Service
Tree Removal in Austin, TX
When a tree has to come down, precision is everything.
- Serving Austin since 1975
- Certified arborists on staff
- Fully licensed & insured
- Residential & commercial
Removal is the last recommendation we make, not the first. But a dead, structurally failing, or badly placed tree over a house is a liability that grows every storm season — and Central Texas gets its share of straight-line winds, ice, and saturated-soil failures.
Our crews remove trees in some of the tightest lots in Austin: Tarrytown alleys, Hyde Park bungalows with two feet of side yard, and hill country slopes where the drop zone is a pool deck.
When removal is the right call
A certified arborist evaluates the whole picture: species, extent of decay, root plate condition, target value beneath the tree, and whether restoration pruning or cabling can buy meaningful time.
If a tree can be saved responsibly, we tell you how. If it cannot, we explain why in specifics — not vague warnings — and give you a fixed price.
- •Dead canopy or more than 50% dieback
- •Large cavities, mushroom conks, or soft, punky wood at the base
- •Root plate lifting or soil cracking on one side after a storm
- •Split trunk or a failed codominant union
- •Oak wilt confirmed in a red oak with rapid decline
- •Tree planted too close to a foundation, pool, or septic field
Our process
- 1
Arborist assessment
Species ID, decay inspection, target analysis, and a straight answer on whether removal is warranted.
- 2
Plan and permits
We identify protected and heritage trees under City of Austin ordinance and handle permit requirements where they apply.
- 3
Site protection
Plywood on driveways where equipment must travel, tarps over beds, and clear communication with neighbors when access crosses a line.
- 4
Controlled dismantling
Piece-by-piece rigging, speed lines, or crane assist for large removals over structures — no uncontrolled felling in a residential yard.
- 5
Stump and cleanup
Grinding to your chosen depth, chip haul-off, raking, and a final blow-down so the yard looks better than we found it.
Why Austin homeowners choose us
- ✓Since 1975 — thousands of Austin removals, including heritage-size oaks and crane jobs
- ✓Full general liability and workers' compensation coverage, verifiable before we start
- ✓Rigging-first approach that protects roofs, fences, pools, and irrigation
- ✓One crew, one price: removal, stump grinding, and haul-off quoted together
- ✓Certified arborists who will tell you when a tree does not need to come down
Local expertise
Austin's protected tree ordinance covers many species at 19 inches in diameter and above, with heritage protection at 24 inches for species like live oak and pecan. We flag permit requirements during the estimate so nothing stalls mid-project.
Post-drought decline is common here: trees stressed by 2011 and the 2022–2023 heat often fail years later. We look for the delayed signals, not just current leaf color.
Hill country lots in Bee Cave, Lakeway, and West Lake Hills often mean thin soil over limestone, steep drop zones, and long hauls — all of which we account for in the estimate rather than discovering on site.
What affects the price
| Height and trunk diameter | Wood weight scales fast; a 36-inch trunk is a very different job from a 14-inch trunk. |
|---|---|
| Access | Crane or bucket access versus a hand-carry through a 36-inch gate is the biggest single cost driver. |
| Targets | Removals over a roof, pool, or power line require slower, more technical rigging. |
| Tree condition | Dead or decayed wood is unpredictable and requires extra safety measures. |
| Stump grinding | Depth, surface roots, and proximity to utilities affect grinding time. |
| Permits | Protected and heritage trees may require City of Austin review. |
Austin tree removal typically ranges from $600 for a small ornamental to $4,500+ for a large, tight-access oak over a structure. Most mid-size removals land between $1,200 and $2,800.
Recent work
Frequently asked questions
Often, yes. City of Austin regulates protected trees 19 inches and larger in diameter and heritage trees 24 inches and larger for certain species. We identify permit needs during your estimate.
It is quoted as a line item so you can choose. Most homeowners include it; grinding removes the visible stump and major surface roots to your chosen depth.
A typical residential removal takes 3–8 hours. Large, tight-access removals over structures can take a full day or two with a crane.
Some turf impression is normal where equipment travels. We use plywood matting, protect beds and irrigation, and repair what we disturb.
Yes — that is emergency work. Call (512) 291-8844 immediately and keep everyone out of the affected rooms until a crew secures the tree.
Get a free estimate from a certified arborist
Straight answers, fixed pricing, and crews that clean up like they were never there.
Since 1975Fully insuredCertified arborists