Frequently Asked Questions

It depends on the tree's height, what it stands near and how easy it is to reach. HomeGuide's 2026 figures put most tree removals between $400 and $1,200, with trees over 80 feet at $1,200 to $2,500 or more, and trimming from $250 for a small tree to $2,500 or more for one over 60 feet. Tall pines over a house cost more than the same pines at the edge of the woods. We give a written price after seeing the tree.

It depends on where the tree is and why it is coming down. The City of Marietta and unincorporated Cobb County have their own development rules, and work tied to building, grading, a stream buffer or a street tree can involve them. For a tree on a private lot that is not part of construction, call the city or county planning office if you are unsure; we will mention it during the estimate if anything about the site suggests a check is needed.

Possibly. The Georgia Forestry Commission says dime-sized white, yellow or pinkish pitch tubes, brown boring dust and green needles on the ground are signs of pine bark beetles. Southern pine beetle can kill healthy trees and spread to nearby pines, while Ips and black turpentine beetles go after stressed ones. Have the tree looked at soon; GFC recommends prompt removal of badly damaged pines.

Yes. Call and leave the details any time, including whether a tree is on the house, blocking a driveway or touching wires. We sort storm calls by danger, so trees on roofs and blocked exits are handled first. If a line is involved, call the utility first; Cobb EMC says to stay away from any tree touching a power line and to call 911 for an electrical hazard.

Often, when the tree damages a covered structure such as the house or a fence. HomeGuide notes that policies typically cover about $500 to $1,000 per tree for removal in those cases, and usually not for a tree that falls in open yard without hitting anything. Check your policy and photograph the damage before work starts; our written quote can go to your adjuster.

No. The Georgia Forestry Commission states that the State of Georgia does not license or certify arborists; certification comes from the International Society of Arboriculture. GFC advises asking any tree company for proof of workers' compensation and liability insurance, confirming it with the insurer, and getting a signed contract with the dates, cleanup and total price.

Most deciduous shade trees can be pruned in the dormant season, roughly late fall through winter, when the structure is easy to see and before spring growth. Prune spring-flowering trees right after they bloom. Dead, cracked or hanging limbs should come off whenever you find them, especially before summer storm season.

The utility that owns the line. Cobb EMC, for example, trims on a planned cycle and clears 15 feet on each side from the center of a primary pole; inside Marietta, many homes are on Marietta Power. Do not prune branches growing into lines yourself. Once a line is clear, we can handle the rest of the tree.

HomeGuide's 2026 national figures put most removals between $400 and $1,200, with trees over 80 feet at $1,200 to $2,500 or more. In Marietta, the height of the pines and what they stand over drive the price more than anything else. A tall tree at the woods' edge with open ground around it can cost less than a shorter one hanging over a roof. We price each tree after seeing it.

Usually, with planning. On red clay the biggest risk is ruts from heavy equipment when the ground is wet, so we choose the route, use mats where needed and reschedule if the yard is soaked. Lowering pieces on ropes instead of dropping them also avoids dents in the turf and beds.

Often. Dead wood can snap without warning, so climbers may not be able to tie in and the job may need a lift or more rigging time. Removing a tree while it is still declining, rather than fully dead, is usually easier and safer.

We can, once both owners agree. A tree whose trunk straddles the line belongs to both neighbors, so we ask that both sign off before work starts. If limbs or the drop zone extend into the neighbor's yard, we may need access there too.

Yes. We can leave the logs in rounds, cut them to firewood length and stack them, or haul them away. Pine is a poor choice for indoor fireplaces because of its resin, but hardwoods like oak and hickory make good firewood once seasoned.

HomeGuide's 2026 figures put trimming at $250 to $700 for a tree up to 30 feet, $600 to $1,200 for 30 to 60 feet, and $1,000 to $2,500 or more above 60 feet. Large oaks over a roof often fall in the upper part of those ranges because of the rigging involved. Your written estimate is the price.

No. ISA guidance advises against topping because the regrowth is weakly attached and the big cuts invite decay, so a topped tree usually becomes more hazardous within a few years. Reducing long limbs back to healthy side branches lowers weight and height without those problems.

As little as needed to meet the goal. Removing a large share of the live canopy in one visit stresses a tree and can trigger heavy sprouting. For mature trees we usually focus on deadwood and specific problem limbs, and spread larger changes over more than one season.

Generally a homeowner may trim branches that overhang their property, as long as the work does not damage or kill the tree. We cut only on your side of the line and recommend talking with the neighbor first, especially for large limbs.

