Frequently Asked Questions

It depends on the tree's height, how close it is to buildings or wires, and how easy it is to reach. HomeGuide's 2026 national figures put most tree removals between about $400 and $1,200 and most tree trimming between about $400 and $900 per tree, with very large or difficult trees costing more. Stump grinding is usually priced separately. We give a written price after seeing the tree.

Only if you did the cutting. The city collects tree limbs up to 5 feet long at the curb, and up to 10 cubic yards at no charge, but it will not pick up debris that results from a contractor's work or from land clearing. When we do the work, hauling or chipping is included on the quote.

If the tree is on public right-of-way, yes: Huntsville's Urban Forestry and Horticulture division manages public trees under the city's tree ordinance. Call the city's Landscape Management Office or use Huntsville Connect to ask before anyone cuts. If a tree looks like it may belong to the city, we will tell you during the estimate.

Sometimes, but often not. A pine whose needles fade from green to yellow and then reddish-brown across the whole crown, especially with small popcorn-like blobs of resin on the bark, is often under attack by pine bark beetles. Once most of the crown has turned, the tree is usually dead, and nearby pines can be next. We can look at it and tell you which trees are affected.

Late winter, while most hardwoods are dormant, is a good window for structural pruning, because the branch structure is easy to see and the tree has the spring to grow. Getting it done before tornado season starts in earnest is a bonus. Dead, cracked or hanging limbs should be taken care of whenever you find them.

Ask for a written quote that lists each tree, the cleanup and whether the stump is included. Ask for a certificate of insurance sent directly from the insurance company. Be cautious of anyone who knocks on doors after a storm asking for payment up front, and of anyone who recommends topping a tree, which industry pruning standards discourage.

The utility. Stay away from the tree and the wire, and report it to Huntsville Utilities or your electric provider. Once the line has been cleared or shut off, we can remove the rest of the tree and clean up.

HomeGuide's 2026 national figures put most removals between about $400 and $1,200, from around $200 for a small, easy tree to $2,500 or more for a very large one. Pines run about $250 to $1,600 and oaks about $300 to $2,500. Access, slope and what the tree could hit change the price most, so we give a written figure after seeing it.

Trees on public right-of-way are managed by the city's Urban Forestry and Horticulture division under the city tree ordinance, so ask the city before any work on them. For trees in a local historic district, a call to the Historic Preservation Office is a good idea. We point out either situation during the estimate.

Usually, yes. Most back-yard removals are done by a climber with ropes, and the wood is carried or wheeled out through the gate. If the gate is very narrow, we may need a fence panel removed; we tell you that before the job, not during it.

Often. Dead wood breaks unpredictably, so climbing and rigging take longer, and some dead trees need a lift rather than a climber. Removing a declining tree before it dies is usually cheaper and safer.

If you want it. We can leave logs in rounds or cut to firewood length and stacked where you choose, or haul everything away. Pine is not a great fireplace wood, so many people keep the hardwood and let us haul the pine.

HomeGuide's 2026 national figures put most tree trimming between about $400 and $900 per tree, from around $250 for a small tree to $2,500 or more for a very tall one. Crape myrtles are often under $400. The written estimate after we see the tree is the price.

Most mature shade trees do well with a check every few years, with work only where it is needed. Young trees benefit from light structural pruning more often while cuts are small. Trees close to the house are worth looking at before each storm season.

It is not necessary, and it leaves knobby stubs and weak sprouts. Thinning out crossing and crowded stems keeps the plant's natural shape and still controls size.

Branches over your side can usually be pruned back, but the cuts should not damage or kill the tree. It is a good idea to talk to the neighbor first, and we will make clean cuts at proper points rather than just lopping at the fence line.

Good pruning lowers the risk of limb failure, especially from long, heavy limbs and weak forks, but it cannot fix a tree with a rotten base or failing roots. If we see signs like that, we will tell you.

HomeGuide's 2026 national figures put the first stump on a job at about $120 to $400, with each additional stump about $30 to $60. Very large stumps, rock and hard access cost more. We give a written price after measuring.

Usually several inches below the surface, deep enough to lay sod or seed grass over the spot. Deeper grinding is possible for planting a new tree nearby, though limestone close to the surface can limit depth in parts of Huntsville.

Most species die back once the stump is gone. A few, like sweetgum, may send up root sprouts for a while; mowing or clipping them usually ends it.

It is usually better to plant a few feet to one side, where the soil is not full of decaying wood chips and old roots. If you want the same spot, we can grind deeper and haul the chips so you can backfill with soil.

Not quite. Grinding chips the stump away below ground and leaves the deeper roots to decay. Full removal digs out the root ball and leaves a large hole, which is rarely needed unless something is being built on the spot.

GoTreeQuotes' cost guide lists about $1,500 to $6,350 for a tree on a house and about $950 to $2,500 for a fallen tree in a yard, and HomeGuide notes same-day or next-day work often costs two to three times a scheduled job. The written estimate is the price.

Often, if the tree fell in a storm and damaged a covered structure such as the house or a fence, subject to your deductible and limits. Trees that fall without hitting anything may not be covered. Call your insurer, take photos first, and keep the invoice.

Not until the utility has made it safe. Report it to Huntsville Utilities or your electric provider and stay well away. Once the line is cleared or shut off, we can remove the tree and clean up.

Trees blocking a public street are handled by the city. For trees on your property, the city will not pick up debris left by a contractor, so cleanup by a tree company should include hauling.

You can call any time to leave details, but no one should climb or cut in high wind or lightning. Stay inside and away from the damaged area until the storm passes.

HomeGuide's 2026 national figures put pine removal at about $250 to $1,600, with very tall pines over 80 feet running $1,200 to $2,500 or more. Dead trees and pines over roofs cost more. We give a written price after seeing it.

Usually not once the crown has turned yellow or brown. A pine with only a few pitch tubes and a healthy green crown may be fighting off an attack. We can look at it and tell you what we see.

They can. Southern pine beetles attack in groups and prefer stressed trees nearby. Removing dead and dying pines and keeping the rest healthy is the usual approach.

Tall pines catch a lot of wind, and their roots can lose grip in soaked clay, so they do come down in storms. A healthy, well-rooted pine is not automatically a hazard, but one that is leaning, damaged or dying near the house should be looked at.

Yes. Pine stumps grind fairly easily and do not usually resprout. Grinding is priced as a separate line so you can decide.

Most yard Bradford pears stand under 50 feet. HomeGuide's 2026 national figures put removal of trees under 30 feet at about $200 to $500 and trees 30 to 60 feet at about $500 to $1,500, with stump grinding extra. We give a written price after seeing the tree.

Rarely in a way worth keeping. The wound is large and the remaining half is usually unbalanced and prone to the next split. Removal is usually the practical choice.

Thinning a young pear and removing competing stems early can help, but on mature trees the weak forks are already formed. Pruning may reduce weight for a while; it does not fix the structure.

Callery pear stumps can sprout. Grinding the stump below grade and clipping any shoots that appear usually ends it.

Bradford is one cultivar of the Callery pear. Other cultivars such as Cleveland Select and Aristocrat look similar; they cross-pollinate with each other, which is how the thorny wild seedlings spread.