Service guide for owners
Selling tree planting: a guide for tree company owners
Removals pay the bills, but planting brings customers back. It is calmer work, it fills slow weeks, and every removal is a chance to offer a new tree. This guide shows what customers search for, how to describe planting online, how to price it from your own costs, and how to keep warranty risk low.
By Umair Nawaz, Lirevon. Last reviewed: October 2026. General information, not legal or insurance advice.
Why tree planting fits a tree company
You already have trucks, trailers, a crew that knows trees, and customers who just lost one. Planting adds a service that is safer than climbing, easy to schedule around weather, and good for repeat work.
Sell it on purpose: add it to your website, your Google profile and every removal estimate. Use the seasonal demand calendar or our month-by-month calendar to plan planting pushes for your slow months.
What customers search for
Planting searches are a mix of people ready to buy and people still learning.
| What they type | What they usually need |
|---|---|
| tree planting service near me | Ready to buy. Wants someone to pick, deliver and plant. |
| replace removed tree / plant a tree after removal | Often a past removal customer. A warm lead you already know. |
| best shade tree for [state or city] | Still choosing. Needs advice on species, size and spot. |
| privacy trees planted | Wants a row of evergreens. Spacing and mature width matter a lot. |
| large tree planting / tree spade | Wants a bigger tree now. Needs equipment and access. |
| how far from house to plant a tree | Doing research. A good topic for a helpful page that links to your service. |
Build your own list for your towns with the local keyword planner. For species questions, our tree species library and the tree picker give homeowners a starting point you can link to.
How to describe it on your website and Google profile
Customers want to know three things: will you help me pick the right tree, will you plant it properly, and what happens if it dies. Answer all three in plain words.
Example service description (edit it to fit your company)
Tree planting in [your towns]. We help you choose a tree that fits the spot, then deliver and plant it the right way: at the correct depth, with the root flare showing, mulched and watered in. We call 811 before we dig. You get a simple watering sheet, and our [one-year] warranty covers trees that are watered as the sheet says. Want shade after a removal, a privacy row, or a flowering tree by the patio? Send us a photo of the spot and we will suggest a few options.
- Website: one planting page with what is included, a photo gallery of your own work and a "send a photo of the spot" option. The service page outline builder lays out the sections for you.
- Google Business Profile: add tree planting as a service, use a short version of the text above and post photos of new plantings each season. Use the Google Business Profile builder to write it.
- Only say what is true: list the warranty terms you actually offer, and do not promise growth rates. Trees vary.
How to structure the price
We do not publish market prices for planting, because tree costs and labor vary a lot by area and size. Build your price from your own costs, then offer it in clear packages so customers can choose.
The tree itself
Your real cost from the nursery, plus a markup you choose for picking, holding and the risk of loss. Keep nursery bills on file so you can show the base cost.
Labor
Crew size times hours times your loaded hourly cost. Include loading, the drive, digging, setting the tree at the right height, backfill, watering and cleanup.
Equipment
An hourly rate for an auger, skid steer or tree spade when you use one. Bigger trees need bigger machines and more time.
Delivery and travel
Trailer time, fuel and the trip to the nursery. Group plantings on the same day by area to keep this low.
Materials
Mulch, stakes and ties if needed, trunk guards, soil amendments only when the site needs them.
Warranty reserve
If you offer a warranty, set aside a small amount per tree to cover replacements. Track how many you actually replace and adjust it each year.
Offer three simple packages
| Package | What it covers | How to price it |
|---|---|---|
| Plant only | Customer supplies the tree. You check it, plant it right and mulch it. | Labor + equipment + travel + materials. Usually no warranty. |
| Supply and plant | You pick the tree, deliver it, plant it and give care instructions. | Tree cost + markup + labor + equipment + delivery + materials |
| Plant and care plan | Supply and plant, plus watering checks, a first-year inspection and a written warranty. | Supply and plant + follow-up visits + warranty reserve |
Helpful tools: the tree planting distance calculator for spacing a privacy row, the mulch calculator for materials, the crew day rate calculator for labor and the price guide builder to write it all down. For the basics, read the guide to pricing tree work. Tool results are estimates from your inputs.
Photos to take
Planting photos show quality and help settle warranty questions.
- The planting spot before digging, with the house, wires and other trees in the frame.
- Utility locate marks after the 811 call, so you can show you checked.
