The Average Cost to Plant a Tree

Tree Costs

• The first cost to consider is the average price of trees. Tree prices differ based on their availability. However, on average, your typical tree costs around $200. More expensive varieties of trees include blue spruce, which can cost $350 or more. If you already have a tree and are transplanting it, or starting a tree from a seed, this cost is not a factor in the overall price.

Moving the Tree

• Another cost to consider is moving the tree itself. If the tree is located at a nursery, moving it to your home may be very expensive. If you do not have a pickup truck to move the tree, delivery is required. A short trip across town may cost anywhere from $40 to $75. Transporting the tree several miles from a nursery will cost between $75 and $200, depending on how far and how large the tree is.

Planting the Tree

• The actual planting of the tree costs nothing if you do the work yourself. If you hire a tree specialist or landscaper to plant the tree, they will charge a set fee or hourly rate. Landscapers charge anywhere from $25 to $60 or more an hour, depending on their experience and professional rates. A typical tree planting takes at least two hours or more, even for a small tree. A hole is dug, the tree is planted and supported and fencing installed if necessary. For large trees, planting costs are much higher and range into the hundreds. This cost is often bundled with the delivery and transportation fee.

Tree Care Costs

• Once the tree is planted, caring for the tree requires minimal costs. Watering the tree and applying fertilizer or pest repellent is all most trees require. Ensuring the tree remains upright and supported requires minimal costs as well. Altogether, the additional cost of maintaining the tree averages between $50 to $100 per year. The only other additional expense is tree service from your landscaper, if required. This price is very difficult to estimate. It is usually added onto your landscaping bill, and the price varies widely based on the type of service rendered, how often it is rendered and your landscaper's rates.