Learn - tree service guides

Tree service pricing is not by the hour - it is flat per job. The main variables are tree height and diameter, how close the tree is to structures, access difficulty, and what you want done with the material (chip on-site vs. haul-away adds cost).

Four things that move the price:

1. Tree size - height and trunk diameter drive more than any other single factor. A 30ft tree is a fundamentally different job than an 80ft tree. An 80ft tree near a pool requires a crane. 2. Access - if we cannot swing a bucket truck around, we have to climb and rope-section the tree piece by piece. That adds hours of labor. 3. Proximity to structures - a tree 100ft from your house is easier and faster than one leaning over the roof. Structure proximity drives how carefully we have to lower each piece. 4. Stump and material disposal - stump grinding and haul-away are priced separately. Chipping on-site and leaving the chips for mulch saves money versus hauling it all off.

TN Tree Bros quotes flat before any work starts. The number you hear on the quote call is the number you pay. No per-hour billing, no post-job fuel surcharges.

Five things to do in the 24 hours before your tree job:

1. Clear a staging area. Move cars, patio furniture, and any items you want to protect away from the tree and the likely drop zone. Our crew will advise you on this on the quote call but having it clear when we arrive speeds the job significantly. 2. Mark what you want to keep. If you want logs left for firewood, tell us. If you want chips left as mulch, say so. If you want everything hauled, let us know. These decisions affect how we set up and price the job. 3. Check for underground utilities. Before stump grinding especially, call 811 (Tennessee 811 / Call Before You Dig) to mark underground lines. We are responsible for not grinding into marked lines, but the marking is the homeowner's responsibility to request. 4. Note any sprinkler heads or landscape lighting near the stump grind area. We will avoid them but pointing them out prevents surprises. 5. Have payment ready. We take card, cash, or check on completion. No deposits, no upfront billing for standard jobs.

ISA stands for the International Society of Arboriculture. An ISA-certified arborist has passed a comprehensive exam covering tree biology, identification, diagnosis, pruning, risk assessment, and care standards. It is the primary professional credential in the tree care industry.

Why it matters for homeowners:

For diagnosis jobs (sick or declining trees), an ISA-certified arborist can identify diseases like oak wilt, emerald ash borer, hypoxylon canker, and fire blight - and tell you whether treatment or removal is the right call. A non-certified crew member can cut the tree down but cannot reliably diagnose whether it was worth saving.

For HOA and insurance work, many homeowner associations and insurance adjusters require a written report from an ISA-certified arborist before approving tree removal or cabling work. We provide those reports when ISA documentation is available through our operator partners.

For cabling and bracing, the ANSI A300 standards that govern proper cabling installation are part of the ISA exam. Cabling done wrong can create a false sense of security - certified assessment matters.

How to verify: ISA certification numbers are searchable on the ISA website (treesaregood.org). Ask for the certification number on any tree care estimate.

TN Tree Bros works with vetted local operators. Ask us whether an ISA-certified arborist is available for your specific job - particularly for diagnosis, cabling, and HOA documentation.

If a tree fell on your home or structure:

1. Call your utility provider FIRST if any power lines are involved. Do not approach or touch the tree until the line is confirmed dead. Call 811 and your utility provider, not a tree service. 2. Call your insurance company and report the claim. Take photos immediately before anything is moved. This is your documentation for coverage. 3. Tarp the breach point if it is safe to do so - most insurance policies require reasonable mitigation steps to prevent additional damage. 4. Then call a tree service. We respond 24/7 for active hazards and can document the job for your adjuster.

If a limb is hanging (widow-maker) but has not fallen:

Stay away from it. A hanging limb under tension is unpredictable. Keep the area below it clear until the crew arrives. Do not try to pull it down yourself.

If a tree fell in the yard but did not hit a structure:

This is usually not an insurance-covered event. Schedule it as a standard removal. No urgency unless it is blocking a driveway or egress route.

Documentation matters. TN Tree Bros provides photos and written documentation on emergency jobs that can be submitted directly to your insurance adjuster.

Tennessee state law does not require permits for standard residential tree removal. However, several layers of local regulation can apply:

Municipal ordinances: Some cities have tree preservation ordinances that restrict removal of trees above a certain trunk diameter, particularly on front-yard setback areas. Nashville, Brentwood, and Franklin have the most active enforcement.

HOA covenants: Many Middle Tennessee HOA communities require approval before removing any tree over a certain size. Governors Club and Concord Hunt in Brentwood, Westhaven in Franklin, and Providence in Mt. Juliet all have active tree ordinance committees. Violation can result in fines and mandatory replanting.

Protected species and heritage trees: A small number of trees in TN are on protected species lists or designated as heritage trees. Removing one without a permit can carry significant fines.

Grading and disturbance permits: Lot clearing above certain acreage thresholds requires a grading permit and often an erosion control plan, particularly near waterways.

The practical rule: For a single tree on private property not in a regulated HOA community, you almost certainly do not need a permit. For anything in an HOA, near a property line, or involving multiple trees, call your municipality or HOA management before scheduling. We can advise you on what we have seen in each of our eight service cities.

Middle Tennessee has several active tree health threats worth knowing:

Emerald ash borer (EAB): A beetle that has killed hundreds of millions of ash trees across North America. Active in TN. Symptoms: D-shaped exit holes in bark, serpentine galleries under bark, canopy dieback from the top down. If you have ash trees, have them assessed. Treatment (insecticide injection) can be effective if caught early. Once more than 50% of the crown is dead, removal is the only option.

Oak wilt: A fungal disease that kills red oaks rapidly (sometimes within months of first symptoms) and white oaks more slowly. Spread through root grafts and sap beetles. Symptoms: leaves wilt and brown from the outer canopy inward, often starting in late spring. Do not prune oaks in spring (April through June) when sap beetles are most active.

Hypoxylon canker: A stress-related fungal disease that attacks oaks and other hardwoods weakened by drought, compaction, or construction damage. Look for silvery-gray fungal mats under peeling bark. Trees with hypoxylon are structural hazards and should be assessed for removal.

Fire blight: Affects ornamental trees including crabapple, pear, and some serviceberry species. Symptoms: wilted, brown, bent-over branch tips that look burned. Prune infected wood at least 12 inches below visible infection and sterilize tools between cuts.

Bradford pear: Not a pest, but a structural hazard. The species has inherently weak branch unions that fail predictably in Middle TN wind and ice storms. If you have a large Bradford pear, consider preemptive removal before a storm makes that decision for you.

When to call an arborist: Any unexplained canopy dieback, bark abnormalities, mushroom growth at the base of the trunk, or sudden leaf color change. Early diagnosis means more options.