By Emily Rivers
Last updated 16th June 2025

If your garden has any trees in it, it is a good idea to be aware of the need to prune a tree or a bush and how often they need pruning. Pruning trees can be purely for aesthetic value as well as for the health of the tree by ridding the tree of defective diseased branches or to help it grow. Pruning trees can be useful to keep the tree a suitable size for your garden or keep a safe clearance from a structure of your property like a safe distance from damaging any roof tiles.

How much will it cost to prune a tree?

The cost of pruning a tree is determined on many factors including the size of the tree and delicacy of the tree as well as the reason for how the tree is needing to be pruned. If the tree is diseased and you need to prune and cut away branches before it spreads to the rest of the tree, this may require a more skilled tree surgeon who will need to remove the diseased branches and burn them to avoid the disease spreading to other trees.

As you can imagine pruning a rose bush or a dwarf apple tree versus pruning an English oak tree is far easier with less specialised equipment and safety precautions needed. Another factor taken into consideration, is the access to the tree, and whether trimming the tree has any potential for damage caused to any building structures in close proximity of the tree as well as what sort of waste clear-up is needed after pruning. Pruning a rose bush will be as simple as raking up the excess cut-off branches and discarding the garden waste in a brown bin supplied by the council but for the oak tree, branches would have to be loaded on a truck to be removed, or fed through a woodchipper, which can be hired from various D.I.Y. stores including, B&Q.

How much does pruning a tree cost

Unit

Average cost

Pruning a large tree, e.g.; an oak tree

Per day

£1000

Trimming and pruning a small bush or tree

Per day

£120

Crown lifting a large tree

Per day

£1200

Crown lifting a small tree

Per day

£500

Dead wooding a small tree

Per day

£120

General pruning of small trees and shrubs

Per day

£150

Cost to prune a tree

How to prune a tree without killing it?

Pruning a tree will help the overall appearance and keep it strong and healthy. Pruning a tree should start when the tree is young and first planted. When you plant a tree that you have just bought from the garden centre, from the transplanting stage some of its roots have been severed which means the tree is no longer in proportion re: roots to crown, so ¼ off the top of the tree needs to be cut off. From existing trees always prune away dead or dying branches. Pruning a tree correctly means choosing which branches to leave and which to remove. Branches that are rubbing against others must be removed, as well as suckers and water sprouts (branches that are growing upright) or any branches starting too close to the ground near the base of the stem. When pruning, keep the wound cut as small as possible so slice at an angle and cut slightly away from main stem to not damage any bark from the main stem. Research for the best time of year to prune your tree as they all vary, e.g.; Apple trees best to prune every winter but Cherry trees best to prune in summer. 

How to prune a Topiary tree to keep it small?

A common tree pruned in the UK to stay small and attractively shaped, are Topiary trees. These trees have a main stem with various shaped foliage. They often need pruning in summer when the leaves are hard and leathery. The easiest way to trim or prune your Topiary tree is to follow the existing shape, cutting off young sappy growth, using scissors or sharp secateurs. Always be on the safe side and do a few layers of light trimming than one heavy drastic prune.

How to prune roses and apple trees?

Rose bushes should be pruned early Spring before the tree starts to bloom. The trick to pruning, is to prune from the base making your way up. Remove any dead or broken twigs and remove any gangly thin twigs. Cut away the upright branches. Shape the rose bush by pruning off new growth. Before you begin pruning, it is best to research which species rose bush you have, as some roses bloom once on new wood, whereas another variety may bloom once on old wood, of course there are the repeat bloomers.

Apple trees need to be pruned every winter to ensure year on year healthy fruit production. Pruning an apple tree is like pruning other trees, first remove any branches that are dead or damaged. Remove any branches growing from the base of the tree and thin branches growing upright as these just take energy from the tree and will not produce fruit. Cut off any low hanging branches. When pruning, get a good shape on your apple tree, where top branches are shorter than the lower branches.

Get the best tree pruning quotes for your garden

HaMuch can help you with sourcing the best quotes when looking for a local gardener, tree surgeon or even landscaper to help with your pruning needs as well as any garden maintenance jobs you are struggling with. Just post your job, it is quick and easy, and see who is available at the best price for you.


