We recently had 5 (yes 5!) trees cut down and removed from our yard. This is the second time we had trees removed from our current yard and now that we have a good idea of what to expect I thought it would be helpful to write a post about it for those of you who are considering having trees removed from your yard. I know this post is a bit far from my normal DIY and home décor topics, but it is part of home ownership and I hope you may find it useful.
For the record, we do not like to cut down trees if we don’t have to. In fact, we were very sad to cut these trees down. We love trees and that is a large part of the reason we fell in love with our neighborhood. There are so many beautiful, mature trees that line the streets and yards. I talked about it in this post how when you are buying a home you should look out for trees that are too close to the house, which was a main reason these trees came down (and we knew they eventually would when we bought our home). Of the 5 trees we had cut down recently 1 was severely damaged from a snow storm this past winter and the other 4 were either too close to the house and the roots were a risk to the integrity of our foundation or were causing damage to our roof because they hung over the house. Sometimes tree removal is necessary whether it’s for the safety of your home/roof or the safety of other trees (i.e. a tree is diseased), or you simply prefer for the tree to be removed. We plan to replant at least a few other trees in our yard in the future once we get our landscape plan sorted out.
1 – Hire a Company That is Licensed and Insured
Make sure you vet the company you are hiring. I cannot stress this enough. A license and proof of insurance are very important when you want someone to cut any trees down in your yard. We have worked with the same company twice now and they are always very quick to show us their license and proof of insurance, which is great, but if they don’t offer to show it to you ask them to see it. A license means they should know what they are doing and insurance means if something goes wrong you won’t be on the hook for it. This is especially important if a tree in your yard is close to your house, your neighbors house, a fence, or any other structure.
2 – Get Estimates (and when you decide make sure to get the agreed upon price in writing)
Start by asking your neighbors if they have had trees removed, who they used, and if they liked them. This is how we found the company we used. They were cutting our next-door neighbor’s trees down, our neighbor liked them, and we saw firsthand how clean and efficient they were. I recommend getting multiple estimates or bids. Especially, if you have never used a tree removal service before. This goes not only for tree removal, but any time you are hiring a contractor.
3 – Stumping Grinding or Not?
Do you want the leftover stumps and roots in the ground to be ground down or not? Having a stump ground means they bring a machine to grind the stump and the visible roots down to wood chips, it will essentially look like a small pile of mulch in your yard when all is said and done. If you choose to not have it done they will likely just cut the tree down as close to the ground as possible, leaving the flat stump and roots in place. When the stumps are ground it lets grass, or other plants if you choose, to grow in place of the tree.
We chose not to have the stumps ground when we had 2 trees removed 2 years ago, but when we had the trees cut down this time around we chose to have all the stumps ground, including the 2 we previously did not. It is usually an extra expense, but it is so much easier left to the professionals with the proper equipment, at least for us it was. The picture above shows what the stump area looks like after it is ground down.
4 – Tree Removal Is Expensive
Depending on the size of your trees, how close they are to your house, and if they are in the front or backyard all play into the cost of the removal. If a tree is large, close to your house, and in the backyard it will likely be much more expensive to have it removed than if the same tree was in the front yard because they would need to have climbers climb to the top of the tree to start cutting it down rather than being able to use a cherry picker truck to lift someone to do the cutting.
For all transparency for the removal of our 5 trees, stump grinding of 4 of those trees and 2 additional stumps, and minimal trimming of other remaining trees we paid $2,350. We live in Kansas City, so I have no idea if this is within a ballpark of other cities, but I figured I would include it to give you an idea of the cost. Though it is costly, it is something we saved and planned for accordingly. We thought this price was very reasonable given that 3 of the trees were very close to the house and 1 of the trees was a very large locust tree that mostly hung over the roof. For reference, we have another very large locust tree in our back yard that we did not have cut down this time around. The company we used told us that tree alone would cost around $1,500 to remove simply due to the size and the fact that it’s in the backyard, meaning they would have to send climbers up the tree – that is compared to the similar sized locust tree in our front yard that we did have removed which was around $750 (included in the $2,350 above) because they were able to use the truck to lift someone to do the cutting, which is much quicker and much less dangerous.
5 – Clearly Mark All Trees That Are to Be Removed
The company we hired did this for us. The day before they were to come remove they trees the manager came by and marked all trees we had previously agreed upon for removal.
This is especially important if you will not be home while the trees are being removed, but even if you are there you will likely not want to be outside the whole time, nor should the pros let you get too close, so it’s best to mark the trees to avoid confusion or an “Oops, we thought you wanted that one cut down too”.