- The root ball or container before planting, to show the tree was healthy when it arrived.
- The root flare at or just above grade after planting.
- The finished planting with mulch pulled back from the trunk.
The job photo checklist gives your crew a printable version.
Questions to ask on the call
Good questions mean the right tree in the right spot.
- What do you want the tree to do: shade, privacy, flowers, fall color, or replace one we removed?
- Where do you want it? How close to the house, driveway, sidewalk, septic and overhead wires?
- How much sun does that spot get, and does water sit there after rain?
- Do you have a species in mind, or would you like a few options for your area?
- What size do you want to start with? Smaller trees cost less and often settle in faster.
- Can a trailer or machine reach the spot? Any gates, fences or slopes?
- Who will water the tree in its first season, and do you have a hose that reaches?
- Does your HOA or city have rules on street trees or approved species?
Make these part of your phone script with the call script builder, and use the estimate template to send a clear written quote.
Upsells that make sense
Offer the next useful step at the right time, not all at once.
A replacement offer after every removal
Many removal customers miss the shade. Add a short "would you like a new tree?" line to removal estimates.
A first-year care plan
Watering checks, mulch refresh and a look at the tree after its first summer. It protects your warranty and keeps you in touch.
Structural pruning in year two or three
Light pruning of young trees sets a good shape and avoids bigger problems later. A natural repeat visit.
Plant health care
Fertilizing only when a soil test or symptoms call for it, and pest checks for species that need them. See the plant health care guide.
Related guides: plant health care, selling tree trimming and selling tree removal.
Safety and insurance notes
Planting is safer than removal work, but it still has real risks. These are general notes, not legal or insurance advice.
- Call 811 before every dig and wait for the marks. Hand-dig near marked lines. Ask the owner about private lines like sprinklers, lighting and septic.
- Big root balls are heavy. Use machines or proper lifting methods, and keep people clear of loads.
- Do not plant large-growing trees under overhead wires. It creates a future hazard and a future pruning bill for someone.
- Check that your liability policy covers planting and landscape work, and that your warranty terms are in writing. See the insurance guide and the job site safety guide.
- Some cities have rules for street trees and approved species. Check before planting in the strip by the road.
Turn past removals into new planting jobs
Your best planting leads are people you already worked for. A simple follow-up text a few weeks after a removal can bring them back. Read the follow-up guide and the local SEO guide, see our services, check pricing or ask for a free audit. Lirevon is new and has no tree-service clients yet; first case studies are planned for December 2026.
Common questions
Is tree planting worth offering if I mostly do removals?
For many companies, yes. It uses skills and equipment you already have, the work is lower risk, and it gives removal customers a reason to call you again. Start small with a supply-and-plant package and a short care sheet.
How should I price tree planting?
Add up your real costs: the tree from the nursery plus your markup, crew time, equipment, delivery, mulch and stakes, and a small reserve if you give a warranty. Then add overhead and profit. We do not publish market prices because they vary a lot by area.
Should I give a warranty on trees I plant?
Many companies do, usually for one year and only when the customer follows a written watering plan. Put the terms in writing and track replacements so you can price the reserve. A care plan makes a warranty much safer to offer.
Do I need to call 811 before planting a tree?
Yes. Calling 811 before you dig is the standard US way to get public underground utilities marked, and it is free. Private lines like sprinklers or lighting may not be marked, so ask the homeowner.
How deep should a tree be planted?
Common guidance from university extension services is to plant so the root flare is at or a little above the soil line, in a hole wider than the root ball but no deeper. Planting too deep is one of the most common causes of poor growth.
Should I stake new trees?
Only when needed, such as on windy sites or with top-heavy trees. Use soft, wide ties, allow a little movement, and remove stakes after about one growing season so they do not damage the trunk.
What should my tree planting page say?
What you plant, where you work, how you help choose the right tree for the spot, what is included (delivery, mulch, care sheet, warranty), and how to book a visit. Add photos of your own plantings.
When is the best time to sell tree planting?
In many US areas, spring and fall are the main planting seasons. Fall is also when many companies have spare crew time. Plan a small promotion before each season with your own past customers.
This page is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Planting advice here is general; follow your local extension service for species and timing in your area.
Make planting part of every job
A clear planting page and a follow-up after each removal can fill your slow weeks. Get a free audit, see the services or check pricing.