Not for deadwood and broken limbs, which can be removed any time of year. Larger structural work on hardwoods is easiest in the dormant season, but a limb that is cracked or hanging over the house should not wait.

HomeGuide's national figures run from about $30 to $70 for a stump up to 12 inches across to $100 to $290 for a 48-inch stump, with minimum job fees of $80 to $160. The first stump in a job costs more than each additional one because of setup. Hardwood stumps and wide root flares push the price up.

Typically several inches below the surrounding soil, deep enough to cover with topsoil and grass. If you plan to build a patio or plant a bed in the spot, tell us and we can go deeper and clear more of the root flare.

Pines, oaks and most hardwoods do not resprout once the stump is ground. A few species, such as sweetgum and some ornamental trees, can send up shoots from roots; those are cut back as they appear until the roots run out of stored energy.

Not quite. Stump removal usually means digging or pulling the whole stump and main roots out, which leaves a large hole and is harder on the yard. Grinding removes the visible stump and root flare and leaves the deeper roots to decay, which is enough for most lawns and beds.

Usually. Smaller grinders can work on many slopes and through gates as narrow as a few feet. Very steep banks may need a different approach, and we will tell you during the estimate.

Get everyone out of the affected rooms, stay away from any wires, and call 911 if a line is down or someone is hurt. Photograph the damage, then call us and your insurer. Do not try to cut the tree off the roof yourself; the weight can shift as soon as a cut is made.

Often not. HomeGuide notes that policies usually pay for removal when a tree damages a covered structure such as the house, garage or fence, typically about $500 to $1,000 per tree, and usually not for a tree lying in open yard. Check your own policy and talk with your agent.

The utility makes the line safe first. Cobb EMC asks people to stay away from trees touching lines and to call 911 for an electrical hazard; inside the city, report it to Marietta Power. Once the line is clear or de-energized, we remove the tree and clean up.

You can call and leave details at any hour. Cutting a storm-loaded tree in the dark is dangerous, so most work starts at first light unless the tree is creating an immediate danger that can be reduced safely. We will tell you plainly what can happen and when.

A tree that lost a few limbs but kept its main trunk and most of its crown often recovers with careful pruning. A split trunk, a lean with lifted roots, or the loss of more than about half the crown usually means removal. The Georgia Forestry Commission publishes a pruning decision guide for storm-damaged trees, and we will walk through the tree with you.

HomeGuide's 2026 figures put pine removal at $250 to $1,600, and very tall trees over 80 feet at $1,200 to $2,500 or more. A tall pine next to the house costs more than one at the edge of the woods because it has to be taken down in sections. We quote each tree after seeing it.

Usually not once southern pine beetle or Ips have mass-attacked it and the crown is fading. The Georgia Forestry Commission recommends prompt removal of badly damaged pines and does not recommend chemical control for Ips or southern pine beetle in forest conditions. Black turpentine beetle attacks caught early on an individual tree may be treatable with an approved insecticide.

Not necessarily. A healthy pine with a sound trunk and full crown can stand for many years. We look at each tree's condition, lean and what it would hit, and recommend removal only for those that are dead, declining, damaged or clearly too close to a structure.

Bark beetles often kill pines within weeks once an attack takes hold, especially after drought, storm damage or root injury from construction. The needles may stay green for a while and then turn yellow and red from the top down. GFC lists green needles on the ground and brown boring dust as early signs.

The Georgia Forestry Commission offers help through its foresters and its Ask the Arborist service, and can be reached at 1-800-GA-TREES. It is a good second opinion if you are unsure what is attacking your trees.

HomeGuide's 2026 national figures put a quarter-acre lot at $800 to $3,000 and a half-acre lot at $1,000 to $5,000, with heavily wooded land at $4,500 to $8,000 an acre. Slopes, big trees, stump removal and hauling raise the price. Your written estimate is the price.

It depends on the size of the area, whether it is tied to construction, and how close it is to streams or the Chattahoochee. Cobb County requires best management practices for erosion on residential lots, and grading or land disturbance for building usually goes through the city or county permit office. Call the office for your address before a large job.

Yes, and that is how most residential clearing is done. We mark the trees to keep, cut and chip the brush around them, and keep heavy equipment off their root zones.

Not on its own. Privet resprouts from roots and stumps, so cut areas usually need the root crowns ground or pulled, or follow-up on the regrowth for a season or two.

Brush is chipped and can be spread on site or hauled away. Logs can be stacked for firewood or removed. On larger areas, forestry mulching grinds material in place and leaves it as ground cover.