6 – Have a Plan for Kids and Pets
Tree removal is LOUD between the chainsaws and actual noise of the limbs and trunk falling to the ground. If you have young kids or pets it might be best to have them out of the house/off the property completely while the work is being done… day care (or doggy day care), grandma and grandpa’s, or a friend’s place. Our dogs both get anxious with loud noises and since we knew we couldn’t be home when the work was being done we planned for them to go to Nathan’s parent’s house for the day, which was so much less stressful for both us and them.
I hope you found this post helpful if you are considering having trees removed from your yard!
Taylor Bishop
July 25, 2019Thanks for the advice for getting a tree removal service. I’m glad you said it could be good to talk to neighbors that have had tree removed and if they liked who they were working with. This also seems like a good way to understand what services the tree company offers and the quality they provide.
Oliver Ray
July 25, 2019I liked how you mentioned that the service you used came by the day before and marked all the trees that you agreed to remove. There are some trees that my mom wants to get rid of in her yard and some she doesn’t. I will have to tell my mom to make sure they mark the trees she wants gone, so they don’t cut into the tree she wants to keep in her yard.
Liz Hudson
July 29, 2019That’s a good idea to clearly mark which trees are being removed. I have several trees in my backyard and just one of them seems to be dying. I want to keep as many trees as possible, so I’ll definitely be marking which tree it is that is being removed so they don’t accidentally damage the healthy trees.
Johnny McCarron
August 7, 2019It’s good to know that a ground-down stump will just end up looking like a pile of mulch. We’d like to get rid of a dead tree in our back yard. We’ll probably keep the stump because it could make a nice play area for our children.
Johnny McCarron
August 23, 2019I appreciate your tip to check with neighbors about their experiences regarding tree removal. My parents had a tree get struck by lightning in their yard. Rather than wait for it to collapse onto their home, they’re looking for a good removal service to lend a hand.
Angela Waterford
September 5, 2019There’s a diseased tree in my backyard that is starting to become a home for many pests. I think I should have it cut down before it rots and falls on my house. Thanks for telling me that I can look for a service who can do this for me by asking my neighbors who they’ve hired before.
Linda Misiura
September 26, 2019Thanks for the great advice! We’re in Kansas City, too – would you share the company you used? Looks like they did a great job!
Dennis Sanchez
October 7, 2019I appreciate the advice on hiring a tree removal company that has the proper insurance and licenses. There is a dead tree in my backyard and it needs to be removed. These tips will help me find a reliable company to use.
Niall Jenkins
October 24, 2019I’m thankful that you brought up the fact that tree removal is a process that can fluctuate in price range depending on factors such as their location spatially. I’ve noticed that there are some trees in my front yard that I would like to get rid of. I’ll be sure to contact a professional tree removal service to assist me in my time of need.
jack stiles
November 11, 2019I thought that it was helpful when you mentioned that you should get a written estimate from a tree removal service before you choose who to hire, so you could get a solid price. The willow in my backyard is starting to tip towards my house. As you could imagine, this is pretty frightening. I want to get it removed as soon as possible, so that we could avoid a situation where it would fall into our home. When I start looking for a service to help take it down, I will be sure to get written estimates to help me know the prices of the services.
Ivy Baker
January 8, 2020I have been thinking about removing a large tree from my front yard this winter. I liked that you explained that I should have a plan for my dog when I get the tree removed. That makes sense because I don’t want him bothering any of the workers.
Taylor Wright
January 10, 2020It’s good to know that you can get stumps and the roots ground down and that it looks like mulch in the yard. My aunt is worried about her big tree in her yard and is deciding what to do with it before summer hits. I’ll be sure to help her find a professional to give her a quote.
Jesse Ford
March 12, 2020I like how you mentioned that it’s important to hire an insured and licensed company when removing trees from your yard. My wife and I are considering hiring a stump removal company because we’re thinking about evening out our backyard to ensure there are no objects that our kids can get hurt on when they play. I think it’s a good idea to consider hiring a reputable professional that’s licensed and insured when removing stumps so they can make our backyard safe.
Taylor Hansen
July 16, 2020I remember talking to mom last week where she was telling me that her Northern Red Oak looks like it’s diseased. I agree that a written estimate should be gathered from a tree service company before making a final decision. It’s probably smart to get a few estimates from different companies to take down the tree.
