Tree removal in Memphis, TN
Dead, leaning, and oversized trees taken down in controlled sections, with a crane when the tree hangs over the house. One written price, and the wood hauled away when we leave.
- Crane-assisted removals
- Free on-site estimates
- Wood and brush hauled away
- Stump grinding on the same visit
Taking big trees down without hurting the house
A large Memphis oak can weigh many tons, and most of them stand within reach of a roof, a fence, a driveway, or the power line to the house. Dropping that tree in one piece is not an option in most yards. So we take it apart from the top down.
A climber ties in, cuts the tree in sections, and lowers each piece on ropes to a spot we picked before the first cut. When the tree is too big, too rotten to climb, or leaning over the house, we bring in a crane. The crane holds each section while it is cut and swings it out to the street, so nothing ever falls toward the roof.
When the last piece is down, we cut up the wood, chip or haul the brush, rake the area, and grind the stump if you want it gone. You do not have to deal with the debris, which matters in Memphis because the city will not pick up limbs left by a tree service (more on that below).
Signs a tree needs to come down
- Large dead limbs, or a crown that leafs out thin or late in spring
- A new lean, or soil cracking and lifting on one side of the base
- Deep cracks, splits, or a seam running down the trunk
- Mushrooms, soft punky wood, or hollow spots near the base
- Bark falling off in sheets, or a dark crusty fungus on the trunk
- Roots lifting the driveway or pushing against the foundation
- A split or hanging top left over from the last storm
Not sure? Our ISA Certified Arborist can look at the tree first and tell you if it can be saved.
Four ways we take a tree down
The method depends on the tree, what is under it, and how much room we have to work. We pick the safest one, not the most expensive one.
Rope and rigging
A climber cuts the tree in small sections and lowers each one on ropes. This is how most backyard removals near houses, sheds, and fences get done.
Crane-assisted removal
For big trees over roofs, or dead trees that are not safe to climb, a crane holds each section while it is cut and lifts it clear of the house.
Straight fell
In open ground with nothing in the way, a tree can come down in one piece. It is the fastest and lowest cost option when it is safe.
Storm-damaged trees
Split, uprooted, or hung-up trees are loaded with tension and can spring when cut. We cut them in the right order so nothing snaps back.
Trees that come down most often in Memphis
Some common Memphis yard trees are known for weak wood, early decay, or disease. If you have one of these near the house, it is worth a closer look.
Water oak
A common Memphis oak that grows fast but is more weak-wooded than most oaks. Trunks often start to rot by the time the tree is about 50 years old, which is why so many older water oaks fail in storms.
Bradford pear
Planted all over Memphis subdivisions. Its weak branch structure and brittle wood break easily, and older trees often split in half in wind or ice.
Silver maple
Fast growing with brittle wood that breaks in storms. Its roots are known for getting into sewer lines and lifting sidewalks.
Oaks with leaf scorch or canker
Bacterial leaf scorch hits pin, red, and scarlet oaks and has no cure. Hypoxylon canker shows up in big trees stressed by drought. Both can leave a tree that is dying from the top down.
Sources: LSU AgCenter on water oaks, NC State Extension on Bradford pear, University of Missouri Extension on silver maple, UT Extension on bacterial leaf scorch, Tennessee Division of Forestry on hypoxylon canker.
Do you need a permit to remove a tree in Memphis?
For most homeowners, no. Memphis and unincorporated Shelby County share a tree ordinance in the Unified Development Code. It covers trees 10 inches or wider (measured at chest height) and asks for a notice filed 10 to 45 working days before removal. But it exempts a residential lot with a house on it that is used as a home and is ten acres or less. That covers almost every house in the city.
The rules are different when the tree stands in the street area, when the land is being developed, or when you live in a suburb with its own rules. Lakeland, for example, needs a permit for trees 10 inches and wider. We tell you before we start if your job is likely to need one.
Trees by the street
The City of Memphis says it is only responsible for removing trees that are in the street itself. Trees outside the street, including the strip between the sidewalk and the curb in most cases, are the property owner’s job. If a city tree is the problem, report it through 311.
Trees near power lines
MLGW trims around its lines on a three year cycle and keeps 10 feet of clearance on each side of single-phase lines. It does not remove trees just because they touch the service line that runs from the pole to your house. That is where we come in. If a tree is touching a main line, MLGW has to make it safe first.
