Tree removal for Macon and Middle Georgia

How it works

1. Call or send a request

   Tell us your town and what the tree is doing.

2. We connect you

   Your call goes to an independent tree service that works around Macon.

3. They call you back

   They come see the tree and quote the job directly.

Who is this for?

Homeowners, landlords and small property managers in Macon-Bibb County and the towns around it: Warner Robins and the rest of Houston County to the south, Gray and Jones County to the northeast, and Forsyth up I-75 in Monroe County. If a tree has to come down, a storm left a mess, a stump is in the way or the canopy has grown over the house, we connect you with a local tree company that can look at it and give you a quote.

Why does Macon have two kinds of tree jobs?

Macon sits on the Fall Line, where the Ocmulgee River drops off the Piedmont onto the Coastal Plain. The New Georgia Encyclopedia describes clay soils north of that line and sandy soils south of it, and you can see the difference across the county: north Macon rolls with hills and red clay, while the south side flattens out toward Warner Robins. Clay holds water after heavy rain and can let a tree with weak roots tip over in a wind. Sandy ground drains fast and is easier on equipment, but it can rut under a loaded truck when it's wet. A good crew plans the job around which soil it's standing on.

What do storms do to trees here?

Middle Georgia gets summer thunderstorms, the remnants of Gulf and Atlantic hurricanes, and the occasional tornado. In 2008 an EF2 tornado tracked about 18 miles across the area with its worst damage near Eisenhower Parkway and Pio Nono Avenue. When Hurricane Helene passed through on September 26 and 27, 2024, Macon-Bibb County reported trees and power lines down and more than 6,000 families without power, and the Ocmulgee flooded Amerson River Park. Most homes don't lose a tree in every storm. They lose the one that was already dead, split or leaning.

Warning signs that a tree may need to come down

• Mushrooms or shelf-like conks at the base or on the roots, which UGA Extension says signal advanced root decay
• Dieback at the top of the crown, even when the trunk looks fine
• A pine with faded or reddish needles and fine sawdust on the bark
• A new lean, cracked soil or lifted roots on one side
• A split between two main trunks, or a big limb torn out in a past storm
• An ash with a thin crown and heavy woodpecker damage

What should I do right after a storm?

If a tree or limb touches a power line, treat the line as live, keep everyone back and call your electric company. Georgia's High-Voltage Safety Act bars work that brings people or equipment within 10 feet of a high-voltage line until the utility has made it safe. If a tree is on the house, get people out of the affected rooms, photograph the damage before anything is moved and call your homeowners insurance. Then call for a tree service. UGA Extension warns that bent trunks and limbs store energy that can release suddenly when cut, which is why storm tangles are a job for a trained crew. More on storm damage tree removal.

Are pine beetles and ash borers a problem around Macon?

Both show up here. The Georgia Forestry Commission says broken limbs and wounds on storm-damaged pines attract Ips engraver beetles, and their numbers can build fast enough to kill nearby pines too, so it recommends removing damaged pines promptly. Emerald ash borer, first found in Georgia in 2013, was confirmed in Bibb County during the 2023 trapping season. Ash isn't one of the most common yard trees in town, but a dead one gets brittle and dangerous to climb the longer it stands. More on dead and leaning trees.

Remove it or trim it?

A tree with one dead limb or a few branches over the roof can often be kept with good pruning. UGA Extension's rule of thumb after a storm is that a hardwood that's lost more than half its branches, or a pine that's lost more than 30 percent, should probably come out, along with any tree that's lost 70 percent of the limbs on one side. Leaning pines and hardwoods with broken roots are also removal candidates. An ISA Certified Arborist can tell you which side of that line your tree is on. More on tree trimming.

What about the stump?

A removal quote doesn't always include the stump, so ask. Grinding takes it below the surface so you can level and seed the spot. Because it goes into the ground, the crew should request a Georgia 811 locate at least three business days before grinding. More on stump grinding.

What about the cherry trees?

Macon is known for its Yoshino cherries. The city has an estimated 300,000 to 350,000 of them, many traced to trees that local realtor William Fickling Sr. propagated and gave away, and they draw crowds to the International Cherry Blossom Festival each March. Cherries in older yards can lose limbs or decline with age. If one is struggling, ask whether pruning can save it before you plan a removal.

Are you a tree service?

No. Macon Tree Removal is a referral service. We connect you with an independent tree company that works near your address, and that company quotes, does and stands behind the work. Read our tips for hiring a tree service and the Macon tree removal guide before you hire anyone.

Areas we cover

• Macon
• Warner Robins and Houston County
• Gray and Jones County
• Forsyth and Monroe County

Planning ahead? Read our Macon tree removal guide.