Tree removal in Tuscaloosa, AL
Whether the tree is dead, in the way or just too close to the house, here's how a planned removal usually goes in Tuscaloosa County.
A planned removal is any job where the tree is still standing and there's time to think it through: a pine that's grown taller than the house, an oak dropping limbs on the roof every summer, a tree in the way of an addition or a new driveway, or one with fungus at the base. The tree company looks at the tree, what it could hit, and how equipment can reach it, then decides how it comes down.
How will the tree come down?
- Felled in one piece. Only where there's clear ground to drop it, which is more likely on acreage out in the county than on a city lot.
- Taken down in sections. A climber or bucket truck removes the limbs and then the trunk in pieces, lowering each one on ropes so nothing lands on the roof, fence or car.
- Crane removal. For big trees leaning over a house with nowhere safe to lower pieces, a crane lifts sections out. It needs firm ground and room to set up, which a sloped lakefront lot may not have.
What should the written quote cover?
- Exactly which trees are coming down, by location
- Whether brush is chipped and hauled away
- Whether logs are hauled, left whole or cut to firewood length
- Whether the stump is ground, and how deep
- How the crew will protect the lawn, driveway, septic system and any retaining walls
- A certificate of liability insurance and proof of workers' comp
What changes the price?
- Height, trunk size and species
- How close the tree is to the house, power lines, fences or the neighbor's shed
- Whether a lift can reach it or someone has to climb
- Slope and ground conditions, from hillside lots north of the river to soft sandy yards after rain
- Cleanup, log hauling and stump grinding
Rental houses and student neighborhoods
With the University of Alabama's roughly 40,000 students, Tuscaloosa has plenty of rental houses with older trees and owners who live somewhere else. If you're a landlord, tell the company who will be on site, whether tenants' cars need to be moved, and who signs off on the quote. Parking on narrow streets near campus can decide what equipment fits.
Near the lake?
If the tree is on a lot that backs up to Lake Tuscaloosa, find out whether it's on your land or on city property along the shoreline. The City of Tuscaloosa's Lakes Division handles permits for tree removal on city property around its lakes. See Lake Tuscaloosa tree work.
The tree company sets the price after it sees the tree, what's under it and how a bucket truck, crane or grinder can get to it. We don't quote prices, and a number given over the phone before anyone has looked at the tree is a rough starting point at best.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Do I need a permit to cut down a tree in my own yard in Tuscaloosa?
Trees on your own lot are generally yours to manage, but trees in the street right of way, on city property along Lake Tuscaloosa, or in neighborhoods with an HOA can have their own rules. Check with the City of Tuscaloosa, the City of Northport or your HOA if the tree is near a street, property line or the water.
Can a tree right beside the house be removed safely?
Usually, yes. Crews take close trees down in sections, lowering each piece with ropes, a bucket truck or a crane instead of dropping it.
Related services
More background: Tuscaloosa tree removal guide.
Oak limb over the roof, a pine snapped in the last storm, or a stump you keep mowing around?
Call and get connected with a tree company that works Tuscaloosa and Northport.