The questions our arborists get asked most — what work costs, whether you need a permit, what insurance covers, and how fast we can get to a storm emergency. Can't find your answer? Call us, we're happy to talk it through.
Most Rochester tree removals land between $300 and $3,500+. Price tracks size and difficulty: roughly $300–$600 for a small tree under 30 ft, $600–$1,200 for a 30–60 ft tree, and $1,200–$3,500+ for large trees over 60 ft or anything needing a crane or tight rigging near a structure. The honest answer for your tree comes from a free on-site look.
Typically $150–$400 per stump, depending on diameter, root flare and access. Full stump removal — digging out the root ball rather than grinding it — runs $150–$1,800 because it's a much bigger excavation.
Most trimming and pruning jobs fall between $200 and $1,500. A small ornamental is at the low end; a mature oak needing climbing work and careful structural pruning sits at the high end. Crown reduction runs $150–$1,800 and hedge or shrub trimming $150–$900.
Five things, mostly: the tree's size, how close it is to your house or power lines, whether we can get equipment to it or have to rig it out piece by piece, how much debris there is to haul, and whether a crane is needed. Two trees of the same height can differ by thousands depending on what's underneath them.
Yes — free, on site, in writing, with no obligation. An ISA-Certified Arborist looks at the actual tree rather than quoting blind over the phone, and the written quote spells out what's included (removal, stump, haul-away, cleanup) so there are no surprises.
Emergency call-outs typically add $200–$500 over a scheduled job, because it means mobilising a crew immediately, often after hours and in bad conditions. We'll tell you the number before we start work.
See full pricing on each service page — tree removal, trimming, stump grinding.
Yes — our line is staffed around the clock, every day of the year. If a tree has come down on your house or car, is leaning into power lines, or is otherwise an active danger, call (585) 479-3388 day or night and we'll dispatch a crew to make the property safe. Storms don't keep business hours, and neither do we.
Get everyone away from the tree and out of the affected rooms, and stay far clear of any wires. If power lines are involved or anyone is hurt, call 911 and your utility first. Once people are safe, photograph the damage for your insurer before anything is moved, then call us and we'll stabilise and remove the tree.
We're based on W Henrietta Rd in Rochester, not three states away, so for an active emergency we're usually rolling a crew within hours. For non-urgent work we can normally get an arborist out for a free estimate the same or next day.
Never touch or approach a tree contacting power lines, and don't let anyone else either. The lines themselves are the utility's responsibility — call RG&E (and 911 if there's immediate danger). Once the line is de-energised or cleared, we handle the tree work. We regularly work near service drops using proper rigging.
More detail on our emergency tree service and fallen tree removal pages.
For genuine emergencies, yes — that's what the 24/7 line is for. For planned removals we usually schedule within a few days, sometimes sooner. Either way the free estimate comes first so you know the price before we touch anything.
A straightforward small or medium tree in an open yard is often a few hours. A large tree over a house, or one that has to be rigged down piece by piece, can take a full day. Stump grinding afterwards usually adds an hour or so.
Yes — that's the majority of what we do. Tight removals are done by climbing and rigging the tree down in controlled sections rather than felling it, and where access allows we'll bring in a crane to lift big sections clear of the roof entirely.
Large dead limbs, a trunk cavity or soft/decayed wood, fungal growth like mushrooms at the base, a sudden lean with soil heaving on one side, cracks in a main fork, or roots that have been severed by construction. Not every flawed tree needs removing though — many can be saved with cabling and bracing or a crown reduction. An arborist will tell you honestly which case you're in.
Late fall through winter is ideal. The tree is dormant, there are no leaves to haul, and frozen ground means far less damage to your lawn from equipment. That said, hazardous trees shouldn't wait for a season — if it's a danger, deal with it now.
Full detail on the tree removal page and our crane tree service.
For most species the dormant season — late fall to early spring — is best: the structure is visible, disease pressure is lower, and the tree recovers quickly. Dead, broken or hazardous limbs can and should be removed at any time of year.
