How Much Does Tree Removal Cost?

Tree removal in the city of San Antonio costs residents about $774 on average. If disease, drought, or other circumstances happen to end the tree’s life prematurely, it’s best to taken it down before it takes out power lines, ruins yards or causes any other unwanted damage. This price can change and go lower to about $631 or rise to about $917, depending on the type of tree, its circumference around the trunk or special circumstance concerning the tree’s proximity to power lines or the house.

How Much Does Stump Removal Cost?

If a tree’s already been removed but the stump’s still there, then removing it will cost residents between $200 to $250 on average and take about five hours on the part of the arborists. Whether they grind the stump down into wood chips and leave it in the ground or uproot it completely will determine the end price. Speak with your arborist about what works best for your budget and yard plans.

Average Cost of Tree Maintenance in San Antonio

Tree maintenance in San Antonio will cost tree owners an average of $508, depending on the season, type of trees, number of trees and the state they’re in when the arborist first comes out to prune, trim or cut them. With regular maintenance, the price could come down to $431, or it could rise to $585 if they don’t come out often enough to do tree maintenance. Speak with the arborist about setting out a plan.

Best Time to Remove a Tree

The best time of year to remove a tree in San Antonio is in January and February. In the cooler months, there’s less new growth, making pruning and maintenance easier. This will make uprooting them from the ground easier as well, as the roots will be easier to get out from the ground as compared to during the summer. Schedule an appointment to have the tree removed or heavily pruned around these months with an arborist if possible, unless the tree is in a diseased state or a danger to the home or power lines.

Common Trees to Plant in San Antonio

Despite the extreme heat that hits San Antonio in the summer, there are quite a few trees that can survive and even thrive in the heat.  The pecan tree (carya illinoensis) has been the state tree of Texas since 1919. Pecan trees have been in Texas for a long time, and they grow to heights of over 150 feet, even through the heat waves. Some others trees to consider planting in your yard include:

• Retama (Parkinsonia aculeata)
• Anacacho orchid (Bauhinia congesta)
• Chinkapin oak (Quercus muhlenbergii)
• Texas ebony (Pithecellobium flexicaule)

There are some fruit trees that can endure the summers in San Antonio and yield fruit during harvest season. These include apples, peaches, pears, plums, persimmons, plums, nectarines, and figs. Citrus fruits, while they enjoy warm heat temperatures in places like California and Florida, cannot endure the level and length of heat that San Antonio offers.

Difficult to Maintain Trees

The problem with areas like San Antonio is that drought years can kill a lot of trees. In 2011, the severe drought in Texas killed half a million trees, and it was across the board of species. So planting any trees in San Antonio that need a lot of water runs a high risk of dying during the summer when there’s little rainfall and a good chance of water shortage. It’s best to stick with the native trees.

Common Diseases Affecting San Antonio’s Trees

Oak wilt is a major disease in the San Antonio area, affecting many of the trees and infecting almost a dozen of them every month. This disease can be deadly to oak tree if not treated properly and almost immediately when first spotted. Another is fire blight, which is attacking fruit trees like pears and making them appear as though they’ve been scorched by fire. It’s important to be aware of these diseases and protect your trees against them if possible by talking to an arborist.

Rules Regarding Trees and Overhead Power Lines

City Public Service Energy, San Antonio’s utility company, recommends utility-friendly, understory trees whose maximum height is 25 feet can be planted within five feet of power lines and within 10 feet of power poles. Plant canopy trees with a height of 30 feet or higher should be planted at least 25 feet from utility lines. The utility company also comes around and will prune vegetation if it’s too close to the power lines, so it’s important for residents to maintain their trees, unless they want a bad cutting job performed on their trees.

Plant Hardiness Zones for East Texas

Here are the plant hardiness zones for East Texas as provided by the USDA:

Image Sources:
Retama flowers
Persimmons tree

Local Tree Services in San Antonio

 

Featured Tree Services in San Antonio