The Complete Guide to Palm Tree Trimming Costs

How Much Does it Cost to Trim a Palm Tree?

Palm tree trimming costs $200-$500 on average, but you can pay between $150 and $1,200 per tree. The cost to trim a palm varies depending on multiple factors, but this guide can give you an idea of what to expect when you get in touch with your local arborist.

As you can see, there's a wide discrepancy between the low and high ends of the scale, which can make it difficult to gauge how much you should plan to spend. This guide will break down the factors that affect palm tree trimming prices to give you a better idea of which end of the spectrum your palm falls on.

National Palm Tree Trimming Cost Averages

The average cost to trim a palm is $200 to $500. Of course, the average cost can give you an idea of what you can expect to spend to trim your tree, but it can be much higher or lower than the average. Palm tree pruning prices can range anywhere from $75 to $1,200 per palm.

Local prices will affect the cost, so don't take the national average as a definite figure. Palm tree trimming services in Phoenix might vary widely from costs in Tampa, for example.

The overall cost will vary depending on several other factors as well, which we'll discuss in detail below.

Palm Tree Trimming Cost Factors

So, what factors determine which end of the price range your palm tree trimming costs fall on? Here are just a few things that your tree trimmer will take into consideration:

Palm Tree Type

Certain species of palms are easier to trim than others. Larger species and species with sharper fronds (or palm tree leaves) will usually cost more to prune. Certain palm types have many more fronds and branches than other types which increases the amount of time necessary to complete the pruning. Different species will grow to different heights, which is one of the largest factors determining the tree trimming costs for any type of tree.

Here are a few of the most popular types:

• Caranday Palm (Copernicia alba)
• Date Palms (Phoenix spp.)
• Florida Thatch Palm (Thrinax radiata)
• Foxtail Palm (Wodyetia bifurcata)
• King Palm (Archontophoenix spp.)
• Sabal Palm (Sabal Palmetto)
• Spindle Palm (Hyophorbe verschaffeltii)
• Triangle Palm (Dypsis decaryi)
• Windmill Palm (Trachycarpus fortunei)
• Zombie Palm (Zombia antillarum)

Condition and Health of Your Palm

Pruning palms in poor health or covered in years of dead palm fronds will naturally cost more than trimming trees in excellent health that you've trimmed regularly. It's easier to trim a palm that has been regularly maintained. Regular maintenance also ensures that your palm is full of great great looking green fronds at all times.

Palm Tree Location

If the trees are difficult to access or the certified arborist has to travel far to your location, the trimming services will usually cost more. Easy to access trees will take much less time to trim, which means better prices for you. A great way to keep your expenses down is to clear the area and make sure to get rid of any obstacles on the ground so the palm tree service crew can easily reach the tree.

Palm Tree Height

As with most tree work, trimming smaller palms tends to cost less than larger ones. Taller trees often require a bucket truck or the crew to climb the tree trunk which adds time to the job. If the crew can reach the fronds and trim them from the ground then the job will be much more affordable.

The Number of Palms

If you are having multiple trees trimmed at the same time, you will get a lower price per tree. The crew is already at your property, so you don't need to pay them for their time to travel to your location.

Two of these factors, the type, and size of the palm, affect cost more than other considerations. Let's take a closer look at the average estimate based on these elements.

Palm Tree Trimming Costs By Size

The cost to have a palm tree trimmed will largely depend on how tall the tree is. Taller palm trees will almost always cost more to trim. Keep in mind that these prices are based on national averages; you should speak with a professional arborist for a more accurate estimate. For reference, the average palm tree grows to about 32 to 50 feet tall.

Small Palm Tree

As you might expect, trimming a small palm tree is less work than a large one, bringing the cost down significantly.

For this guide, we'll consider palm trees that are 30 feet or less "small palm trees." The average cost to trim a small palm tree is between $75 to $400, depending on the other factors we mentioned.

Of course, young palm trees tend to be smaller than older ones, so you can eventually expect your palm to grow out of that $75 to $400 range. However, certain species (like the Pygmy Date Palm, which is common in Phoenix) will never get near the 30-foot mark, keeping your costs low during the entire life of the tree.

Medium Palm Tree

Most palm trees (like the Silver Date Palms found all over Phoenix) would be classified as a medium sized tree. These are palm trees that are 30 feet to 60 feet tall.

Pruning a medium palm tree requires a bit more effort than a small palm, driving the prices up a bit. Still, it will usually cost less than trimming a large palm tree, so you're only looking at an average cost of about $230-$800 to trim a medium palm tree.

