Tree Service FAQ: Greenville, SC

Consumer cost guides put a typical removal in Greenville between a few hundred dollars and about $1,800, and they disagree with each other. The tree decides the price: its height, its trunk, where it stands and what is under it. Get a written estimate for your tree.

A 30-foot tree costs less than a 70-foot one, but height is only part of it. A tree over a roof or fence takes more rigging than one in an open yard. Ask each company what its price covers.

Most of the time the quotes cover different work. One may include hauling the wood and grinding the stump, and another may not. Compare them line by line.

For a big or risky job, yes. Two or three written estimates show you what is normal and what is left out. Do not pick on the lowest number alone.

That depends on the company, so ask when you get the estimate. A small deposit for a big job can be normal. Be careful about paying the full price before any work is done.

It may or may not. Some crews leave logs, some chip branches and some haul everything. Ask exactly what is covered, in writing.

It depends on whether you are inside the City of Greenville and what kind of tree it is. The city has a tree ordinance, and the county rules mostly cover new development. Call the city or the county before you cut.

A local news report says the city asks you to replant or pay a fee, at $50 per inch of trunk width plus $45 more for a heritage tree. The report does not say who is exempt. Ask the city about your tree.

Not on your own. A tree on the line may belong to both of you, and cutting it can lead to a dispute. Talk to the neighbor first, and get it in writing.

Many HOAs do have rules about removing trees or changing the yard. Read your covenants or ask the HOA before you hire a crew.

A tree on your lot is usually your job, even if it hangs over the road. A tree in the road right-of-way may be the city, county or state. A crew can help you work out whose tree it is.

Helene reached the Upstate on September 27, 2024. Wind gusts at the Greenville-Spartanburg airport reached 68 mph, and fallen trees blocked streets across the city. Cleanup along the Reedy River was still going on two years later.

An arborist quoted in local news said white oaks have shallow root balls, and many of the water oaks that fell were near the end of their life. Wet soil makes it worse, because the wind can pull a tree out by the roots. A trim or a check-up before storm season can find weak trees.

Stay clear of any wires and of limbs hanging in the crown. A limb on the ground is usually safe to move if it is small. A big one, or one on the house, is a job for a crew.

Homeowners policies often pay when a tree falls on the house or another covered structure, and may not pay for a tree that falls in an empty yard. Check your policy and call your insurer. This is general information, not insurance advice.

Be careful. After a storm, people go door to door offering cheap tree work. Ask for proof of insurance, get the price in writing and never pay everything up front.

Ask what the price includes, when the work will happen, who will do it and whether you can see proof of insurance. Ask how the crew protects the lawn and the house. Get the answers in writing.

Ask for a certificate of insurance and call the insurer to confirm it is current. Ask what business registration the company has. Do not take a business card as proof.

An arborist studies tree health and care. A tree cutter may only be trained to cut and haul. For a sick tree or a valuable one, ask who will actually be on site and what they know.

Small trees in the open can be done with the right gear. Anything big, near the house or near wires should go to a crew. Falls and kickback from chainsaws are how people get hurt.

No website can answer that for you. Look at recent local reviews, ask for proof of insurance and compare two or three written estimates. Choose the one that explains the job clearly.

Late winter, before spring, is often quieter for crews, but the difference is rarely large. Storm damage and the weeks after a storm are the most expensive times. Planning ahead beats waiting for an emergency.

Many trees do best with pruning in the dormant season, from late fall to late winter. Some flowering trees are pruned right after they bloom. Dead or broken limbs can come out any time.

Wet soil can loosen a tree's roots. A tree that moved after rain, or whose soil has cracked or heaved on one side, needs a look from a pro before the next storm.

Roots rarely break a sound foundation, but they can lift paving and crack old or weak pipes. A tree very close to the house is worth watching. A crew can help you decide whether it should stay.

Many people take them out because the branches split in storms. If yours is healthy and not near the house, it is your call. If it is leaning, split or over a roof, ask a crew to look at it.

Yes, but it costs more. Steep ground can keep trucks and lifts away, so a crew may have to climb, rig the pieces down and carry wood out by hand. Tell the company about the slope when you ask for a price.