Frequently Asked Questions

It depends on the tree, the access and the work. HomeGuide's national guides put most tree removals at $400 to $1,200 and most trimming at $400 to $900 per tree, with palm trimming lower, usually $100 to $650 per palm. Stump grinding typically starts around $120 to $400 for the first stump. We give you a written price after seeing the trees.

For most shade trees, the cooler months from late fall through winter, when trees are less stressed and the heat is not working against new cuts. Live oaks are the exception in spring: Texas guidance is to avoid pruning oaks from February through June because of oak wilt. Dead or hanging limbs can come off any time.

Often, yes. Honey mesquite has a deep taproot and buds below ground, and a cut tree tends to come back as a cluster of sprouts. Grinding the stump below grade removes the crown where most regrowth starts. Any sprouts that come up afterward can be cut back while they are small.

Limbs near the main lines along streets and alleys are handled by the electric utility's own line-clearance crews, and you should report them to the utility. We work on trees on your property and keep a safe distance from energized lines. If a limb is touching a line, do not try to remove it yourself.

For a typical tree in a home's own yard, removal is usually a private matter, but rules can differ for trees in the right of way, on commercial or newly developed property, or in an HOA. Check with the City of Laredo or your HOA if you are unsure, and we will ask about it at the estimate.

HomeGuide suggests once or twice a year for most palms, depending on the species and how fast it grows. Fan palms are trimmed to remove dead fronds and seed stalks, not to strip off healthy green fronds, which weakens the tree.

Yes. Mesquite and oak are both popular for firewood and smoking. Tell us at the estimate and we will cut it to length and stack it where you want it, and the price will reflect the reduced hauling.

HomeGuide's national average for tree removal is $400 to $1,200, and many Laredo yard trees fall in the small to medium height range. Price goes up with trunk size, lean over a structure, tight access and full hauling. We put an exact figure in writing after we see it.

Only if it is on the estimate. We list it as its own line so you can choose. Many people want it for mesquite, since a stump left in place tends to sprout.

Yes. That is what sectional removal is for. Limbs and trunk sections are cut small and lowered by rope so nothing drops on the roof or walls.

Not right away in most cases. Many trees and palms recover from cold damage and push new growth in spring. Scratch a twig to look for green under the bark, and give it time unless it is leaning or dropping limbs.

We can haul it all, leave chips for mulch, or cut mesquite and oak into firewood rounds and stack them. Keeping the wood usually lowers the hauling part of the price.

HomeGuide's national average is $400 to $900 per tree, with smaller trees under 30 feet often $250 to $700. Most yard mesquites and ebonies fall in the smaller range. Several trees in one visit usually costs less per tree than separate trips.

As a rule, far less than people expect. Removing a large share of a tree's leaves in one season stresses it, and in Laredo's heat that stress shows fast. We aim for the least cutting that solves the problem.

Outside February through June, the period Texas guidance flags for oak wilt spread. Summer through early winter is the usual window. Every fresh oak cut gets painted right away.

Mesquite has dormant buds that wake up when a lot of the canopy is removed. Lighter, more frequent trimming with cuts back to side branches keeps sprouting down.

We can prune around the service line that runs to your house when it is safe to do so. Limbs near the main lines on poles along the street or alley are the utility's responsibility, and we will tell you if that is the case.

HomeGuide's national range is $100 to $650 per palm, with height being the biggest factor: $75 to $400 for 15 to 30 foot palms and $150 to $900 for 30 to 60 foot palms. Several palms in one visit lower the per-palm cost.

No. Green fronds feed the palm. Taking them off does not make it grow faster and can weaken it. We remove dead and broken fronds and seed stalks only.

Yes. The dead fronds around the trunk shelter rats, mice, wasps, scorpions and birds. Removing the skirt takes away that shelter.

Not necessarily. If the bud at the top survived, new green growth will appear over the following weeks or months. Trim off the dead fronds and wait before deciding on removal.

Once or twice a year keeps most fan palms clean. A tall palm that has gone years without a trim will take longer the first time.

HomeGuide's national range is $120 to $400 for the first stump, or $2 to $6 per inch of diameter, with additional stumps often $30 to $60 each. A large old mesquite or oak stump with spreading roots sits at the higher end.

Grinding out the stump and root crown removes most of the wood that sprouts. A few sprouts can still come from roots further out. Cut them back while they are small and they usually give up.

Deep enough for your plans. Several inches below grade covers lawn and planting beds. For a slab, post or new tree, we go deeper and clear more of the root area.

No. Grinding chews the stump down in place and leaves roots to decay. Full removal pulls out the stump and main roots, which disturbs much more soil and costs more. Grinding is what most yards need.

Leave the chips to settle, or have them hauled and fill the hole with topsoil. Either way, expect some settling over the following months and add soil as needed.

Stay away from it, keep others away, and report it to your electric utility right away. Do not try to move the tree or cut limbs near the line. Once the utility has made the line safe, we can clear the rest.

It depends on your policy and whether the tree damaged a covered structure. Read your policy or call your agent. We give you a written estimate and photos to support the claim.

Broken and loaded wood is unpredictable, work often happens over roofs and fences, and fast scheduling can cost more. HomeGuide notes same-day or next-day removal often runs 2 to 3 times the standard rate.

Not always. Some splits can be cleaned up and the tree reduced to a safe shape. If the split runs deep into the main trunk, removal is usually the safer choice. We will tell you which applies.

Wait until the next growing season shows what is dead, unless a limb is already hanging or cracked. Cold-killed wood turns brittle over the following months and should come out before it falls.

HomeGuide's national figures put a quarter-acre lot at $800 to $3,000 and brush removal at $800 to $3,000 per acre. Thick mesquite with larger trunks and stump grinding pushes toward the heavy-clearing range of $4,500 to $8,000 per acre.

Some will. Mesquite resprouts from buds at and below ground. Grinding larger stumps and cutting sprouts while they are young keeps regrowth manageable.

Yes. Selective clearing is often the better result. We flag the trees to keep with you and clear around them.

Sometimes, depending on where the property is and whether a burn ban is in effect. Check the rules for your address; we plan for chipping or hauling unless burning is allowed.

For a homeowner clearing brush on their own lot, often not, but development sites, subdivisions and HOAs can have their own rules. Check with the city or county office for your property before a large clearing job.