Sources: Memphis and Shelby County tree ordinance notice form, City of Memphis street maintenance, MLGW tree trimming.
What does tree removal cost in Memphis?
We do not quote by phone without seeing the tree. Here is what national cost guides report, and what changes the price in a Memphis yard.
| Tree height | National range (Angi, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Under 30 ft | $150 to $450 |
| 30 to 60 ft | $450 to $1,200 |
| 60 to 80 ft | $800 to $1,500 |
| Over 80 ft | $1,000 to $2,000 |
| Emergency removal | Up to $5,000 |
Forbes puts the national average at about $1,200. These numbers are a guide, not our price. A 60 foot oak in an open front yard and a 60 foot oak leaning over a house in a fenced backyard are two very different jobs.
Sources: Angi tree removal cost guide, Forbes Home tree removal cost.
What moves the price
- Size. Taller and wider trees take more cuts, more time, and bigger gear.
- Access. A tree you can back a truck up to costs less than one behind a narrow gate.
- Targets. A roof, pool, or power line under the tree means slower, rope-lowered work or a crane.
- Condition. Dead or rotten trees may not be safe to climb and may need a lift or crane.
- Extras. Stump grinding, hauling all the wood, or keeping firewood rounds all change the total.
You get one written price after we see the tree. No surprise charges once the work starts.
How a removal day goes
From the estimate to the last rake, the same crew handles the job.
- Walk the yard with youWe look at the tree, the lean, what is under it, and how to get equipment in. You get a written price.
- Plan the drop zonesWe mark where each piece will land, protect the lawn and beds where we can, and set up the rigging or crane.
- Take it down in sectionsClimbers or the crane bring the tree down from the top, one controlled piece at a time.
- Clean up and haulBrush is chipped or loaded, wood is cut and hauled or stacked if you want it, and the yard is raked.
- Grind the stumpIf you added stump grinding, we grind it below grade the same day.
Why the cleanup matters in Memphis
A lot of people are surprised by this one. The City of Memphis will not collect limbs or logs larger than 13 inches across or longer than 5 feet. And by city ordinance, tree trimmers and other yard contractors must remove all the waste their work creates. So if a tree service leaves a pile at the curb, it can sit there.
Our price includes hauling the debris unless you ask us to leave the wood. Most suburbs have similar rules. Collierville, Lakeland, Millington, Southaven, Olive Branch, Horn Lake, and Hernando all say they will not pick up debris from tree contractors.
Tree removal questions
How much does tree removal cost in Memphis?
National guides put most removals between about $200 and $2,000, with an average around $750 to $1,200. Big trees over houses that need a crane, and emergency jobs, can cost more. We give you a firm written price after we see the tree.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Memphis?
Usually not. The Memphis and Shelby County tree ordinance exempts residential lots with a house on them that are ten acres or less. Trees in the street, land under development, and some suburbs like Lakeland have their own rules. We will tell you if your job needs one.
Who removes a tree between the sidewalk and the street?
The City of Memphis says it only removes trees that are in the street itself. Trees outside the street are the property owner’s responsibility. If you think a tree is the city’s, report it through 311.
Will MLGW remove a tree touching my power line?
MLGW does not remove trees because they touch the service line from the pole to your house. With your written consent, it may remove a dead or diseased tree that it sees as a hazard to its main lines. For trees on the service drop, a tree service handles it.
Will the city pick up the wood after you cut a tree?
No. Memphis requires tree contractors to remove the waste their work creates, and limbs over 13 inches across or 5 feet long are not collected. Our price includes hauling unless you want to keep the wood.
Does homeowners insurance pay for tree removal?
The Insurance Information Institute says removal is usually covered when a tree falls on an insured structure like your house or garage, generally up to about $500 to $1,000 depending on the insurer. A standing dead tree, or one that falls without hitting anything, is usually not covered.
Can you remove a tree without damaging my yard?
We keep damage low by lowering pieces on ropes or lifting them out with a crane instead of dropping them. Soft ground after heavy rain can rut under equipment, and we tell you before we start if that is a risk.
Is stump grinding included?
It is priced separately so you can choose. Most people add it to the same visit. See our stump grinding service.
Got a tree that needs to come down?
Free tree removal estimates across Memphis.