Allie
July 18, 2020Yes that is definitely a good idea! That way you know what you are getting into and what you can expect with the removal of the tree.
Heidi
August 17, 2020I read your post hoping to find different information for my daughter and her husband. You gave great advice, but unfortunately, nothing that will help them, other than they will be getting a few more estimates. They have a very large white oak tree that needs to come down. Their first estimate…. 10k. The man was very nice and wasn’t offended by them getting other estimates. He said it will take his entire crew 2-3 days and will require the use of a crane and a pulley system. Did I mention that the tree is VERY LARGE 😬? The tree guy estimates it to be well over 100 years old.
Jeffrey Dahle
September 8, 2020From storm damage need estimate and need three tree get small stump root p grinder
Zoe Campos
September 10, 2020Thanks for telling me that I should ask for estimates or bids from different contractors so I can compare them. The branches of the dead tree that we have within our front lawn had already started to fall and I’m afraid that the huge trunk will also follow in no time. It will be safer for us if we were to hire tree removal services as early as now.
Starr
September 15, 2020Thank you so much for all the helpful information and advice.
Victoria Addington
September 17, 2020I appreciate you for providing the things to consider when hiring a tree removal contractor. Since the house we recently bought has a huge tree in the backyard, my father thinks it would be better to have them all removed for his landscape project. With that considered, I shall then follow your advice to hire a company that has the complete license and insurance to make sure that I’m getting the high-quality service.
Allie
September 30, 2020High quality service is so important!
CYBELE
September 18, 2020I thought of one more thing that might help people with their decision. Since sometimes we aren’t in a major hurry to get the trees taken down I know some companies will quote winter rates (no foliage weight/bulk and less projects bringing in money) that are lower than summer rates. But get them to come out to quote in the Spring/Summer so everyone sees the full extent of the trees at issue – obviously some trees that are already leaning or threatening a roof need to be removed before winter storms set in.
Allie
September 30, 2020That is a great point! Winter rates are often lower than summer rates and is a great option if you’re not in a hurry to have trees removed.
Amy
January 29, 2022I’m also in KC. What company did you use?
Allie
February 8, 2022Hi Amy! We used Stewart’s Tree-mend-us care.
James Willis Jr.
October 9, 2021Very useful and so peaceful blog for us. Such a good work and so good write up.
Thomas Clarence
March 25, 2022It was really informative when you mentioned that it is a good idea to ask your neighbors when looking to have a tree removed. My wife and I recently moved to a new area, and as far as we know, our neighbors have been here for a long time. We will have to make sure that we talked to our neighbors if we ever need to have a tree removed.
Allie
April 12, 2022Always a good idea to chat with your neighbors beforehand!
helene
September 19, 2022great work thank you for sharing
Elle Jones
November 4, 2023I appreciate that you mentioned that to obtain a fair price, you should obtain a written estimate from a tree removal service before deciding who to hire. My backyard willow is beginning to lean toward my house. As one might expect, this is rather unsettling. To prevent a situation where it falls into our home, I want to have it removed as soon as possible. To help me understand the costs of the services, I will make sure to obtain written estimates when I start looking for a company to help take it down.
Elle Jones
November 15, 2023I appreciate that you mentioned the factors to take into account when choosing a contractor to remove trees. With the large tree in the backyard of the house we recently purchased, my father believes it would be best to have them all taken down for his landscaping project. Taking that into account, I will then heed your recommendation and work with a business that possesses a full license and insurance to guarantee that I’m receiving a high-quality service.
Elle Jones
November 30, 2023That you went into detail about what to look for in a tree removal firm is very helpful. With the large tree in the rear of the property we recently purchased, my father believes it would be best to have them all taken down for his landscaping project. Taking that into account, I will therefore heed your recommendation and work with a business that possesses a full license and insurance to guarantee that I’m receiving a high-quality service.
Elle Jones
December 16, 2023You did an excellent job of outlining the factors to take into account when selecting a tree removal provider. With the large tree in the rear of the property we recently purchased, my father believes it would be best to have them all taken down for his landscaping project. Taking that into account, I will therefore heed your recommendation and work with a business that possesses a full license and insurance to guarantee that I’m receiving a high-quality service.
Henry Killingsworth
December 19, 2023You made a good point when you talked about how it is a good idea to get multiple estimates when picking a tree removal company. In addition to that, I would think that it would be a good idea to get an approximate timetable for how long the tree removal will take. I would think that it would be a good idea to pick the tree removal service that will take the shortest amount of time.