Estimates for common gardener jobs;

JobEstimate
Cost to weed a garden£45
Cost to turf a lawn£320
Cost to prune a tree£60
Cost to plant shrubs£25
Cost to mow the lawn£25
Remove Japanese knotweed £1,750
Cost to remove a hedge£144
Garden clearance£500
Remove bamboo£650
2. Enter postcode to get estimate
plus materials

to see who is available and get more information

Rates for other trades

Prune a tree cost in the UK
Prune a tree cost in the UK (excluding VAT or callout charges)
Location in UKPrune a tree cost
Prune a tree near London£146
Prune a tree near Birmingham£106
Prune a tree near Glasgow£114
Prune a tree near Leeds£126
Prune a tree near Liverpool£118
Prune a tree near Sheffield£114
Prune a tree near Edinburgh£106
Prune a tree near Manchester£122
Prune a tree near Belfast£114
Prune a tree near Bristol£130
Prune a tree near Leicester£98
Prune a tree near Cardiff£194
Prune a tree near Coventry£94
Prune a tree near Bradford£102
Prune a tree near Nottingham£114
Prune a tree near Newcastle Upon Tyne£150
Prune a tree near Brighton and Hove£122
Prune a tree near Derby£110
Prune a tree near Hull£82
Prune a tree near Plymouth£78
Prune a tree near Stoke-on-Trent£122
Prune a tree near Southampton£134
Prune a tree near Northampton£106
Prune a tree near Wolverhampton£110
Prune a tree near Luton£126
Prune a tree near Portsmouth£130
Prune a tree near Reading£134
Prune a tree near Norwich£94
Prune a tree near Milton Keynes£110
Prune a tree near Bournemouth£142
Prune a tree near Aberdeen£106
Prune a tree near Peterborough£126
Prune a tree near Bolton£122
Prune a tree near Swindon£134
Prune a tree near Southend-on-Sea£114
Prune a tree near Warrington£122
Prune a tree near Oxford£138
Prune a tree near Swansea£102
Prune a tree near Sunderland£138
Prune a tree near Slough£142
Prune a tree near Kingswood£126
Prune a tree near Telford£110
Prune a tree near Cambridge£106
Prune a tree near Ipswich£102
Prune a tree near Blackpool£110
Prune a tree near Middlesbrough£82
Prune a tree near Dundee£94
Prune a tree near Huddersfield£106
Prune a tree near York£94
Prune a tree near Poole£142
Prune a tree near Watford£154
Prune a tree near Newport£122
Prune a tree near Colchester£118
Prune a tree near Exeter£114
Prune a tree near Blackburn£146
Prune a tree near Crawley£142
Prune a tree near Gloucester£130
Prune a tree near Stockport£118
Prune a tree near Basingstoke£134
Prune a tree near Basildon£138
Prune a tree near Cheltenham£142
Prune a tree near Gateshead£150
Prune a tree near Worthing£126
Prune a tree near Rochdale£118
Prune a tree near Oldham£118
Prune a tree near Chelmsford£122
Prune a tree near Birkenhead£118
Prune a tree near Maidstone£134
Prune a tree near Gillingham£126
Prune a tree near Salford£118
Prune a tree near Solihull£102
Prune a tree near St Helens£122
Prune a tree near Worcester£198
Prune a tree near Lincoln£142
Prune a tree near West Bromwich£106
Prune a tree near Eastbourne£110
Prune a tree near Wakefield£154
Prune a tree near Wythenshawe£122
Prune a tree near Bedford£118
Prune a tree near Hemel Hempstead£142
Prune a tree near Preston£122
Prune a tree near Stevenage£134
Prune a tree near Southport£102
Prune a tree near Bath£122
Prune a tree near Harlow£142
Prune a tree near Sutton Coldfield£106
Prune a tree near Darlington£82
Prune a tree near Chester£126
Prune a tree near Hastings£110
Prune a tree near Nuneaton£102
Prune a tree near Halifax£106
Prune a tree near Hartlepool£98
Prune a tree near Aylesbury£122