Trimming (pruning) is selective — removing dead, crossing or hazardous limbs to improve the tree's health and structure. Crown reduction shortens the overall height or spread of the canopy, usually because the tree has outgrown its space or is over a roof. Reduction is done with proper cuts back to lateral branches, never by topping.
Often, yes. A healthy tree with a specific structural weakness — a codominant fork, a crack, an over-extended limb — can frequently be supported with cabling and bracing instead of removed, adding many safe years. It won't save a tree that's extensively decayed or dying.
No. Topping — cutting main limbs back to stubs — creates weak regrowth, opens the tree to decay, and shortens its life. Where a tree genuinely needs to be smaller we use crown reduction, which achieves the height while keeping the tree structurally sound.
See tree trimming, crown reduction and hedge trimming.
Grinding chips the stump down below ground level with a machine and leaves the root system to decay naturally — faster, cheaper and far less disruptive to your yard. Full removal excavates the stump and major roots, leaving a large hole to backfill; it costs more but is the right call if you're building, laying a patio or replanting in the same spot.
Usually 6–12 inches below grade, which is enough to re-seed grass or lay topsoil over it. If you're planting a new tree or laying hardscape in that spot, tell us — we can go deeper or recommend full removal instead.
Your choice. Grinding produces a pile of chips and soil; we can haul it away, or leave it if you want to use it as mulch or to backfill the hole. Backfilling settles over time, so plan to top it up.
Compare both options: stump grinding vs stump removal.
It depends where you live and where the tree stands. The City of Rochester regulates removals in the right-of-way and above certain sizes, and suburban towns such as Brighton, Pittsford and Greece each have their own rules. Trees fully on your private property are often exempt, but it's worth checking. We deal with these ordinances constantly — your arborist will flag any permit you need during the free estimate.
Completely. We carry full general-liability and workers' compensation coverage, employ ISA-Certified Arborists, and we'll hand you current certificates before we start. This matters more than people realise: if an uninsured crew damages your home or someone is hurt in your tree, the liability can land on you. Always ask for proof of insurance — from us or anyone else.
Often, when a covered peril — wind, ice, storm or lightning — brings a tree down onto an insured structure like your house, garage or fence; removal of that fallen tree is frequently included up to a policy limit. Removing a healthy, dead or declining tree that hasn't hit anything is usually treated as maintenance and isn't covered. Photograph the damage before cleanup and call your carrier.
Generally, once a tree falls onto your property it's dealt with through your own insurance, regardless of which side of the line it grew on. The exception is where the tree was clearly hazardous and the owner had been notified and did nothing — then their liability may come into play. Document everything and speak to your insurer; we can provide an arborist's assessment of the tree's condition if it helps.
This is general guidance, not legal or insurance advice — your policy and your town's ordinance are what govern your situation.
All of Rochester and Monroe County — Brighton, Pittsford, Greece, Webster, Henrietta, Irondequoit, Penfield, Fairport, Chili, Gates and the rest — plus surrounding Finger Lakes towns in Ontario, Livingston, Wayne, Genesee and Orleans counties. That's 42 communities in total; see the full service area list.
Always — full cleanup is part of the price, not an upsell. Every limb, log and pile of brush leaves with us, and we rake or blow the area clean before we go. Want to keep the wood? Say so and we'll cut it to firewood length and stack it.
Yes — we're based at 3675 W Henrietta Rd #3 in Rochester and have been serving Monroe County since 2012. You're speaking to the people who will be standing in your yard, not a national call centre booking a subcontractor.
Call (585) 479-3388 or request a free estimate online. We can usually have an arborist out the same or next day for a quote, and emergencies are handled 24/7.
Still have a question? Contact us or browse our tree care guides.
Talk to an ISA-Certified Arborist — estimates are free, advice is honest, and there's never any pressure.
Our team of certified arborists provides high-quality tree care services to both residential and commercial customers throughout the area since 2012.
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