Tree Removal in Memphis, TN: Dead, Dangerous and Storm Damaged Trees
Tree removal is the cutting down and hauling away of a tree, in one piece or in sections. 18 Primos Solutions is a tree service in Memphis, TN that takes down dead, dangerous and storm damaged trees for homes and businesses in Memphis and 13 nearby towns. Published price guides put most removals at about $200 to $2,000, and that’s a guide figure, not our price. Estimates are free. Call (901) 389-2360.
- Free on-site estimates
- Our own team answers the phone
- Crane work when the job needs it
- Cleanup and hauling
Here’s what this page covers. First, the signs that a tree needs to come down. Then the four ways we take one down, and the Memphis trees that give the most trouble. After that, what removal costs and how a removal day goes. You’ll also find how to get ready, how we protect your yard, and what happens to the wood and the stump. Last come how to choose a company, the permit rules, and why cleanup matters in Memphis.
Sources: HomeAdvisor (updated 16 Apr 2024), NerdWallet (updated 22 Apr 2026).
How do you know a tree needs to come down?
A tree needs to come down when it’s dead, badly decayed, or leaning or cracked in a way that puts your house, cars or people at risk. Tree service in Memphis crews look for the same few warning signs, and you can spot most of them from the ground.
- 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
One sign is a reason to look closer. Two or three together usually mean real trouble. For the full list, read about the signs of a dead tree. Not sure what you’re looking at? Ask for arborist advice first, and we’ll tell you if the tree can be saved.
How do we take a tree down?
18 Primos takes trees down 4 ways: rope and rigging, crane assisted, straight fell and storm damaged tree removal.
1. Rope and Rigging
A climber ties in, cuts the tree in small sections from the top down, and lowers each piece on ropes to a spot picked before the first cut. This is how most backyard removals near houses, sheds and fences get done.
2. Crane Assisted Removal
For big trees over a roof, or dead trees that aren’t safe to climb, a crane is used when the job needs one. It holds each section while it’s cut and swings it clear of the house, so nothing falls toward the roof.
3. Straight Fell
In open ground with nothing in the way, a tree can come down in one piece. It’s the fastest and lowest cost option, but only when it’s safe.
4. Storm Damaged Trees
Split, uprooted or hung-up trees are loaded with tension and can spring back when cut, so we cut them in the right order. If a tree is on your house right now, see our emergency tree service in Memphis.
Which method we use depends on the tree, what’s under it and how much room there is, and some kinds of trees run into trouble more often than others.
Which trees come down most often in Memphis?
Water oak, Bradford pear, silver maple and oaks with leaf scorch or canker are the Memphis yard trees to watch, because each one is known for weak wood, early decay or disease. If one of these stands near your house, it’s worth a closer look.
- Water oak. A common Memphis oak that grows fast but has weaker wood than most oaks. Trunks often start to rot by the time the tree is about 50 years old.
- Bradford pear. Planted all over Memphis subdivisions. Its weak branch structure and brittle wood break easily, and older trees often split 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 dying from the top down.
Read oak tree removal in Memphis for oak problems and when an oak can be pruned, saved or taken 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.
What does tree removal cost in Memphis?
Published price guides put most tree removals at about $200 to $2,000. HomeBlue, which writes a Memphis page, says a typical job is around $1,000, with a range of $400 to $1,700.
Those are guide figures, not our prices. We price each tree after we see it, and estimates are free. Size, access, power lines, a crane, cleanup and stump work move the number most. For every range and what changes it, read what tree removal costs in Memphis.
Sources: HomeBlue Memphis guide (dated 5 Mar 2025), HomeAdvisor (updated 16 Apr 2024), NerdWallet (updated 22 Apr 2026).
How does a removal day go?
A removal day goes in six steps: walk through, safety setup, drop zone, cut and lower, haul, and cleanup.
- Walk throughWe walk the yard with you and look at the tree, the lean, what’s under it and how we’ll get in. We talk through the price before we start.
- Safety setupWe mark off the work area and keep people, pets and cars out of it. Climbers tie in and the rigging goes up.
- Drop zoneWe pick where each piece will land, away from the roof, fences and beds.
- Cut and lowerClimbers, or a crane when the job needs one, bring the tree down from the top, one controlled piece at a time.
- HaulBrush is chipped or loaded and the wood is cut and hauled. Hauling is normally part of the job.
