Tree Service Questions, Answered

Sometimes, but usually not for a home you live in. A tree on a rental or business property, or storm damage that counts as a casualty loss, can be treated differently. This is general information, not tax advice, so ask your tax preparer.

Anywhere from a few hundred dollars for a small tree in an open yard to a few thousand for a big tree over a house. Size, location and the tree’s condition drive the number.

Most stumps run from about $100 for a small one to $600 or more for a large one, and width is the biggest driver. Extra stumps on the same visit usually cost less each.

Often, yes. The crew sets up once and does more work in the same visit, so the price per tree can come down. Ask for a price on one tree and on all of them.

Yes. Call or send the form and we’ll give you a price range for the work.

Usually it’s treated as tree work, not landscaping. Taking down a tree needs different equipment, training and insurance than mowing or planting, so many landscape crews won’t do it or hire it out.

Scratch a small twig with your thumbnail. Green underneath means it’s alive. Brown and dry means that branch is dead. No leaves in summer, brittle branches and bark falling off in sheets are other signs. Dead trees can drop limbs without warning, so have it looked at.

Watch for a lean that’s new or getting worse, soil cracked or lifting on the far side, deep cracks in the trunk, mushrooms at the base and big dead limbs. Trees are most likely to go after heavy rain, when the ground is soft, and in high wind.

Not always. A healthy tree near the house can often stay with some trimming. It should come down if it’s dead, leaning toward the house, cracked, or its roots are lifting the foundation or driveway. A quick look from a tree pro will tell you which.

It depends on where the tree is and how big it is. Trees on city or county land, or in the right of way, are handled by the city or county. Before you take down a large tree, check with the City of Columbia or your county.

A small tree can come down in a couple of hours. A big tree near a house can take most of a day, because it comes down in sections. Cleanup adds time.

Often not, if the crew can reach the tree and you’ve agreed on the work and the price. It helps to be there at the start to point out the tree.

The branches are chipped, and the trunk is cut into rounds. You can keep the wood for firewood and the chips for mulch, or have it all hauled away.

Small branches you can reach from the ground with hand pruners or a pole saw are fine. Anything that needs a ladder, a chainsaw over your head, or reaches a roof or a power line should go to a trained crew.

Young trees do well with light pruning every year or two to build a strong shape. Mature trees often need a look every few years, and after any big storm. Dead and hanging limbs should come off any time.

Call the power company. In the Columbia area that’s usually Dominion Energy South Carolina, and it says only qualified line-clearance crews may work within 10 feet of its lines. Stay well away from the tree and the wire.

Often, when a tree falls and damages something your policy covers, like the house. Usually not for a healthy tree you just want gone. Check your own policy. This is general information, not insurance advice.

Usually your own homeowner’s policy pays for damage to your house, even if the tree was your neighbor’s. The exception is negligence, such as a tree that was obviously dead for a long time. This is general information, not insurance advice.

An arborist is a tree specialist. Arborists prune, diagnose tree health problems and advise on whether a tree should come down. Not every tree company has a certified arborist, so ask who’s doing the work and what training they have.

Yes. We cover Columbia, West Columbia, Cayce, Lexington, Irmo, Forest Acres, Arcadia Lakes, Blythewood, Hopkins and Pelion. If you’re nearby, call and ask.

Ask for proof of insurance, a written itemized estimate, local references, and how the crew plans to do the work. Be careful with big deposits and with crews that show up unasked after a storm.

There’s no single statewide program that removes trees for free. Some help may come from local aging agencies, nonprofits and, for trees touching power lines, the utility.