Cost of Evergreens – 2025 Pricing Guide for Landscaping

Thinking about adding some evergreens to your yard? Whether you’re going for privacy, curb appeal, or just love that year-round green, knowing the cost of evergreens is key before you start digging—literally. Prices can swing wildly depending on the type, size, and where you buy them, so it’s smart to get the full picture upfront. From tiny saplings to towering pines, we’ll break down what you can expect to pay in 2025, plus sneaky extras like delivery and maintenance that can sneak up on your budget. Ready to make your landscaping dreams happen without breaking the bank?

Average Cost of Popular Evergreen Trees (Pine, Spruce, Fir)

If you’re shopping for evergreens, the first thing you’ll notice is that the cost of evergreen trees varies greatly. A small sapling can set you back a pretty penny, while a tall pine tree can cost as much as a used car. So what’s the deal with prices? Let’s break down the most common types — pine, spruce, and fir — so you know exactly what to expect.

Pines: A Budget Classic

Many homeowners prefer pine trees because they grow quickly and can withstand challenging conditions. Pine trees typically start around $30 to $50 for a 3- to 4-foot-tall sapling. Want something bigger? A 6- to 7-foot-tall pine can cost between $100 and $300, while a mature 15-foot tree can cost between $800 and $2,500, depending on the variety. Eastern white pine is usually less expensive, while rarer species like Japanese black pine are more expensive.

Firs: The Star of the Show (with a Higher Price Tag)

Firs have a perfect conical shape and deep green (or blue!) color, but they often cost more than pines. A 4- to 5-foot-tall Colorado blue spruce costs around $75-$150, while a 10- to 12-foot specimen jumps to $500-$1,200. If you’re looking at a Norway spruce, expect to pay 20-30% less than a blue spruce for the same size. The price of a mature pine may seem high, but firs can be even more expensive due to their slower growth.

Firs: The Luxury Option

Firs are the Cadillacs of evergreens—smooth, soft needles and a classic Christmas tree look. But quality comes at a price. A 5-6 foot tall Douglas fir will cost around $100-$200, while a 12-15 foot tall noble fir can easily top $1,000-$3,000. If you’re wondering how much an evergreen tree like a Fraser fir costs, be prepared to pay more — they’re in high demand for their scent and needle retention.

What Affects Price?

The cost of evergreen trees isn’t just dependent on height. Rarity, root ball quality (bare root or potted), and your location all factor into this. A 6 foot tall pine tree in Texas can cost half as much as a mature pine tree in New York due to local demand and shipping. And if you’re asking how much evergreen trees cost on average, the answer is: it depends.

Why Mature Evergreens Cost More Than Saplings

You’ve noticed the huge gap between the cost of evergreen trees when comparing young saplings to mature specimens. A small pine tree can cost less than a restaurant dinner, while a mature tree can rival a month’s rent. So why the big jump? Let’s take a look at why these big, beautiful evergreens are so expensive.

Time is money (literally)

Growing a tree isn’t like baking cookies. It takes years. Nurseries invest a ton of time, space, and care to grow evergreens to maturity. For example, that price of a mature pine isn’t just the cost of the tree itself. It’s paying for a decade or more of watering, pruning, and pest control that someone else did for you. Saplings are cheaper because those resources haven’t been built into them yet.

Have you ever tried to move a 20-foot spruce? It’s not a DIY job. Mature evergreens often require heavy equipment, like cranes or flatbed trucks, just to transport them. This drives up the cost of evergreen trees. Smaller seedlings? You can fit a dozen in the back of a pickup truck. Then there’s planting—digging a hole for the giant root ball requires professional help, which adds another $200 to $500 to the total.

Instant Effect vs. the Waiting Game

Here’s the tradeoff: Pay more now for immediate privacy and curb appeal, or save money and wait a decade for a seedling to fill the space. A 6-foot blue spruce might cost $150 today. If you want the same tree at 15 feet now, expect to pay more than $1,500. Pine costs increase dramatically with size because you’re buying time.

