A dead tree, a tree leaning harder toward the house every year, or one that’s just in the wrong place won’t get cheaper or safer by waiting. Call (423) 275-4820 and we’ll connect you with an independent Chattanooga-area crew for a free written estimate.
Call (423) 275-4820 Get a free estimate
Signs a tree should come down
Plenty of problem trees can be saved with pruning or cabling, and a good crew will say so. Removal is usually the right call when:
- Most of the crown is dead. Dead wood dries out and turns brittle fast in a humid Tennessee summer, and limbs start dropping within a season or two.
- It’s an ash tree that’s thinning out. Emerald ash borer was confirmed in Chattanooga in 2013 and has spread across the region since. Ash killed by the beetle gets brittle quickly, so the longer it stands, the riskier and costlier it is to climb.
- The lean is new or getting worse. Cracked or heaving soil on the side away from the lean means the roots are letting go. On a sloped lot, that can happen faster than you’d expect.
- The trunk is split, hollow or growing mushrooms at the base. These point to decay inside the wood that you can’t see from the yard.
- It’s too close to the house. Roots lifting the slab or the driveway, or limbs you can’t keep off the roof no matter how often they’re cut back.
- You need the space. An addition, a pool, a garden that needs sun, or a wider driveway.
Still unsure? Our guide on how to tell if a tree is dead or dying walks through what to look for.
How a removal usually goes
- Estimate visit. The crew looks at the tree, what’s underneath it, the slope, and how equipment will get in. You get a written price listing exactly what’s included.
- Power check. If the tree is near a line, the crew coordinates with EPB or your local utility. The service drop to the house may need to be disconnected for the day.
- Taking it down. A tree with open ground around it can be felled in one piece. Trees over a roof, fence or a neighbor’s yard are climbed and taken down in sections, with heavy pieces lowered on ropes. On steep mountain and ridge lots, a crane from the street is sometimes the safest way.
- Cleanup. Branches go through the chipper. The trunk is cut into rounds and either hauled away or stacked for firewood, whichever you agreed on.
- The stump. It’s left flush with the ground unless you’ve added stump grinding.
Most residential removals take two to six hours. Crane jobs and big trees on difficult slopes can take most of a day.
What tree removal costs around Chattanooga
| Tree height | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Small, under 30 ft | $250 to $550 |
| Medium, 30 to 60 ft | $550 to $1,250 |
| Large, 60 to 80 ft | $1,000 to $2,200 |
| Very large or crane job, 80 ft and up | $1,800 to $3,800 or more |
These are typical local ranges, not quotes. Access, slope, what the tree hangs over, trunk size, whether the tree is already dead and whether you want the wood hauled all change the price. Stump grinding is usually extra. For a quick estimate, use the cost calculator.
What happens when you call
- Tell us about the job. Where the tree is, roughly how big, and what’s near it. Two minutes is plenty.
- We match you with a local crew. An independent Chattanooga-area tree company that handles your type of job and works your area.
- Get a written estimate. The crew looks at the tree and gives you a price in writing. No cost and no obligation.
- You decide. Hire them or don’t. Nobody pressures you, and you never pay us anything.
What a good estimate should spell out
Get these in writing before you agree to anything:
- The total price and what it covers: felling, chipping, hauling the wood, stump grinding and raking up
- How the tree will come down and what equipment will be on your lawn or driveway
- Who pays if the lawn, driveway, fence or a neighbor’s property gets damaged
- A current certificate of liability insurance and proof of workers’ compensation
- The deposit, if any. Be cautious about large payments up front.
Tree removal questions
Can I keep the wood or haul it myself to save money? Yes. Ask the crew to leave the trunk rounds stacked on site. It usually takes something off the price.
Do I have to be home? Not for the whole job. Most crews want you there for the estimate and at the start of the work day, then you’re free to leave.
Will the equipment tear up my yard? Heavy machines can leave ruts, especially on wet ground. Ask how they’ll protect the lawn. Ground mats and smaller machines make a big difference.
Do I need a permit? Usually not for a tree on your own lot. The City of Chattanooga requires a permit for any work on trees in the public right-of-way or on city-owned land. HOAs and other towns can add their own rules.
The tree sits on the property line. Whose is it? A tree whose trunk crosses the line belongs to both owners. Get your neighbor’s agreement in writing before it comes down.
Get a free estimate
Prefer to talk? Call (423) 275-4820.
Need a tree crew around Chattanooga?
Call (423) 275-4820 or send a few details. We’ll match you with an independent local crew for a free written estimate, usually the same day.