Palm tree removal cost

Thinking about removing a palm tree? Perhaps your palm tree is growing too close to an electrical wire. Perhaps you’d like to build an extension and your palm tree is in the way. Or, perhaps your palm tree has sadly developed a disease. Whatever your reasons, we’ve broken down the average palm tree removal cost to help.

How much does it cost to remove a palm tree?

Palm trees cost on average between £140 – £1,000 to remove. However, the total cost to remove a palm tree will depend on its size and maturity. A small palm can cost much less to remove, while a very tall one can cost a great deal more.

If you have a particularly high palm tree that’s hard to reach, it might be best to hire a cherry picker so that your professional can work safely. This is likely to cost around £25 – £30 per hour for a one person crew.

Although palm trees can be costly to remove, mature palms are in high demand for landscaping. So, if you have a particularly tall palm that you need removing, you may be able to resell it to balance out the cost of having it removed. In fact, you could even make a profit!

How can you tackle palm tree root system removal

If you have to remove a damaged or diseased palm tree, it will often simply be cut down to the stump. However, palm trees have extensive root systems hidden below ground. If you’d like to use the area for planting in future, it’s advisable to remove the stump and roots completely to improve the soil structure.

There are a few different ways to remove a palm tree’s root system, some of which are more time-consuming (and therefore more costly) than others.

Stump grinders

A stump grinder is a power tool that grinds stumps up into tiny pieces. The machine is pushed into the stump from behind and is operated in a similar way to how you might operate a lawnmower.

It’s easy to hire one yourself from a home improvement centre. However, you can also hire a professional operator if you’re not confident or if you’d simply like to save time. The main downside to using a stump grinder is that the roots will still be in place. To remove them, you’ll need to dig them out of the soil after grinding.

Heavy machinery

If your palm tree is very large, you may need to use heavy machinery such as a backhoe to remove it. This is the fastest way to remove both the stump and roots at the same time but it has a high price tag to match. You could consider splitting the cost with neighbours if there are multiple palm tree stumps to remove in your area.

Make sure to hire a professional who has the relevant training and experience to operate heavy machinery. This way, you can be sure the stump is removed safely and strategically, without causing any harm to your property.

By hand

This is the cheapest but most time-consuming method of removing your palm tree’s stump and roots. By using a powered spade, you can dig a circle around the tree stump, about a metre away. This will loosen the stump and roots, which can then be pulled out of the ground.

Chemical considerations

The final method is to use stump removal chemicals that work to disintegrate your tree stump. However, we’d advise against this where possible. Although the other methods involve tough manual labour, they produce results right away. On the other hand, stump removal chemicals can take months or even years to completely disintegrate a tree stump, particularly if the stump is large.

For more information about how to remove tree stumps and roots, read our guide on how to remove a tree stump.

Reasons to remove a palm tree

Although palm trees are beautiful plants, there are times when there’s no other option than to remove one. Here are a few reasons why you might need to remove your palm tree:

• Location: You may need to remove your palm tree because it’s in a spot you need to use for something else, or because it’s growing too close to things like electrical wires.
• Disease: If your palm is diseased, it could end up falling. Not only could this cause thousands of pounds of damage to your property but it could be extremely dangerous.
• Maintenance: Palm trees need to be trimmed and pruned regularly. If you’re unable to maintain your palm tree, you won’t be able to keep it in good health.

FAQs

Can palm trees grow in the UK?

Yes, palm trees can grow in the UK. In fact, they’re commonly used as structural plants in British gardens to add a tropical touch. That said, they grow slowly. They also need a lot of space around them as they don’t compete very well with other plants and they need plenty of light.

How do I get rid of an unwanted palm tree?

There are a number of methods that can be used to get rid of an unwanted palm tree, from using heavy machinery to removing it by hand. If you’re not sure what method would suit you best, we’d recommend getting a professional to take a look.

How hard is it to dig up a palm tree?

It depends on the size of the palm tree and how mature it is. That said, digging up and transplanting a palm tree is generally easier than doing so with broadleaf trees of a similar size. Make sure to moisten the soil before digging it out, and if possible, wait until springtime to give your palm the best chance of recovering quickly.

Do palm trees have deep roots?

Palm tree roots tend to grow no deeper than 36 inches, which isn’t particularly deep. Instead, they grow out horizontally, forming a root ball.

Are palm trees easy to remove?

Palm trees are relatively easy to remove, however, they are very heavy. This means you could cause damage to surrounding structures if you don’t remove your palm tree in a controlled way. For this reason, we’d recommend getting a professional in to help.

Finding a professional

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