Supply and Demand Play a Role

Mature evergreens are in high demand for commercial projects and homeowners who want immediate results. But supply is limited—nurseries can only grow a certain number of large trees at a time. This shortage elevates the question of how much an evergreen tree costs to a premium level. Meanwhile, seedlings are always plentiful, keeping their prices low. If you need wind protection now or are selling your home soon, a mature tree makes sense. But if you’re patient, planting smaller evergreens can save you serious money. Knowing how much evergreen trees cost at different stages can help you budget smarter.

Price Comparison: 6 ft vs 20 ft Evergreen Trees

When budgeting for your landscaping project, understanding how size affects the cost of evergreen trees can save you some serious cash. Let’s compare how much you’ll pay for a humble 6-foot tree versus its towering 20-foot cousin.

A Staggering Price Jump Based on Height

A 6-foot evergreen tree may seem expensive at $100 to $300, but wait until you see what happens when you go bigger:

• Pines will jump from $150 (6 feet) to $2,500 or more (20 feet).
• Firs will go from $250 to $4,000 at full height.
• Spruces will skyrocket from $300 to $5,000 for mature specimens.
• Shipping costs will increase from $50 to $500 or more.
• Planting costs will increase from DIY to requiring crane operators.

The price of a mature pine tree depends not only on the tree itself, but also on everything needed to grow it on your property. That gorgeous 20-footer may look perfect, but is it worth 10 times the pine than a younger alternative?

When More Actually Costs Less

Surprisingly, sometimes larger size saves money in the long run:

• Privacy screens require fewer trees when using 20-foot specimens.
• Mature trees immediately increase property value.
• Established roots tolerate drought better than seedlings.
• Saving time means fewer years waiting for full coverage.
• Professional installations often come with warranties.

The cost of evergreen trees per square foot of coverage often favors larger specimens. While a 6-foot spruce might cost $50 per vertical foot, a 20-footer might drop to $40 per foot. Calculating the cost of an evergreen tree changes when you consider what you’re actually getting.

Ultimately, whether you choose modest 6-foot starter plants or instant 20-foot giants comes down to your budget and patience. When it comes to the question of how much do evergreen trees cost, there are different answers at each height — and now you have the numbers to decide what’s right for your yard.

Where to Buy Evergreens at the Best Price

Finding the right source for your evergreens can mean the difference between a fair deal and paying hundreds of times more. Let’s look at where to buy evergreen trees for the best price without sacrificing quality.

Best Places to Buy Quality Trees for Less

The following are relevant options:

• Local nurseries often offer the healthiest specimens and expert advice (expect to pay 10-15% more than big box stores).
• Wholesale growers sell directly to the public in the spring – prices can be 30-50% lower than retail.
• Online retailers like The Tree Center offer competitive prices with home delivery.
• Home improvement stores (Lowes, Home Depot) have seasonal sales on common varieties.
• Arborists sometimes offer discounts on trees removed from other sites.

Pine tree prices can vary greatly in these areas. A $75 blue spruce at your local garden center might cost $55 at wholesale — if you’re willing to buy five or more.

Timing Your Purchases for Maximum Savings

Want to cut the question of how much do evergreen trees cost in half? Follow these seasonal tips:

• Late fall brings sales as nurseries clear out inventory.
• Early spring offers the widest selection at mid-price.
• Summer droughts mean discounts on high-maintenance trees.
• Winter months (in mild climates) offer bargains on bare-root trees.
• Holiday weekends often trigger 10-20% off sales.

The price of a mature pine can drop by as much as 40% if you’re flexible with your timing. Some growers even offer “scratch and dent” discounts on slightly imperfect trees that will recover with proper care.

Whether you’re looking for a single specimen or planting an entire windbreak, knowing where and when to buy is critical to the cost of evergreen trees for your project.

Hidden Costs to Consider (Delivery, Planting, Maintenance)

That tempting price tag on evergreens rarely tells the whole truth. The true cost of evergreen trees gradually increases with all the extra expenses required to get them into the ground and keep them thriving. Before you succumb to the markup on that beautiful blue spruce, here’s what else you’ll need to budget for.

