Not every tree can be saved, and some shouldn't be. A trunk that's gone soft with rot, a maple leaning a few more degrees after every nor'easter, roots heaving a foundation — these are calls we get year-round around Wilmington. Before anything comes down, we walk the property, check the lean and root condition, and figure out where the tree actually wants to fall versus where it needs to fall.
That gap is where sectional removal earns its keep. When there's a garage, a fence, or a neighbor's yard in the way, we take the tree apart in pieces from the top down using rigging lines, rather than felling it in one shot. It's slower, but it's the difference between a clean job and a claim on someone's homeowner's insurance.
Chips, logs, brush — all of it leaves with us unless you'd rather keep the wood. A lot of clients ask us to buck the trunk into firewood lengths and stack it by the garage instead of hauling it off.
It depends mostly on height and access. As a rough range: smaller trees under 30 feet often run $300-$800, mid-size trees $800-$2,000, and large trees over 60 feet can run $2,000-$4,000 or more, especially with rigging involved. We give exact numbers after seeing the tree in person, and the estimate is free.
Sometimes. It depends on the town and, in some cases, whether the tree is a "public shade tree" along a road. Wilmington and neighboring towns each have their own bylaws. If you're not sure, tell us the location when you call and we can point you in the right direction.
A straightforward removal is usually a few hours. Trees near structures that need sectional rigging, or larger trees, can take most of a day. We'll give you a time estimate before we start.
We use plywood or mats under equipment on softer ground to spread the weight out, and we're careful about the drop path for anything we're not lowering by rope. Some disturbance is normal on the exact footprint of the work, but we clean up and rake out the area when we're done.
