Paper birch (Betula papyrifera)
• Pacific dogwood (Cornus nuttalli)

Particular breeds of fruit trees also thrive in the climate of Seattle. It’s knowing what kinds that counts, which nurseries can point out and usually have marked on the trees. General fruit species that enjoy Seattle’s climate include figs, apples, peaches, plums, mulberries, and pears. The key is to keep them from getting too much water and making sure they’re evenly spaced out, so they get plenty of sunlight when possible.

Difficult to Maintain Trees

There are currently 11 tree types that the Seattle’s Department of Transportation does not recommend planting because of weak branches and roots, messy seeds, or due to a tree’s vulnerability to certain diseases. Some of those types include:

• Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin)
• White birch (Betula alba)
• Honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos)
• American elm (Ulnus americanus)

Common Diseases Affecting Seattle’s Trees

Seattle’s climate and weather conditions opens its shores to a wide variety of pests and diseases that can affect its trees. Some common pests currently attacking its tree population include tent caterpillars, honey locust pod galls, aphids, fall web worms, cherry bark tortrix, and gypsy moths. Some of these pests have a lesser effect on trees, like tent caterpillars and fall web worm, but others can destroy entire forests if not dealt with early on and effectively. In terms of diseases, anthracnose, leaf spots, armallaria, and Dutch elm disease are the most common tree illnesses that Seattle’s Urban Foresty Division is keeping an eye on and treating right now. If you suspect any of these diseases, you should can an arborist right away, especially in the cases of Dutch elm disease and armallaria.

Rules Regarding Trees and Overhead Power Lines

Seattle City Light, the city’s utility company, does not allow people besides its workers and qualified contractors within 10 feet of distribution lines or within 17 feet of transmission lines without credentials. The company asks that residents do not plant vines, shrubs or trees near power poles, and if they do, that they be at least 10 feet away. If Seattle residents want to plant a tree, the guidelines are that trees under or within 20 feet of power lines should reach less than 25 feet in height. Trees that reach 25 to 45 feet should be 20 to 50 feet away. Trees reaching 45 feet or higher should be planted should be more than 50 feet away.

Plant Hardiness Zones for Washington

Here are the plant hardiness zones for Washington as provided by the USDA:

Image Sources:
Paper birch
White birch

Local Tree Services in Seattle

 

Featured Tree Services in Seattle