Do You Know What Tree That Is? | PDF
Do you know the types of trees you have? See if this helps you identify some of the most common trees in Tennessee and the southern states.
Fast Growing Trees | PDF
Looking for that perfect tree but dont want to wait forever having to worry about its small size? Although trees are slow growing plants in general, here are some of the faster growers.
Recognizing Hazardous Trees | PDF
Do you know how to spot a dangerous tree? This article will help you spot potential hazards before they happen.
Hiring A Tree Service | About.com
An article by David Beaulieu
A few things to consider when choosing and/or hiring a tree service for your trees.
When You Need An Arborist | About.com Another David Beaulieu article
What is the difference? How to know what type of service you need and where/what to look for.
Removing a large tree is a complicated and sometimes extremely dangerous job that should be left to the professionals. Professional removal services have the equipment and experience required to safely remove trees without damaging surrounding structures. For the consumer, the most difficult part is choosing the right service. If you have never had to remove a tree, it can be difficult to tell whether you are paying too much or getting a fair deal.
Our best advice is to compare several bids from LICENSED and INSURED tree service companies.
This may sound simple, but ask for discounts. If you let the bidder know that you are concerned with cost and would like to know of ways to lower the price, you might be surprised at the results. Alternatives to hauling, and tolerance for landscape damage can all be factors that affect the price. Get together with your Neighbors As in other things, tree service can be discounted with volume. Putting your project together with one or two of your neighbors' projects can mean significant savings for you, and many times, you can get a great discount just by referring the tree service to another customer. ( We offer that one... 
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Below are some helpful tips on how tree services price jobs so you can be informed and therefore more confident when accepting estimates.
Pricing a tree depends on several different factors. The very first factor a tree service has to consider is size. The larger the tree, the more difficult it will be to chip up and haul away. Trips back and forth to dump, and cutting up large logs small enough to run through the chipper (around 20 inches or less) take more time, and if the logs are just loaded onto the truck rather than chipped, there is the cost of dumping those as well.
Smaller trees are ones that are around 25 feet or shorter and between three and 12 inches thick. To remove a small tree, customers will usually pay around $5 per foot.
Medium trees are between 25 and 50 feet in height and one to two feet thick. These trees are usually priced around $10 a foot. To remove a tree that is 45 feet tall, consumers can expect to pay around $450.
Large trees are between 50 and 90 feet in height and two to four feet thick. These trees will cost around $15 per foot. To remove a 90-foot tree, consumers will pay at least $1200. Anything over 90 feet will cost even more. In fact, it may cost as much as $2,500 to remove a 100-foot Red Oak. Because very tall trees are so complicated to remove, prices can climb even higher depending on the other factors surrounding the removal.
The average cost of tree removal is between $125 and $2,500. However, prices can get into the thousands of dollars. Tree removal companies really establish their prices on a “tree by tree” basis.
Mere size of a tree is not the only factor that affects the price. Bids are also based on a number of things the customer is usually completely unaware of. These factors include: where the tree is located, the health and/or condition of the trunk and branches, the number of branches and their proximity to one another. Due to the sensitive nature of the job, trees that are hanging over or close to stationary targets (unmovable cars, swimming pools, fences, etc) buildings or utilities lines will cost more to remove. Trees that are dead or infested with insects, like bees or wasps, will also cost more. These jobs can be very tricky to complete safely.
Where the tree is located is also important. Some large trees may require cranes and other equipment to get down. If the tree is on a hill or otherwise difficult to reach, it will be more expensive to remove because of the labor and time involved with dragging brush and logs to wherever the truck and chipper can be parked. Most companies base their price on how difficult the job will be for their workers to complete.
Keep in mind that removal estimates do not usually include the price of removing the tree stump. Stump removal requires different equipment. Consumers that want an entire tree removed, stump and all, will need to discuss this with each tree company as each one is different.
Tree stumps are removed using large, special machines that grind the wood into dust. Many tree services “contract-out” a stump removal service as stump removal is the only service those companies provide. Often, the stump removal service and the tree service work closely together.
Stumps are priced at aprox $2 to $3 per square inch. Small stumps usually cost around $50 to $75, while large stumps can cost anywhere between $150 to $300. If there are large roots surrounding the tree, and they have to “root chase” (break down any exposed roots as far out as 6 feet from the stump) it will cost more.
Everything considered, it can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars to completely remove a tree, so make sure whatever company you decide to go with can produce proof of being licensed and insured. What begins as an unfortunate expense can very quickly become a massive forfeiture should something go wrong and the company responsible is uninsured....
Property damage could be enormous.
Severe injury or even loss of life is possible.
Worst of all, the property owner can be held responsible for this if the contractor is improperly insured or not insured at all.
While professionals may have cost factors that put their prices higher than the “side job Bob”, it's usually worth it when you consider the actual cost potential of hiring the wrong people.
Like the old adage says, .....
And finally, it is unfortunate, but far too often we hear stories of so and so accepting payment and only doing half the job agreed upon, not showing up when scheduled, (sometimes for weeks and weeks), and sadly once in a while – not showing up at all. No matter what they say or how low they come down with the price (even if its “under the table”) never, ever pay until the job is complete. If the tree service is even a half-way reputable company, they will not expect payment until the job is done and an invoice is prepared and ready to sign.
To get the best price on a removal or any kind of tree work….
