Questions Georgetown homeowners ask us
Insurance, arborists, permits, oak wilt, prices, storms and stumps — the short answers. Anything we missed, call and ask.
Are you licensed and insured?
Texas doesn't license tree services, so licensing isn't the question — insurance is. Our crews carry general liability and workers' compensation written for tree work, and we send the certificate before we start. Ask any company for the same.
Do you have a certified arborist?
Yes — an ISA Certified Arborist looks at every tree that's a judgment call and writes any risk assessment, oak wilt evaluation or letter you need for the city, an HOA or an insurer.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Georgetown?
Only for certain trees. A Heritage Tree — one of 13 species (live oak, post oak, pecan, cedar elm and others) 26 inches or more across at 4½ feet — needs a Tree Removal Permit on any lot in the city or ETJ. Smaller trees on a single-family lot don't. Lots platted before February 13, 2007 are exempt, and so are dead trees confirmed by a certified arborist. We measure and check before we cut.
When can you prune my oaks?
July through January. We don't prune oaks from February through June, when oak wilt spreads, and we paint every oak cut the minute it's made, any month of the year. Storm-broken limbs get cut and painted whenever they happen.
How much does tree removal cost?
$300 to $800 for a small tree, $700 to $1,800 for a medium one on an open lot, $1,800 to $4,500 for a big live oak, pecan or elm over a house, $3,000 to $8,000 with a crane. Dead post oaks cost more than a live tree the same size because they can't be climbed. Written price on site.
Do you charge for estimates?
No. The on-site look and the written, itemized price are free and good for 30 days. An arborist's written report — for oak wilt, the city, an HOA or an insurer — is a small fee credited toward any work.
Do you require a deposit?
Not until you've approved the written price and we've scheduled the work. Most residential jobs are paid on completion.
Do you top trees?
No. Topping ruins a tree and makes it more dangerous within a few years — and a topped live oak is a mop of weak shoots that snaps in the next ice storm. We prune to the ANSI A300 standard, reduce end weight properly, cable, or recommend removal.
What do you do with the wood and debris?
Chipped on site and hauled, or left as chips or firewood rounds if you want them. Oak and pecan make good firewood; we'll tell you if a tree came out for oak wilt, because that wood needs to be covered or burned by spring.
Do you grind stumps?
Yes — 8 to 12 inches below grade where the limestone allows, roots chased, hole backfilled, Texas 811 called first. Priced by the inch. West of I-35 the rock sometimes stops us shallower, and we'll say so.
Can you work near power lines?
Near your service drop, yes — Georgetown Utility Systems will disconnect or drop the line for us when we need to be close. Anything within ten feet of GUS's primary lines is the utility's to clear; call them at (512) 930-3640 and they'll handle it.
How fast can you get here after a storm?
For a tree on a house or blocking a driveway, usually within hours, any time. After a county-wide event like the 2023 ice storm we triage — structures and driveways first, hangers next, yard cleanup after.
Do you work with insurance?
We give you the photos, the itemized invoice and a written description of the hazard — the things your adjuster asks for. We don't bill insurers directly and we don't waive deductibles.
Do you serve Sun City?
Every week. Sun City is 4,750 acres of live oaks and a lot of ball moss, and we know its HOA's rules. We also cover Round Rock, Leander, Cedar Park, Liberty Hill, Hutto, Jarrell, Florence, Weir, Walburg and Taylor.
Is my post oak savable?
If it's lost less than a third of its crown and the decline is from one bad summer, sometimes — deep watering, mulch and leaving the roots alone. A post oak that's dead from the top down over half its crown is a removal, and the sooner the better, because dead post oak wood turns brittle fast.