Tree Removal in Nashville, TN

What tree removal covers

Tree removal is the work of taking a standing tree down — or cutting up one that has already fallen — and getting the wood and limbs off the property. Depending on the tree, that can mean a simple felling in an open yard, or taking it down in sections when it’s close to a house, fence or driveway.

What it usually does not include, unless you ask for it, is grinding out the stump. Most homeowners are left with a stump after the tree crew leaves. That’s the job we handle with stump grinding, or with full stump removal when a patio, pool or footing is going in the same spot.

When a tree needs to come down

• Dead or dying. Large dead limbs, a hollow trunk, fungus at the base or a canopy that’s mostly bare are common signs it’s time.
• Leaning or storm-damaged. A sudden lean, cracked trunk or roots heaving out of the soil after wind or ice is a hazard, not a wait-and-see.
• Too close to the house or wires. Branches over a roof, rubbing a structure, or near NES lines raise the risk and the removal cost.
• In the way of a project. Additions, driveways, pools, septic work and new builds often need trees cleared first.
• Already down. A fallen tree blocking a driveway, fence or yard still has to be cut up and hauled off before the stump can be ground.

Tree removal vs stump grinding

If you only have a stump, skip tree removal and go straight to stump grinding, stump removal or root removal.

What drives the price

Most tree removal jobs run about $400 to $1,200. Small, easy trees can land near a few hundred dollars. Large, tight or hazardous trees can run $2,000 to $3,000 or more. The quote usually turns on:

• Height and trunk size. Taller, thicker trees take more time and heavier equipment.
• Condition. Dead or brittle wood can be less predictable to take down, which raises the care (and cost) needed.
• Access. A tree in an open backyard is cheaper than one wedged between the house and a fence, or up a steep slope.
• What’s nearby. Roofs, fences, sheds, play sets and power lines mean the tree often has to come down in sections.
• How many trees. Extra trees on the same visit usually cost less each than separate trips.
• Haul-away and the stump. Debris haul-away is usually in the tree quote; stump grinding is commonly separate, often about $100 to $500 depending on width.

Price ranges above are typical estimates, not a quote. Send us a photo and we’ll give you a firm number for your yard.

Safety before anyone cuts

• Power lines. Treat every downed or touching line as live. Stay back, call 911, and report outages to NES at 615-234-0000. Don’t cut limbs that are on a line.
• Near the house. A tree that can hit a roof, car or play area is not a weekend DIY job.
• After a storm. Photograph damage before anything moves, then call your insurer if something was hit. See the fallen tree and storm damage guide for insurance, Metro brush pickup and what to do first.
• Before grinding the stump. Once the tree is gone, Tennessee 811 should be called before any grinding or digging so public lines are marked. Private lines (sprinklers, dog fences, landscape lighting, septic) are not marked by 811 — point those out.

After the tree is gone

When the trunk and limbs are hauled off, you’re usually left with a stump — and sometimes torn-up surface roots if the tree tipped over. We grind the stump below the soil line so you can fill, seed or plant over the spot, and we can grind surface roots at the same visit when you ask.

Send us a photo of the stump, its width at ground level and your narrowest gate for a free stump quote. Read how stump grinding works, root removal, or the cost guide.

Where we take requests

Quotes are available across Nashville and nearby Middle Tennessee, including Donelson, Hermitage, Madison, Antioch, Bellevue, Green Hills, Old Hickory, East Nashville, Goodlettsville, Whites Creek, Crieve Hall, Brentwood, Franklin, Nolensville, Mount Juliet, Hendersonville, Gallatin, Smyrna, Inglewood, Bordeaux, Sylvan Park, The Nations, 12 South, West End, Belle Meade, Forest Hills, Oak Hill and Germantown.