How Much Does Tree Trimming Cost in Nashville?

Ornamental and Small Tree Prices

Small trees are priced per tree because the work is similar from yard to yard: prune dead wood, shape the crown, clear the debris. Regular light pruning, in line with sound ISA practice, usually costs less over time than letting limbs grow into a big correction.

• Redbud, dogwood or crape myrtle within pole-saw reach often sit near $300
• Mid-size sugar maple, hackberry or magnolia trimmed with a lift often land in the middle
• Tall tulip poplar or oak crowns that need rope work can reach $1,200 or more

Height pushes the price up faster than width. Questions about the best time of year are covered in our guide on when to prune trees in Nashville.

Oaks and Large Shade Trees

White oaks, red oaks and southern magnolias are priced by crew time and crown size. Lifting a low limb off a roof and clearing some deadwood is usually at the lower end. Structural pruning on a 70-foot oak, especially with a crane assist, can run well beyond $1,200.

Why Regular Pruning Pays Off

A thinned, balanced crown lets wind pass through instead of pushing against a solid sail, and limbs with healthy attachments hold better in ice and storms. Our tree trimming and pruning follows ANSI A300 standards, so no topping and no lion-tailing.

Power Lines Change the Price

After the late-January 2026 winter storm took out power for more than 230,000 NES customers, the utility moved to more aggressive trimming, with a 15-foot clearance on both sides of its lines. Trees within that zone may be trimmed hard or even removed by NES.

Homeowners own the trees on their lot, but never trim near lines yourself. If branches touch or approach a line, call NES. When a limb sits near the service wire to your house, our crew coordinates the work and keeps it safe, which adds time to the job.

Permits and Metro Rules

A private tree on a single-family lot generally needs no Metro permit to prune. A street tree in the right-of-way belongs to Metro, so call before any cut. Sites under development can have their own tree-protection review.

We check the rules before we start, which can add a few days when a property is under review. Our Nashville tree permit guide walks through how the rules differ from county to county.

Other Things That Move the Number

Storm Timing

Pruning scheduled in the dormant season generally costs our normal rate. After an ice storm or derecho-style wind, hung-up limbs are emergency tree work and carry an after-hours premium. Booking before spring is the easiest way to avoid it.

Access and Cleanup

Back yards behind fences in East Nashville or Berry Hill mean brush gets hand-carried to the chipper, while open front lots are faster. Our quote includes chipping and hauling, so the price covers a tidy lawn.

Hidden Problems

Sometimes trimming reveals decay, a split union or a lean that calls for more than a trim. If a tree is past saving, we say so and price tree removal separately. If support would let you keep it, tree cabling and bracing is priced as an option, never added without asking.

How Often Nashville Trees Need Trimming

Young trees gain the most from structural pruning while their main limbs are still forming, and mature hardwoods can often go a few years between visits. Fast-growing silver maples and Bradford pears deserve a closer look, since weak unions split in wind and ice. A tree health diagnostics check now and then catches trouble before it shows.

Book a Free Trimming Estimate

Tell us which trees and what bothers you about them. We will walk the yard, check trunk size, ownership and wires, and give you a written per-tree price at no cost.