There are a number of reasons why it may be time to have your tree or shrub removed. Here are a few of the most common reasons why our clients reach out to us:

Unhealthy branches: If you notice that your branches are discolored, drooping, or simply aren’t growing, then your tree may have serious issues. Often trees fall victim to pests and infections, which can spread to destroy the whole tree. If you notice that much of your tree or shrub has unhealthy branches, then it may be best to have it removed. It’s also important to note that infections and pests can spread to other plants and trees on your property, making them doubly dangerous.

Damaged branches: Have you lost a few major branches on that big tree in the backyard during the last big storm? Or has lightning struck the shrub in front of the house? If you have a tree that has been damaged, it may be beyond saving. We can remove these plants from your property, or we can trim them to try to save them.

Lack of foliage: Your trees and shrubs should produce foliage in the growing season. If you notice that your trees or shrubs no longer produce leaves or flowers (for flowering plants and trees), they may be unhealthy or near the end of their life. We’ll take a look, and we can remove these plants if necessary.

Missing bark: Like a lack of foliage, missing bark serves as a sign that your plant is unhealthy or damaged. If you have a tree with major branches or a trunk that is missing its bark, then your tree may be on its last limb. Bark serves as a protective surface, keeping a plant from damage that may be caused by weathering, temperature changes, pests, and infections. If a branch is stripped of its bark, it is only a matter of time before the branch dies entirely — most tree species have bark that will not grow back if it is damaged or missing.

Old age: Plants age just as humans do. Over time your tree or shrub may simply cease to grow. Be wary of large, aged trees and shrubs that no longer produce new growth (you can usually see new growth on the ends of the branches of your plants). Also keep an eye out for the aforementioned signs that your tree or shrub may need to be removed, including a lack of foliage, missing bark, and damaged branches.

Endangering your property and passersby: If you have a tree with limbs that are a hazard, it may be best to cut it down. Trees can be especially dangerous if they have large limbs that hang over your home or garage, your driveway, or the sidewalk. Be wary of limbs that can fall and cause damage, and have them removed (or the tree removed) to keep your property safe.

Power and phone lines: If you have trees or shrubs that are growing into the power or phone lines on your property, it may be best to have them removed. Folks often opt to remove these problematic plants instead of trimming them, since branches will continually sprout out towards those power or phone lines.

Improved aesthetic and a better view: Sometimes, tree and shrub removal is simply an aesthetic choice. If you have a plant that is ruining a favorite view from your property, or perhaps a tree that is casting too much shade on your favorite sunbathing spot on the porch, then you might just opt to have it cut down.

Better health for other plants in your landscape: If you have trees that are casting too much shade on your garden, or shrubs that are soaking up all of the moisture and nutrients from the soil it shares with nearby plants, then you may want to have those plants removed.

While it may be possible to remove shrubs and small trees yourself, we consistently advise our clients not to attempt a removal. First of all, tree and shrub removal can be dangerous, especially when you’re working with larger plants. Tree limbs can fall and cause damage or harm, and removing an entire tree may result in costly damage to your home. It is also dangerous to operate tree removal tools if you don’t have experience and the proper safety gear to tackle your project. Our crew members have years of experience cutting and removing trees, and we wear protective gear to ensure that accidents rarely occur. We are also insured, so you aren’t at risk at all — you can have peace of mind that an accident won’t cost you a dime.

Beyond the safety factor, we recommend professional tree and shrub removal because it is simply easier. We have the right equipment and tools to make quick work out of the most demanding jobs, and we clean up after a removal, so that you won’t have to lift a finger.

For most trees and shrubs, we can perform a complete removal, from start to cleanup, in a day. That said, larger trees may require extra care and planning, and trees that are near your home or other property that may be damaged during a removal will require extra time to ensure that they are properly cabled or cut down to avoid damage. Larger trees often have to be cut into pieces, which are lowered safely to the ground in segments, in order to avoid damage from felling the entire tree at once. In these cases, we’ll have to climb up the tree, and carefully cut segments of the tree with a chainsaw, working our way down to the stump.

We use a variety of tools, and numerous pieces of equipment for our tree and shrub removal jobs. For smaller jobs, we may stick with hand tools, including saws, shovels, etc. For larger jobs, including tall trees, we often rely on climbing gear, our crane, a cherry-picker truck, chainsaws, cables, and ropes. We also utilize a stump grinder if you’d like to have a large stump removed as well.

It depends. We’ll give you a quote for your project based on the size of the tree(s) or shrub(s) that are to be removed, as well as how easy it is to reach these trees on your property, and whether or not we’ll have to climb and cut your trees to remove them. If you’re curious about the cost of your project, don’t hesitate to give us a call! We’ll give you an estimate.