Having Trees Delivered to Your Yard Isn’t Free

Professional delivery is often the first unexpected expense. While small seedlings can ride home in your SUV, larger specimens require special handling. Shipping costs typically start at $50 for local transportation of small trees, but can skyrocket to $500 or more for mature evergreens that require large-format loading permits. The real shock comes when you need a crane—lifting that 20-foot pine into place adds another $300 to $1,000 to your project. Don’t forget about soil amendments, too. Most planting sites require peat moss or special fertilizers, which cost $20 to $50 per tree, to give them a proper start.

Endless Maintenance Costs

Your expenses don’t stop after planting:

• Young evergreens require staking kits ($15 to $40 each) to survive the first windy seasons.
• Mulch and weed barriers ($30 to $80 per planting site) become essential to retain moisture and prevent competition.
• Watering systems are another hidden investment – soaker hoses or irrigation systems cost $50 to $300 initially.
• Annual professional pruning keeps trees in shape and healthy for $75 to $200 per tree, but unforeseen disease treatments can wipe out $100 to $400 per outbreak.
• Winter protection like burlap and anti-desiccants add $20-$50 per year to your landscape budget.

The price of a mature pine tree may seem high when purchased, but it is often the ongoing maintenance that breaks the budget. That $1,500 specimen can easily double in value in the first five years when you factor in all the maintenance required. This makes understanding the full cost of evergreen trees critical to realistic planning.

How to Save Money on Evergreen Landscaping

Smart gardening doesn’t have to mean emptying your wallet. With the right approach, you can significantly reduce the cost of evergreen trees while achieving the perfect green backdrop. Here’s how to get the most bang for your buck.

Strategic Purchasing Approaches

Going bare-root during the dormant season can cut your costs by 40 to 60 percent compared to buying potted plants. Many nurseries offer significant discounts when you buy ten or more trees at a time, making bulk buying ideal for privacy screens or windbreaks. Sticking with native species also pays off — these naturally adapted varieties require less watering and fewer treatments later.

Timing your purchases matters more than you might think. Late fall often brings the biggest discounts as garden centers clear out stock before winter. You’ll also save big by choosing slightly smaller specimens. A 3-foot evergreen typically costs less than half the price of a mature pine that’s only three feet taller.

Cost-Effective Care Strategies

Proper planning after planting allows you to extend your savings. Grouping evergreens together creates a microclimate that reduces the need for water, making care more efficient. Instead of buying bagged mulch, ask your local tree service for free wood chips—they’ll often happily deliver them.

Learning basic pruning techniques can save hundreds of dollars in professional fees over time. A few quality tools and a few online tutorials can handle most shaping needs. For pest control, encouraging natural predators like ladybugs works better in the long run than expensive sprays.

The question of how much do evergreen trees cost becomes much more manageable when you consider these smart strategies. What may initially seem like small savings—choosing a 4-foot tree over a 6-foot one, for example—is compounded significantly over years of reduced maintenance costs. Even splitting large purchases with neighbors can make the cost of evergreen trees much more affordable for everyone involved.

You can watch a video dedicated to discussing plants that can be used for creating hedges and screens. The host, Austin from Bates Nursery, talks about various types of evergreen plants suitable for this purpose. He explains how to choose plants based on lighting conditions, screen height, and the length of the area to be covered:

When it comes to the cost of evergreen trees, smart planning is key. Whether you’re planting a single specimen or creating an entire privacy screen, understanding all the factors—from the initial purchase price to long-term maintenance—will help you budget wisely. Find a happy medium between upfront costs and future savings by choosing the right size and species for your specific needs.

Remember that the most expensive option isn’t always the best, and the cheapest isn’t always the best deal. By buying strategically, timing your purchases wisely, and using smart planting techniques, you can create a beautiful evergreen landscape without breaking the bank. In the end, a little research and patience go a long way toward getting the most out of your money while enjoying year-round greenery.