Tree removal can be an expensive but necessary task for homeowners, especially when the trees pose risks to property or safety. Fortunately, various programs exist to help seniors, veterans, and low-income households.
This guide provides a complete overview of the free and discounted tree removal options, including government grants, non-profit initiatives, and assistance programs.
Before we start it’s worth pointing out that tree services will not remove trees for free. They run a business and have bills to pay and families to feed, so the money does have to come from somewhere.
There are unique cases where a tree or trees, have more value in timber than it costs to cut them down, so tree removal in exchange for wood is possible in certain scenarios, but it is rare.
Most of the time the money comes from the government in the form of grants and assistance programs.
How Much Does Tree Removal Typically Cost?
The cost of removing trees varies greatly from tree to tree and city to city. It even varies depending on whether you get your tree removed in summer or winter. That is a subject beyond the scope of this post, but I have a very detailed guide about the removal of trees and their cost here which will answer all your questions.
Generally, tree removal costs range from $500 to $7,700. The average cost of tree removal is $1,257.
How much you pay for tree removal depends on:
- Size of the tree to remove
- Number of trees to remove
- Tools used
- How long it will take to complete the job
- Type of the tree
- The health of the tree. Healthy trees are difficult to remove. Arborists will charge you more for difficult-to-remove healthy trees
- Access to your location
Free Tree Removal for Seniors
There is no country-wide federal program to assist seniors with tree removal. However, lots of cities and counties have their own programs. Most are geared towards dead, dying, or hazardous trees.
If your city or county does not have a program, we will discuss other ways for you to get your tree removed for free or for a lesser amount in this article so keep on reading.
Hazardous Tree Removal and Tree Assistance Programs for Seniors
Escambia County, Florida
For trees that are posing a danger to your residence in Escambia County, you can take advantage of the Community Redevelopment Agency’s Residential Hazardous Tree Program.
As a senior, you will be able to avail of free tree trimming or removal if your household income does not exceed 80 percent of Escambia County Median Area Income.
Also, the tree to be removed or its limb must have obvious signs of rot or damage. Your property must also be free of outstanding judgment liens, code violations, and/or delinquent taxes.
Funding is based on availability and will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. The CRA will be providing a licensed and insured contractor to take care of the tree trimming or removal as the case may be.
You can reach out to the Escambia CRA for free tree removal at 221 Palafox Place, Suite 305, Pensacola FL 32502, or send an email to CRA@myescambia.com.
Alabama Home Maintenance Services for Seniors
Several home maintenance services for seniors are obtainable in Alabama. Free tree removal is one of them. You can request for free tree removal services from the local providers in this database.
Eldorado County, California
If you’re a low-income senior in El Dorado County, California, we have good news. The County of El Dorado and the California Department of Forestry (CAL FIRE) have extended their Tree Mortality grant to aged low-income homeowners who are 60 years of age or older.
There is approximately $200,000 set aside to help senior citizens remove dead and dying trees that endanger their residences.
To be eligible for this offer, the tree must be:
- Dead or dying
- Greater than 10 inches in diameter and 20 feet in height
- Within 300 feet of and pose a structural threat to, the residence
- Reasonably accessible by equipment or machinery
To apply for this free tree removal for seniors, you can contact the Community Development Services, Housing Community, and Economic Development Program at (530) 621-5159.
Amador County, California
In an effort to improve public safety, Amador County has launched a new project to remove dead and dying trees west of Highway 49. A recent survey identified hazardous trees that threaten roads, public travel, and private property. Right-of-entry forms have been sent to 111 property owners where these dangerous trees were found.
Through the County’s tree mortality program, marked trees and debris will be removed at no cost to property owners including seniors, with state-funded reimbursement.
Other Ways Seniors Can Get Free or Cheap Tree Removal
If you’re a senior looking for free tree removal services, you may need to assess the value of such trees. If they are trees like palm trees that are considered valuable, you may be optimistic about free tree removal. Non-valuable trees on the other hand will mostly require you to pay for the service, though at a discount.
1. Free Tree Removal for Exotic Trees
If you’re planning to remove an exotic tree that serves the needs of landscapers, you may get the tree removed for free and get paid as well. Such trees are seen as collector’s items but it’s difficult to come across trees that fit into this category.
Some examples of exotic landscaping trees include:
- Oriental Beech
- Silver Lime
- Pacific Red Cedar
- Tsuga de Californie
- Sessile Oak and a whole host of palm trees
2. Get Help From an Experienced Neighbor
You may be lucky to get help from a neighbor who is experienced with tree removal if he or she is equipped with the right tools. Once you are able to communicate your needs in your neighborhood, it is very likely to get help from your neighbors as a senior.
3. Homeowners Insurance Coverage
In some cases tree removal is covered by homeowners’ insurance, but only after the tree has fallen in a storm or by other means.
If the tree falls and damages your home, fence, car, or any other item of value, you actually have a much better chance of getting your insurance to foot the bill. Your insurance company will not come to the party for a perfectly healthy tree you wish to remove.
If you have a dead tree that has fallen due to neglect, you may have a hard time getting the insurance company paying for the removal as they may argue you had neglected to maintain your trees and property.
