Tree removal
Whether the tree is dead, in the way or simply too close to the house, here's how a planned removal usually goes around Macon.
A planned removal is any job where the tree is still standing and there's time to plan: a pine that has grown into the gutters, an oak with mushrooms at the base, a tree in the way of a new driveway or pool, or one that's been dropping limbs on the roof every summer. The company looks at the tree, the targets around it and how equipment can get in, then decides how it comes down.
How will the tree come down?
- Felled whole. Only where there's open ground to land it, which is more common on big lots in Jones and Monroe counties than in town.
- Taken down in sections. A climber or bucket truck removes limbs and then the trunk in pieces, lowering them on ropes so nothing hits the roof or fence.
- Crane removal. For large trees leaning over a house with no safe landing zone, a crane lifts each piece out. It needs solid ground and room to set up.
What should the written quote cover?
- Exactly which trees are coming down, by location
- Whether brush is chipped and hauled off
- Whether logs are hauled, left in rounds or cut to firewood length
- Whether the stump is ground, and how deep
- How the crew will protect the lawn, driveway and any septic system
- A certificate of liability insurance and proof of workers' comp
What changes the price?
- Height, trunk diameter and species
- How close the tree is to the house, wires, fences or the neighbor's shed
- Whether a lift can reach it or someone has to climb
- Ground conditions, since wet clay in north Bibb and soft sand on the south side both limit heavy equipment
- Cleanup, log hauling and stump grinding
Is it actually dying?
UGA Extension's guide Is My Tree Dying? notes that root decay can't be reversed, that dieback can mean internal decay even when the trunk looks fine, and that digging or grading inside the drip line often leads to decline. If you aren't sure, ask for an arborist's opinion before you pay for a removal. See dead and leaning tree removal for trees that are already failing.
Price is set by the tree company after it sees the tree, what's underneath it and how a truck, lift or grinder can reach it. We don't quote prices, and any figure given over the phone without a site visit is only a rough starting point.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Do I need a permit to cut down a tree in my own yard in Macon?
Trees on your own lot are generally yours to manage, but rules can differ for trees in the public right of way, in some subdivisions with HOAs, or on commercial sites. If the tree is by the street or a property line, check with Macon-Bibb County or your HOA first.
Can a tree right next to the house be removed safely?
Usually, yes. Crews take close trees down in sections with ropes, a bucket truck or a crane, lowering each piece instead of dropping it.
Related services
More background: Macon tree removal guide.
Water oak over the bedroom, a pine snapped in the last storm, or a stump in the middle of the yard?
Call and get connected with a Middle Georgia tree service that can come look at it.