Tree Planting
Plant Today, Enjoy for Decades
Planting a tree is an investment in your property's beauty, shade, and value for decades to come, but getting it right takes more than digging a hole. The right species, location, and planting technique determine whether a tree thrives or struggles.
A good pro helps you choose species suited to your climate and soil, places them where they'll flourish without threatening structures or lines, and plants them correctly so they establish strong roots. That expertise pays off for the life of the tree.
Abode connects you with local tree planting pros and arborists. Compare specialists, understand the cost, and grow a landscape that lasts.
Did You Know?
Mature trees and a well-designed landscape are among the outdoor features buyers are most willing to pay for, so today's planting can pay off at resale.
Tree Planting Cost. How Much Do Projects Cost?
Most projects run between $100 and $1,300. The average price is typically around $350. The $100 to $1,300 range covers nursery container stock planted, from a 5-gallon sapling at the bottom to a 10 to 20 ft tree at the top, and the size you buy is what sets the price. Balled-and-burlapped and large-caliper specimen trees are a different purchase at about $400 per diameter inch delivered and installed, or $840 to $3,200, and on that stock the planting fee roughly equals the price of the tree, so delivery and labor can double the invoice. Moving an existing tree is not the same job as buying a new one, at $300 to $700 and up to $5,000 for an extra-large specimen, and every new tree needs watering through its first season, which is where the real cost of a tree that does not survive shows up.
Typical duration: 1 to 3 hours per tree
| Cost Factor | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Small container tree (5-gallon, 4-6 ft) | $100-$300 | Includes the tree and the planting; the tree itself is only $50-$150 of that |
| Medium container tree (15-gallon, 8-10 ft) | $300-$700 | The tree is $100-$400 and the planting labor $100-$300, billed at $50-$100 per hour |
| Large container tree (10-20 ft) | $400-$1,300 installed | The tree is $250-$800 and the planting labor $150-$500, so the labor is roughly half the invoice |
| Balled-and-burlapped or caliper specimen | $840-$3,200 installed | About $400 per diameter inch delivered and planted, so $800 at 2 inches and $1,600 at 4; tree-spaded 4-8 inch stock reaches the top |
| Transplanting an existing tree | $300-$700 per tree | Up to $5,000 for an extra-large specimen, and a $400-$500 equipment minimum applies whenever a skid steer or tree spade is set |
Cost data verified August 28, 2026. How we source cost data.
08/28/2026
Signs You Need Tree Planting
- Wanting shade, privacy, or curb appeal
- A bare or sparse landscape
- Replacing a removed tree
- Establishing a windbreak or screen
- Increasing property value with mature plantings
Is It Right For You?
Who It's For
- Homeowners adding trees for shade, privacy, or value
- Anyone wanting professional species and placement guidance
Who It's Not For
- A single small shrub a homeowner can plant
- Landscapes better served by other plantings
What to Watch Out For
Trees need care and watering to establish
Mature stock and transplanting raise the price
Alternatives to Consider
| Alternative | Better When | Worse When |
|---|---|---|
| DIY planting | Cheap for small saplings | Wrong species or placement can doom the tree |
| Faster-growing alternatives | Quicker shade | May be shorter-lived or messier than a well-chosen tree |
Is It Worth It?
Professional tree planting is worth it for proper species selection and placement, giving trees the best start and protecting a decades-long investment.
Questions to Ask Your Pro
- Which species suit my climate, soil, and space?
- Where's the safest place to plant for the mature size?
- What care does the tree need to establish?
Frequently Asked Questions
Nursery container stock runs $100 to $1,300 per tree planted, averaging around $350, and the size you buy sets the price: a 5-gallon sapling is $100 to $300, a 15-gallon tree $300 to $700, and a 10 to 20 ft tree $400 to $1,300. Balled-and-burlapped and large-caliper specimen trees are a separate purchase at about $400 per diameter inch installed, or $840 to $3,200.
Less of it is the tree than most people expect. On a large container tree the stock is $250 to $800 and the planting labor $150 to $500, and on balled-and-burlapped stock the installation fee roughly equals the price of the tree, so a $750 evergreen can carry a $600 planting fee on top.
The main drivers are the size and form of the stock you buy, whether it is container, balled-and-burlapped, or caliper specimen, whether the tree is newly planted or transplanted from elsewhere, and site conditions like soil and access.
Transplanting runs $300 to $700 per tree and up to $5,000 for an extra-large specimen, and a $400 to $500 equipment minimum applies any time a skid steer or tree spade has to be set.
A pro chooses species suited to your climate and soil, places them safely away from structures and lines, and plants them for strong root establishment.
Proper watering, mulching, and early care are key, especially through the first season, since post-planting losses cost more than the difference between one tree and another.