Prune a tree near Doncaster£106
Prune a tree near Grimsby£74
Prune a tree near Wallasey£122
Prune a tree near Stockton-on-Tees£82
Prune a tree near Weston-super-Mare£118
Prune a tree near High Wycombe£142
Prune a tree near Ashford£122
Prune a tree near Redditch£106
Prune a tree near Wigan£122
Prune a tree near Scunthorpe£98
Prune a tree near Bury£118
Prune a tree near Paisley£118
Prune a tree near Bracknell£134
Prune a tree near Burnley£122
Prune a tree near Rugby£102
Prune a tree near Guildford£138
Prune a tree near Carlisle£90
Prune a tree near Chatham£126
Prune a tree near East Kilbride£110
Prune a tree near Newcastle-under-Lyme£122
Prune a tree near Chesterfield£114
Prune a tree near Burton upon Trent£122
Prune a tree near Tamworth£106
Prune a tree near Shrewsbury£106
Prune a tree near Woking£138
Prune a tree near St Albans£146
Prune a tree near Harrogate£90
Prune a tree near Crewe£138
Prune a tree near South Shields£142
Prune a tree near Craigavon£98
Prune a tree near Stafford£118
Prune a tree near Rotherham£118
Prune a tree near Barnsley£110
Prune a tree near Lowestoft£94
Prune a tree near Walsall£110
Prune a tree near Gosport£130
Prune a tree near Dartford£138
Prune a tree near Bognor Regis£126
Prune a tree near Corby£106
Prune a tree near Paignton£110
Prune a tree near Maidenhead£146
Prune a tree near Rochester£126
Prune a tree near Ellesmere Port£122
Prune a tree near Loughborough£102
Prune a tree near Dudley£106
Prune a tree near Bangor£98
Prune a tree near Dewsbury£114
Prune a tree near Mansfield£126
Prune a tree near Margate£134
Prune a tree near Kettering£110
Prune a tree near Cannock£106
Prune a tree near Sale£126
Prune a tree near Taunton£82
Prune a tree near Runcorn£162
Prune a tree near Farnborough£134
Prune a tree near Tynemouth£142
Prune a tree near Hereford£126
Prune a tree near Halesowen£106
Prune a tree near Widnes£150
Prune a tree near Huyton with Roby£118
Prune a tree near Scarborough£122
Prune a tree near Gravesend£134
Prune a tree near Bebington£122
Prune a tree near Kidderminster£110
Prune a tree near Stourbridge£106
Prune a tree near Barry£122
Prune a tree near Smethwick£110
Prune a tree near Dunfermline£102
Prune a tree near Livingston£114
Prune a tree near Weymouth£102
Prune a tree near Brentwood£130
Prune a tree near Barrow-in-Furness£106
Prune a tree near Hamilton£98
Prune a tree near Canterbury£122
Prune a tree near Wellingborough£106
Prune a tree near Sittingbourne£122
Prune a tree near Macclesfield£122
Prune a tree near Bootle£122
Prune a tree near Carlton£114
Prune a tree near Esher£146
Prune a tree near Clacton-on-Sea£102
Prune a tree near Lancaster£106
Prune a tree near Beeston£130
Prune a tree near Banbury£118
Prune a tree near Torquay£110
Prune a tree near Folkestone£110
Prune a tree near Kingswinford£106
Prune a tree near Bloxwich£114
Prune a tree near Bridgend£110
Prune a tree near Welwyn Garden City£142
Prune a tree near Lisburn£126
Prune a tree near Leamington Spa£94
Prune a tree near Washington£138
Prune a tree near Tunbridge Wells£134
Prune a tree near Kirkcaldy£138
Prune a tree near Hinckley£98
Prune a tree near Durham£130
Prune a tree near Cumbernauld£106
Prune a tree near Wokingham£130
Prune a tree near Horsham£142
Prune a tree near Crosby£130
Prune a tree near Yeovil£102
Prune a tree near Thundersley£126
Prune a tree near Altrincham£122
Prune a tree near Willenhall£110
Prune a tree near Christchurch£134
Prune a tree near Keighley£102