Published May 27, 2026
Most tree removals go faster and smoother when the homeowner has done a few simple things before the crew arrives. None of it is difficult — the main things are clearing access, moving vehicles and furniture, and making sure you know the plan for the stump and wood.
What to Do the Day Before
Clear the drop zone: Move any vehicles, outdoor furniture, grills, playsets, or potted plants from the area where the tree will be worked. Our crew will tell you the expected drop zone at the estimate — if you are not sure, ask. If you have not already, move anything fragile or valuable within 20 feet of the tree. Confirm access: Make sure the gate or fence opening is unlocked. If we need to remove a fence section to get equipment in, confirm that is acceptable and mark the section. Let your neighbors know: If branches overhang a neighbor's property, a quick heads-up prevents misunderstandings. Our crew will not enter neighboring property without permission.
What to Expect During the Job
The crew will walk the site on arrival before any work begins — expect 10–15 minutes of setup and review. The first cuts are typically the highest aerial work to remove crown weight before the trunk is sectioned. Expect significant noise from chainsaws and the chipper. Most residential removals take 3–6 hours including cleanup. You do not need to be present the entire time, but being available to answer questions at the start is helpful.
Decisions to Make Before the Crew Arrives
Stump: Do you want the stump ground? If yes, this is typically done the same day. If not, the stump is cut as close to grade as possible. Wood: Do you want to keep any firewood? Let us know before the job — we can cut sections to length and stack them. Otherwise all wood and chips are hauled off. Replanting: Are you replanting the area? If so, we grind the stump deeper (10–12 inches) to allow for a new root system.
What the Crew Does After the Tree Is Down
Wood and limbs are chipped on-site and the chips hauled off (or spread as mulch at your request). Large trunk sections are cut for haul-off. The area is blown and raked clean — we leave the yard looking better than when we arrived. If stump grinding was included, the stump is ground and the chips are spread over the hole or hauled away. Our crew does a final walk-through with you before leaving.
What our arborist sees on site
The most common thing that slows a job down is a vehicle in the drop zone that nobody realized needed to be moved. A 5-minute walk-around the day before prevents that.
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