How Much Does Tree Removal Cost?

While there are many such professionals in the Montreal area, their fees vary considerably depending on their qualifications and the type of work a homeowner is hoping they will perform. Removal of an entire tree costs an average of $500.

How Much Does Stump Removal Cost?

The cost to remove a stump ranges from $60 to $350 in the city. Factors in the cost include the size of the stump and whether or not the homeowner prefers the stump to be ground down to the surface of the yard or completely removed roots and all. A basic guideline for the total expense is $2 to $3 per inch in diameter of the stump.

Average Cost of Tree Care in Montreal

Homeowners should expect to pay between $150 and $1,500 to have trees pruned or trimmed in Montreal. This depends on the size of the tree, how many trees receive service and whether they are easy or difficult to access.

Tree Removal Regulations

Formulated in 2005, the Montreal Tree Policy is designed to recognize the importance of trees to the local cityscape as well as to the region in general. It makes no distinction between native and non-native tree species—such as the Colorado Spruce, Gingko and Norway Maple, which can be found throughout the city—in terms of most of its regulations.

However, the policy does include information urging homeowners to plant indigenous species because native trees attract more wildlife, are better suited to Montreal’s soil and climate and require less maintenance. The policy requires anyone who plans to cut down a tree to obtain a certificate of authorization. Trees may only be removed if they meet certain criteria, including if they are dead, dying, a public safety hazard or are damaging property. Approval also requires a written report from an arborist or other professional recommending that the tree be removed. Homeowners are required to replace any trees they remove.

The company Hydro Quebec prohibits trees from being within 9 feet or 3 meters of its utility lines and prohibits any activity, including tree pruning, to occur within that distance as well.

Common Trees in Montreal

Montreal’s official tree is the yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis), a deciduous tree that grows up to 33 feet tall. Other tree species indigenous to Montreal include:

• White birch (Betula papyrifera)
• Sugar maple (Acer saccharum)
• Silver maple (Acer saccharinum)
• Canadian hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)
• White oak (Quercus alba)
• American elm (Ulmus americana)

The tallest trees in Montreal are cottonwoods while the shortest are Japanese maples.Trees that do not grow particularly well in the city are those that are adapted to warmer climates such as eucalyptus, senna and cassia trees.

With the increasing popularity of fruit trees in urban centers, many homeowners wonder if they can expect to grow fruit in Montreal. Fortunately, there are several types of fruit trees that are suited for the city’s climate, including apple, pear, cherry and apricot trees. Nurseries also feature what are called hardy fruit trees, which are bred to withstand Montreal’s cold winters. Many of these trees are capable of surviving in temperatures as low as -52 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pruning & Planting Tips

It is possible to prune trees any time during the year in Montreal. However, arborists in the region recommend waiting until December when trees are dormant to do so. This is a period between the time that leaves have fallen and the first hard freeze of the winter. Pruning trees when they are dormant serves to stimulate their growth once they awaken in the spring.

There are many reasons to prune a tree, including to prevent it from encroaching on utility lines or into a home as well as for the tree’s health and aesthetic reasons. Removing dead or dying branches is also a way to prevent them from becoming projectiles during windstorms.

Arborists and other tree experts urge homeowners to plant trees in the early spring. They suggest finding a spot located far enough from houses and other trees to give them room to grow. Young trees require little care once they take root, and there is usually no need to prune a tree until it is at least three or four years old.

Diseases in Montreal

In 2008, Montreal officials discovered an invasion of Asian beetles that wreaked havoc on local trees. The beetle, known as the emerald ash borer, decimated thousands of ash trees within a few years. The beetle was first observed in Canada in 2002 in Ontario. Experts speculate that it made its way north in firewood being hauled by campers.

To combat the beetle, Montreal officials are cutting down infested trees and removing them. They then treat nearby trees by injecting a liquid pesticide that prevents the beetles from reproducing and shortens their lives. To be effective, the process must be repeated every year.

Image credit:
Silver maple
American elm

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