Get matched with top tree service pros in Wellsville, MO

For safety reasons, leaning trees are best removed by a professional, as they may often tear away from the hinge, causing you to lose control over where the tree falls. If you choose to cut down a tree leaning slightly, avoid cutting off root protrusions before you start. Make your hinge a little longer than usual by cutting it deeper (up to 30% of the diameter) and applying a wedge into the felling cut on the side the tree is leaning. Stand away from the direction the tree leans while making your felling cut.

Hiring an arborist costs around $900 on average, with prices ranging from $250 to $2,500 or more. Some arborists charge an hourly rate, typically between $100 and $350 per hour. The final cost depends on several factors, including the type of work, the number of trees, accessibility, and whether you hire an independent arborist or a larger tree service company. When hiring, you should also consider their experience and insurance coverage.

Below are some estimated costs for common arborist jobs:

• Small tree removal: $300 to $500

• Large tree removal: $500 to $2,000 or more

• Tree health assessment: $150

• Trimming a small tree: $75 to $200

• Trimming a large tree: $150 to $400

• Dealing with invasive species: $150 to $1,000 or more

You can trim just one side of the tree, especially when that side is growing near something like a power line or a home. Pros will carefully trim the tree back until it is safe from that structure. While this is common, it also needs to be done with the utmost care, as pruning or trimming away at one side of the tree may make it structurally unsound. This instance is yet another where hiring a pro is wise, especially if power lines are involved.

Unfortunately, palm tree stumps are one of the most difficult types to remove due to how their roots grow. Unlike other trees, palm tree roots grow horizontally and vertically. Palm tree roots grow as deep as three feet into the ground, although soil and growing conditions could mean they go as far as 50 inches into the earth. 

If you want to be able to repurpose the grass in the area where you removed a stump later, you’ll have to dig quite deep—and perhaps wide—to trim away all the roots.