Large Palm Tree

Since a medium palm tree has a 60-foot tall cap, it makes sense that a large palm tree is any palm 60 feet or taller. For example, the date palm, another Phoenix favorite, can grow up to 75 feet in height.

Arborists need special equipment to trim a tall tree of this size, so your palm tree trimming cost will be a lot higher than for a regular tree. A certified arborist will either need to climb or use a bucket truck to reach a large tree over 60 ft.

So, how much does palm tree trimming cost for taller trees that reach heights over 60 feet? Getting a large palm tree trimmed usually costs about $300 to $1,200, so it's worth shopping around for the most cost-effective tree trimming service you can find.

Remember that palm tree trimming is usually much less than palm tree removal. So it's worth the cost to keep the tree in good health so that it doesn't die and leave you with much higher expenses if you have to pay for palm tree removal.

Palm Tree Trimming Cost By Species

There are around 2,600 species of palm trees, ranging from palms that grow to over 100 feet high to dwarf species that never exceed five feet in height. Of those 2,600 species, 14 are commonly found in the United States.

Rather than listing every type of palm tree and the trimming cost associated with every tree type, we've selected three very different species to give you an idea of how trimming palm trees varies depending on the type of tree involved.

You can use these examples to help you gauge palm tree trimming costs based on the type of palm you have. Most companies will also come out to your property to provide free quotes.

How Much Does Mexican Fan Palm Tree Trimming Cost?

Mexican fan palm trees can grow up to 100 feet, so it's expensive to get them trimmed based on size alone.

However, there's another reason why Mexican Fan palm trees (and many fan palm species) warrant a higher price to trim. The fronds of these fan species are laden with razor-sharp spikes that make trimming more difficult, not to mention dangerous.

The dead fronds can cause serious damage if they fall and the palm frond hits a person below, so it's crucial to have them trimmed regularly. Depending on the tree size and condition, tree service will likely cost you around $150-$400.

How Much Does Phoenix Palm Tree Trimming Cost?

Phoenix palm trees are another species that grows upwards of 100 feet, raising the price you'll pay for tree trimming service. In addition to growing to great heights, the Phoenix palm tree trunk experiences impressive growth in terms of thickness.

Their thick tree trunk makes them more difficult to climb while also causing them to produce a larger number of fronds. It takes a lot of work to trim trees of this size, so you'll likely be looking at between $300 and $700, depending on the size and condition.

Phoenix palm trees are beautiful, but it's quite a job to trim trees of that size.

How Much Does Pygmy Date Palm Tree Trimming Cost?

Pygmy Date palm trees are excellent examples of trees with a low maintenance cost. Trimming costs for these species are usually around $125 to $400, as the tree never reaches more than 12 feet in height.

The cost to prune a pygmy or dwarf tree is a far cry from that of the cost to trim a tree as large as a Phoenix or sabal palm.

How Much Does Palm Tree Trimming Cost Near Me?

If you're desperate to get your palm's dead fronds trimmed, your first question is probably, "how much does palm tree trimming near me cost?" Palm tree cost estimates can vary widely depending on:

• The palm tree service company you choose
• The number of dead palm fronds that need to be trimmed
• Your location
• The size and health of the tree

On average, you can expect to pay between $200 and $500 per tree, but it's a good idea to speak with a certified arborist, which can give you a more detailed idea of cost. Most will be happy to provide a free estimate, although they usually need to inspect the tree in person.

You can save a bunch of money by scheduling a professional tree trimmer to come out in the winter or off-season when there is less demand, so keep that in mind as well.

How Much Does Palm Tree Fruit and Flower Removal Cost?

Usually, removing fruit and flowers is included with the palm tree trimming cost because it's easy to remove them while the company is already trimming a tree. If you can get it done for free, it'd be silly not to, especially in the case of large trees like Phoenix palm trees.

However, maybe your trees are making a mess, and you don't care about the cost. Palm tree fruit and flower removal alone will cost, on average, $50-$100 per tree.

How Often Should You Trim Your Palm Trees?

Generally speaking, palm tree pruning is an annual or semi-annual expense. The average palm should be trimmed about once a year to stay healthy. Regularly trimmed trees are far less likely to incur the dreaded palm tree removal costs associated with sick or dead trees. Regular palm tree maintenance will also make sure that your tree looks great year-round.

Will Trimming My Palm Tree Harm It?

Palm tree service is worth the money compared to trying to handle the job yourself. A professional arborist knows how to trim trees without harming them, which is another way they can help you avoid the need for palm tree removal service.

Contact your local palm tree trimming service for a free price quote.