The average tree trimming cost in Palm Bay and Brevard County is $150 to $2,000 per tree, and $75 to $250 per palm. Where your tree lands depends on its height, how much needs to come off, how hard it is to reach, and whether it’s routine maintenance or a neglected tree that hasn’t been touched in a decade. Here’s what Kevin’s Tree Service and other licensed Brevard crews charge, and how to keep the bill down.
Tree Trimming Cost by Size
| Tree size | Typical price | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 30 ft) | $150 – $400 | Crape myrtle, young oak, magnolia, citrus |
| Medium (30 – 60 ft) | $400 – $900 | Laurel oak, mature live oak, slash pine |
| Large (over 60 ft) | $900 – $2,000+ | Heritage live oak, tall pines, large canopy trees |
Palm Tree Trimming Cost
- Queen, sabal, or foxtail palm under 30 ft: $75 – $150
- Mid-size palms (30 – 50 ft): $150 – $250
- Tall Washingtonias and royals (50 ft+): $250 – $400, more if a bucket truck is needed
Palms are priced per tree and there’s a real volume discount: trimming eight palms on one visit costs much less per palm than one. Most Brevard palms need trimming once a year to remove dead fronds and seed pods — never green fronds, and never a “hurricane cut,” which weakens the palm. See our palm trimming page.
What Drives Tree Trimming Cost Up
- Neglect. A live oak trimmed every three years is a quick job. One that hasn’t been touched in fifteen has heavy deadwood, crossing limbs, and a dense canopy. Catching up costs two to three times a maintenance trim.
- Height and reach. Anything a climber can’t reach safely needs a bucket truck, which adds equipment time.
- Over structures. Limbs over a roof, pool cage, or neighbor’s property have to be rigged and lowered rather than dropped.
- Power lines. Trees touching FPL lines require extra clearance work and sometimes FPL coordination.
- Type of pruning. Deadwooding is cheapest. Crown thinning, crown reduction, and structural pruning take longer and require a trained climber who knows where to cut.
- Cleanup. Hauling the brush is included in our quotes; some low-ball quotes leave it curbside.
How to Lower Your Tree Trimming Cost
- Trim multiple trees in one visit.
- Keep a regular schedule — every 2 to 3 years for hardwoods, yearly for palms.
- Schedule outside hurricane season (January through April is ideal), when crews aren’t on storm calls.
- Keep the chips as mulch.
Is It Worth Paying for a Professional?
Bad trimming does permanent damage. Topping a tree, lion-tailing (stripping the inside of the canopy), and flush cuts all create weak, decaying growth that fails in the next hurricane. The “cheap guy” who topped your oak for $200 just created a $2,000 removal job three years from now. Proper pruning follows ANSI A300 standards promoted by the International Society of Arboriculture, keeps the tree’s structure intact, and actually reduces wind load so the tree survives storms. That’s what you’re paying for.
How Often Should Brevard Trees Be Trimmed?
- Live oaks and laurel oaks: every 2–3 years; more often if over a roof.
- Slash and sand pines: deadwood every 2–3 years; thinning as needed.
- Palms: once a year, dead fronds and pods only.
- Crape myrtles and ornamentals: light annual shaping — not “crape murder.”
Get your storm-prep trimming done by the end of May. Hurricane season starts June 1 and reputable Brevard crews book up fast.
Get a Free Trimming Estimate
We don’t quote trimming blind. Kevin comes out, looks at the trees, and gives you a written price for exactly what needs to be done — and tells you if something doesn’t need trimming at all. Call or text 321-914-9936. We serve Palm Bay, Melbourne, West Melbourne, Malabar, the beaches, Viera, Rockledge, Cocoa, and Merritt Island.