4. Private Tree Removal Companies’ Discount Programs
There are several subsidized or discounted programs for seniors offered by private tree removal companies. These companies may be optimistic about carving a good name for themselves or are compelled to offer such free service to seniors as a government requirement.
It costs a tree company $500 – $7,700 per day in expenses to run with labor, equipment, fuel, insurance, etc. so they will need to cover costs and make a living on top of that so although most tree companies are charitable, they are not charities so they need to make a living to support their families.
You can check out the Ultimate Tree Service in Alabama. They offer a 10% discount to seniors.
Free Tree Removal in Exchange For Wood
Eliminating the fees associated with tree removal may seem like an ideal scenario, but it’s not always attainable. The fact of the matter is, services aren’t provided without cost, and the financial support must originate from some source.
However, there are circumstances when you can secure free tree removal, or drastically reduce the costs. Below are 6 options you can take advantage of to get your tree removed for free.
Free Tree Removal for Wood
Similar to the exotic trees, some other trees are also valuable due to the quality of timber they produce. Removing your tree free of charge in exchange for wood is possible but rare.
Examples of trees that can be removed for free due to their valuable timber are:
- Ashwood
- Kingwood
- Oak Tree
- Western Red Cedar
- Black Cherry Wood
- Swietenia Mahogany Wood
- Rosewood of the Dalbergia species
Other desirable timbers are Tulipwood, Cocobolo, African blackwood, and Bombay blackwood.
If the tree you want to remove from your property is deemed valuable, you could actually get free tree removal in exchange for the wood. In this case, you need to make it known to tree removal companies close to you.
Such a company will be selling the timber to a logging company to compensate for the service you should pay for.
You can also put up an ad in an online forum, Craigslist, Gum Tree, the local laundromat, or the library.
Ways to Get Free Tree Removal or Offset Costs by Offering Wood
Money to pay for tree removal needs to come from somewhere. Whether it’s in the resale value of the wood, the tree itself or government programs.
1. Contact Your Utility Company
If the tree in question is near power lines, your utility companies will want to remove the tree to protect their asset, the power lines. It would go on a case-by-case basis, but your first step would be to contact them and let them know your a tree close to or touching their power lines.
An example is Seattle City Light’s Electrical Safety Tree Trimming Program. Seattle’s Power Line Clearance team and contractor crews work to maintain safe and reliable electric service. They are always ready to remove branches, limbs, and hazardous trees from power lines. You can learn more about the tree trimming and removal program here.
2. Free Wood for Logging Companies
A large consideration for logging companies is the amount of wood they can get for their effort. Before you contact a logging company, ensure that you have a substantial number of trees. They will usually negotiate free tree removal in exchange for the wood on large plantations of 1 acre or more.
They will not work for regular residential tree removal. The more trees you want to be removed for free, the more likely a logging company will do it for you.
When engaging a logging company, you also need to know the species and value of your tree. The type of tree or wood needs to be desirable and there needs to be enough of it so they make a profit.
3. Get the City to Remove Trees for Free
If a tree is located on city property but extends onto your property, you can request the city to remove it. This is because street trees are owned and maintained by local governments. Your local government will hire professionals to remove the trees.
However, they will not remove a tree that is fully on your private property, as it falls outside their jurisdiction.
4. Lumber Mills Buy Quality Timber
Lumber mills are where logging companies take their timber to be milled. This is where the money is made on timber as it turns into usable lengths. One way to get trees removed for free is to skip the middleman (the logging company) and deal directly with a timber mill. Let them know the types of trees and quantity so you can secure the deal faster.
Once you have that price, you can approach logging companies to do the job for less than the lumber mill is paying you. This is essentially free tree removal in exchange for wood, but it requires a little bit more work.
5. Post an Ad on Facebook Marketplace
This will not get you free tree removal but rather offset the costs. When you get a tree service to quote the removal of your tree, ask for a price to cut down and cut up the tree, but leave the logs on site. This will normally save you 20 – 40% off the price of the job.
Then take a photo of the timber and post it on eBay, Marketplace or Craigs List. People will bid to buy it from you, but the kicker is, they will also turn up and haul it away. This should bring the overall cost of tree removal down to an even 50% off.
6. Nurseries and Landscaping Companies
Established trees like Olive trees and many types of palm trees are sought by nurseries and landscaping companies. If you have the right tree in the right location, they will come and haul it away free of charge. This is rare, as you need to have the right tree at the right time in a good location for access by heavy machinery. I recommend phoning nurseries in your city and asking if they purchase established trees.
7. Check Your Neighborhood
Lots of Americans struggle to heat their homes during winter so there are plenty of people in your neighborhood who would happily come and cut down your tree in exchange for the firewood.
8. Trees for Landscaping
The following trees are very popular with landscaping companies are they are reasonably easy to transplant and can fetch a high price for the right specimen. Talk to some local landscape companies and see if they are working on a project that requires one of the following. Send a picture and see if they are interested.
- Red Maple
- Jacaranda
- Sea Grape
- Frangipani
- Silk Trees
- Palm Trees
Are All Trees Worth Money?
No. Most large trees are not worth anything except for maybe $200 in firewood timber. But even firewood takes 2 years of drying, cutting, splitting, loading and delivering.
For your tree to be valuable enough to be hauled away for free, it would need to be easily dug out and resold as a mature tree, or the timber should be worth a lot of money.