How Much Does Tree Removal Cost?

Because of how urban most of New York is, trying to remove a tree is pretty difficult for tree service professionals. So when they come out to your home and see where the tree is located, they’re probably going to quote a price somewhere between $747 to $1,043, with an average price of $895.

How Much Does Stump Removal Cost?

After the huge storm that hit New York a while back, a lot of trees were taken down, but their stumps were not removed. Those stumps are often located in some pretty compromising places, depending on whether they’re in a suburban backyard or in front of a flat in the middle of the city. If professionals are called out to remove a stump, they’re going to quote a price somewhere probably around the figure of $1,200 for a stump removal and take an hour.

Average Cost of Tree Maintenance in New York

Maintaining trees in New York costs less than it does to have them completely removed and thereby save owners money down the road. Having professionals come out to trim, prune and cut limbs off their trees will cost between $394 and $590, with most tree owners spending about $492.

Tree Rules and Regulations of New York

New York has no requirements concerning the removal of trees on private property, only if there is a requirement to remove a tree on public property or in a New York park. New Yorkers should wait until late winter to remove trees because their leaves will have fallen off by then, and the tree will have gone into dormancy for the winter, making it easier to uproot from the ground.

New York’s utility company, NYSEG, prunes and removes trees if they feel they could interfere with operation of the power lines. If residents think a tree should be removed or pruned, they should contact the electricity company instead of hiring someone.

Picking the Right Trees to Grow

Although New York is very large, there are about 10 tree types that populate the city more than others and survive its various seasons with aplomb. Residents are encouraged to plant these trees, and they include:

• Pink oak (Quercus palustris)
• Littleleaf linden (Tilia cordata)
• Norway maple (Acer platanoides)
• Red maple (Acer rubrum)

New York’s state tree, the sugar maple (Acer saccharum), is one of the largest species of hardwood trees. Their leaves turn bright colors in autumn, contributing to New York’s breathtaking fall. Sugar maples can also be tapped and their sap made into maple syrup. They’re good plants to consider if you have a backyard, but not exactly the best idea for a front stoop around Queens or Brookyln.

Because of its cold winters, home fruit growers have to picky about what kinds of fruit trees they grow in New York. The ones that have seen success in New York include mulberry, juneberry, peach, blackberry, and pear trees.

Tallest Tree

The tallest and oldest living tree in New York is located in Queens and known as the Queens Giant. It measures at 134 feet in height and considered to be almost 450 years old. It is also the oldest living thing in the Big Apple. It’s a tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) tree and was last measured in 2005, so it’s probably grow a bit since then.

Difficult to Maintain Trees

There are certain species of trees that New York is asking residents not to plant right now because of the Asian Long Horn Beetle infestation, and those trees include:

• Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
• White ash (Fraxinus americana)
• Green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)
• London plane (Platanus acerifolia)
• American elm (Ulmus americana)

Common Diseases Affecting the Area

Because of its many varieties of trees, New York also has many different types of pests that it deals with. Emerald ash borer, a green beetle that attacks ash trees, is one of their current problems. Hemlock Wooly Adelgid attacks hemlock foliage and draws out their sap, which causes their foliage to drop and prevent further growth. Pine shoot beetles attack pine trees and stunt their growth. Sirex woodwasps also kill pine trees by infecting them with her young. Tent caterpillars are more like pests than real threats and prefer fruit trees and ornamentals. Gypsy moths are not problematic unless in high populations, wherein they can destroy thousands of acres of trees. Viburnum leaf beetles attack ornamental arrowwood leaves and eat them.

Plant Hardiness Zones in New York

Here is the plant hardiness zones in New York as provided by the USDA:

Image Sources:
Pin oak
Queens giant

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