Tree Removal Costs

In Wichita, property owners pay an average of $8 to $15 per foot of the tree they would like to remove. This means that tree height has a significant impact on the tree removal cost – based on the per foot cost, a 20-foot tree will cost between $160 and $300 to remove.

Most property owners, however, pay between $400 and $1200 to get rid of a tree. The cost can, however, be as low as $200 for small non-risky trees, while it can go above $2000 for huge risky trees. In this article, we will help you understand the tree removal cost by taking a deeper look at the factors that affect it.

Factors Affecting Tree Removal Cost in Wichita

1. Tree height

As the height of a tree increases, so does its weight and the area under risk during tree removal. Heavier tools are generally required, with professionals spending a significant part of their time just planning the removal.

In the section below, we have outlined the costs to expect when handling the removal of trees featuring varying heights:

• Small trees – For your tree to be classified in the small tree category, its height has to fall below 30 feet. Such a tree will cost you $200 to $450 to get rid of.
• Medium-sized trees – Trees in this category have a height of 30 – 60 feet. Such trees will carry a removal cost of $800 – $1500.
• Large trees – Professionals charge $1000 to $1800 to bring down trees of heights 60 to 100 feet.
• Extremely large trees – Some trees in Wichita – for example, White Pines – grow to heights of between 100 and 150 feet. Such trees will have a removal cost of $2000 and above.

2. Crane Assisted Removal

Cranes are used by professionals when they are removing trees too heavy for natural machines to handle. Such trees are generally extremely taller and thick – they weigh several tons which makes them dangerous to handle without heavyweight machinery.

The cost of renting a crane is generally separate from the cost of removing a tree. In Wichita, you will be charged $200 to $600 to rent a crane, with the cost being based on how powerful the crane is. The person operating the crane has to be paid – the average payment is $50 to $100.

You may be charged $1600 to remove an 80 feet oak tree without a crane. If the same tree has to be removed with a crane, your cost will go up. If the cost of renting the crane is $400 while the cost of hiring an operator is $100, the total crane cost will be $500. The total cost of removing the tree will add up to $2100.

3. Tree Species

While crepe myrtles mature at heights of under 30 feet, white pines reach heights of 150 feet. While oak trees will have hardwood, most fruit trees will have softwood. This indicates how tree species affect the tree removal process.

To give you an idea of what to expect when removing different tree species, we have outlined the varying tree removal costs:

Oak Trees

Oaks mature at heights of between 60 and 100 feet. If your oak tree is mature, you should expect to pay $800 to $1000. If, however, the oak has a height of below 60 feet, $200 – $800 should be enough to conduct the tree removal.

Palm Trees

Palms whose height has not exceeded 30 feet can be removed for $200 to $500. Palms taller than 80 feet, however, will require $1100 to $1500 to remove.

Pine Trees

If your pine tree carries a height of 80 feet, the tree removal cost will be around $1500. If the pine, however, has a height of 40 feet, you may be able to remove it at $400.

4. Tree Condition

A wide range of tree conditions can affect the amount of money you spend on tree removal. In Wichita, however, the most common tree conditions include:

• Cavities and decays – If the trunk is decaying and it has cavities all over it, this is an indicator that the tree might fall. Such a tree will need extra care during removal to keep it from falling unexpectedly, leading to injuries or property damage.
• Weak branches – If the tree crown is compromised or has suffered from a health problem in the past, there is a chance that the branches on it are weakly attached. Such branches might fall during tree removal. To improve safety, tree pruning may need to be conducted before tree removal.
• Multiple trunks – Multiple trunks only complicate the tree removal process if they are weakly attached. In such a scenario, each trunk may have to be removed separately while taking care to avoid forcing the other trunk to break off and fall.
• Lean – In Wichita, it is normal for trees to have slight lean. However, when the lean increases significantly within a short period, it is an indicator that the tree may have stability issues. If the lean is over a house or another important utility, the tree may have to be pulled in the opposite direction to avoid property damage during tree removal.

Fallen Tree Removal

Fallen trees are supposed to have a significantly easier removal process – after all, much of the work is already done. The professionals will probably just have to cut the tree trunk at the bottom to implement a smooth grain on the tree stump. This could cost as low as $75 to $150, irrespective of how huge the tree is.

Sometimes, however, trees do fall on buildings. For such trees, professionals will have to use machinery and extreme finesse to lift them off the amenities without causing further damage. More effort and more complicated machinery will be needed – this will mean a higher tree removal cost.

5. Tree Diameter

Tree removals are rarely completed without sawing through the tree’s trunk at the base. The amount of time spent sawing through the base will affect the tree removal cost. Thicker trees require more time to saw through, while thin trees are much easier to cut through.

6. Travel Distance

When working with professionals nearest where you would like tree removal to be conducted, you won’t have to spend your money on travel fees. However, if the tree service providers have to travel outside their service zone, a travel fee of $0.5 per mile is incurred by the tree owners. Sometimes, a fixed cost of $50 to $200 may be charged, depending on the travel time and/or distance.

7. Accessibility

Tree removal is easy for trees that are standing on open grounds. For trees on open grounds, all that is required is to saw through the tree’s base while taking note of the direction the tree will fall to avoid getting injured.

However, trees that are surrounded by other healthy trees, powerlines, and/or houses need extra care to bring down. This is because allowing the tree to fall freely can lead to a lot of property damages – the repairs could cost thousands. Heavier machinery may need to be employed to change the direction of the tree’s fall. Also, the tree may need to be pruned to keep the tree crown from hitting the utilities, and then cut foot by foot to the ground. All this increases the tree removal cost.

8. Cost of Additional Services

When you receive a quotation from a tree service provider, you must confirm the services catered for in the quoted cost. In most of the cases, however, the services outlined below are paid for separately.

Stump Removal

Stumps can be allowed to stay in the landscape. But they often destroy lawn machines, can destroy car tires, and may even cause accidents. This makes stump removal a good idea. When removing a tree stump, you should expect the following costs:

• Diameter Cost – You will be charged $2 – $3 per diameter inch, with a minimum cost of $100.
• Per hour cost – Most stump removal professionals charge an hourly price of $150.
• Per stump – The first stump has the highest price, generally costing $150. The remaining stumps, however, may cost you $50 each.

Log Removal Cost

For your logs to be removed, you will need to pay $65 to $150 for the tree trunk to be converted into manageable chips. Next, you will have to pay $50 as the transport cost.

Log Splitting

Homeowners with fireplaces generally require tree removal professionals to split the logs and convert them into firewood. This service could set you back $75.

Licenses and Permits

To be on the safe side of the law, you should get permits and licenses before attempting tree removal. Tree removal licenses and permits can cost you $60 to $150.

Tree Transplanting Service

Transplanting is the process of moving a tree from one planting location to another. This method of tree removal involves more work than just bringing the tree down. It can add an average of $125 to $500 to the cost of removing the tree completely. For example, if complete removal would cost $1000, transplanting may set you back $1125 to $1500.

The higher cost is understandable considering that professionals will have to uproot the tree with its roots, ferry it to its new planting location, dig a new hole, and then plant it.