- CleanupWe rake the area and clear the sawdust and small debris. If you added stump grinding, the stump comes next.
How do you get ready for a tree removal?
Move your cars, mark anything buried, keep pets inside, and tell the crew about anything they can’t see. That’s most of it.
- Cars. Move cars out of the driveway and off the street near the tree, so the truck can get close and nothing is under a falling piece.
- Sprinklers and lines. Flag sprinkler heads, invisible dog fence wires, landscape lights and any buried lines you know about.
- Pets and kids. Keep them indoors or well away from the yard until the work is done.
- What to tell the crew. Point out septic tanks, soft spots, gates that stick, and any wood you want to keep.
If you can, unlock the gate and clear a path from the street to the tree. Once the yard is ready, the next question is how we keep it in good shape while the tree comes down.
How do we protect the yard during a removal?
We protect the yard by lowering pieces on ropes or lifting them out with a crane instead of dropping them, and by landing each piece where it can’t hit the lawn, beds or roof.
Before the first cut, we plan the drop zones and the path the wood will take to the truck. Rigging lets a climber control each piece on the way down. On big trees over a house, a crane holds the section while it’s cut and lifts it out over the roof.
Soft ground after heavy rain can rut under heavy equipment. We’ll tell you before we start if that’s a risk, so you can choose to wait for drier ground.
What happens to the wood and the stump?
The wood is hauled away, left as rounds for you, or chipped, and the stump is either left at ground level or ground out now or later.
Hauling is normally part of the job. If you want firewood, tell us and we’ll cut the trunk into rounds and stack them where you ask. Brush and small limbs are chipped or loaded on the truck.
The stump stays unless you ask us to grind it. Stump grinding is its own line on the estimate, so you can choose. Most people add it to the same visit, but you can have it done later too. Read more about stump grinding in Memphis.
How do you choose a tree removal company in Memphis?
Choose a company that shows you proof of insurance, gives you a written estimate, and holds the licence the state asks for. Make these three checks with every company you call.
- Proof of insurance. Ask for the certificate itself, for both liability and workers comp. UT Extension says reputable companies have it ready to show you.
- A written estimate. It should name each tree, say what will be done, and say whether hauling and the stump are in the price.
- A licence. In February 2026 the Tennessee Attorney General said tree trimmers are typically required to hold a contractor’s license, and pointed to verify.tn.gov to check one.
The Attorney General also warns against paying cash or paying most of the price up front. For the full checklist and the red flags, read how to hire a tree service.
Sources: UT Extension, Selecting a Tree-Care Company (SP684), Tennessee Attorney General, tree trimming and removal scam alert (Feb 2026).
Do you need a permit to remove a tree in Memphis?
Usually not, if the tree is on a house lot. The Memphis and Shelby County tree notice form exempts a residential lot of 10 acres or less with a house on it that’s used as a home. Vacant land, big parcels and building projects are different.
Street trees. The City of Memphis says it’s only responsible for removing trees in the street itself. A tree outside the street, in most cases even the strip between the sidewalk and the curb, is the owner’s job. Report a tree in the road to 311.
Power lines. MLGW trims around its lines on a three year cycle, but it doesn’t remove a tree just because it touches the service line to your house. Never cut near a line yourself. For downed or sparking wires, call MLGW at (901) 528-4465 (24 hours), and call 911 for fire or injury. To report an outage, call (901) 544-6500. The MLGW Customer Care Center at (901) 544-6549 is not an emergency line.
For the full rules, read tree removal permits in Memphis.
Why does the cleanup matter?
Cleanup matters because the city won’t haul it for you. A City of Memphis bulletin says contractors must remove the limbs they cut, and if they don’t, the owner can be billed for the city’s removal and disposal. Memphis also won’t collect limbs longer than 5 feet or wider than 13 inches across. That’s why hauling is normally part of our job. Tell us if you want to keep the wood, and ask us about the stump when we walk the yard.
Sources: Notice of Intent Application for Tree Removal, Memphis and Shelby County Office of Planning and Development (form dated 27 July 2018, read 1 Nov 2026), City of Memphis street maintenance page (read 1 Nov 2026), MLGW tree trimming (read 1 Nov 2026), City of Memphis bulletin “How to Handle Storm Debris”, sent 6 July 2023 (read 1 Nov 2026).
Got a tree that needs to come down?
Free estimates. Mon to Sat 7am to 9pm, Sun 6am to 8pm.