Does hiring an arborist cost more than a landscaper?

In short, no.

Often times tree work can present unseen challenges that can throw ill equipped unlicensed companies for a loop.  Arborists are not landscapers, landscapers are not arborists.  You would not ask a plumber to wire your electric panel.

People think they can do a lot of things.  Safely taking down a tree that may weigh ten thousand pounds is not a small task.  Inexperienced people and even experienced people cut their legs and even heads with chainsaws every year.  Just because someone can start a saw does not mean they should.

Arborists typically have the correct equipment for the task at hand.  There is no renting a chipper, or a skid steer and passing those costs onto the client.  Inexperienced equipment operators take longer to complete tasks with rental equipment resulting in more time on the job and more cost to the client.  Non professionals are often inefficient and even dangerous due to lack of experience.

We were just recently hired for the removal and replacement of a badly storm damaged arborvitae hedge.  We can remove the trees very efficiently which resulted in a large savings to our client.  They got a quote from a landscaper and it was $1400 more than our price.

The list goes on, however one more very important consideration should be insurance.  Landscaping insurance is not the same as tree insurance.  The risk factor involved in tree work is higher than planting bushes or mowing lawns.  An accident on a tree job could be major property damage or serious injury or death.  Landscapers are not usually insured for tree work, the premiums are much higher.   Also remember to ask about workers comp.

Workers compensation is a must.  Saving a couple hundred bucks on a job by hiring a landscaper could cost a homeowner a heck of a lot if someone was to lose a leg from a saw or die.

Our clients love that when we are on their property they can ask us about tree health and disease questions and we can offer solutions.  We can often notify them of conditions before they result in tree death and a removal invoice.

Certainly there are lots of factors to consider when you need trees removed.   Trying save a nickle by hiring a non professional could cost you a lot more.