Questions and Answers
General questions first, then the ones we get about each service. If yours is not here, call and ask.
General questions
How do I get an estimate?
Call (828) 797-8733 or send the quote form on the contact page. We come to the property, look at the trees and the access, and give you a written estimate. There is no charge for the visit.
What areas do you cover?
We are based at 111 Old Shoals Ln in Arden and work across Buncombe and Henderson County, including Asheville, Hendersonville, Fletcher, Mills River, Biltmore Forest, Candler, Weaverville, Black Mountain and Flat Rock.
What happens to the wood and the chips?
Brush is chipped on site and logs are hauled out with the skid steer and grapple. If you burn wood, we can leave rounds stacked where you want them, and we can leave chips for beds or trails instead of hauling them off.
How soon can you schedule the work?
Scheduling depends on the size of the job, the equipment it needs, and the weather, since wet ground and wind change what can be done safely. Storm damage gets handled ahead of planned work. Call and we will tell you where the calendar stands.
How do you protect the lawn and the driveway?
We plan the machine route before we start, stage on pavement where possible, put pads under outriggers, and stay off soft turf when the ground is saturated. At the end the lawn gets raked and the driveway gets blown clean.
What should I do right after a storm?
Stay away from anything touching a power line and call the utility first. Keep people out from under hanging limbs and leaning trees, and do not try to cut a trunk that is loaded across a roof or a fence. Then call us at (828) 797-8733 and describe what is down and what it is touching.
Questions by service
Tree Removal
Go to Tree RemovalCan you remove a tree that leans over my house?
Yes. That is the normal job here. The climber or the bucket truck works the tree from the top down and we lower each piece on ropes, so nothing swings into the roof. On the tightest ones we set up a crane-assisted pick instead.
Do you haul the wood away?
Yes. Brush goes through the chipper and logs go out with the skid steer and grapple, usually the same day. If you burn firewood, tell us and we can leave rounds stacked instead.
Will the equipment tear up my yard?
We plan the route in before we start, use the driveway where we can, and keep the machine off soft ground when the soil is wet. Anything we scuff gets raked back out before we leave.
Tree Trimming & Pruning
Go to Trimming & PruningHow much can you safely take off a tree?
As a rule we keep removal to a modest share of the live canopy in one visit. Taking too much at once stresses the tree and forces weak regrowth. If a tree needs a lot of work, we stage it over more than one season.
Do you top trees?
No. Topping leaves stubs that rot and sprout weak limbs, and it turns a healthy tree into a future removal. We do reduce and thin crowns properly, and we do top trees section by section when the tree is being removed entirely.
Can you get limbs off my roof and gutters?
Yes. Clearance over the roofline is one of the most common calls we get in Arden and Asheville, especially where oaks and poplars have grown out over a house since the 1990s.
Stump Grinding
Go to Stump GrindingHow deep do you grind?
Standard is several inches below grade, enough to mow over and seed. If you are planting a new tree, setting a post, or pouring anything, tell us and we grind deeper.
What happens to the grindings?
By default we rake them back into the hole and tamp them, because the hole settles otherwise. If you want the spot clean for topsoil and sod, we can haul the grindings off.
Can I plant grass or a new tree right away?
Grass yes, once you top the spot with soil. A new tree in the same hole is harder, because leftover chips tie up nitrogen as they break down. It is usually better to plant a few feet away or replace the fill.
Storm Damage & Emergency Tree Service
Go to Storm & EmergencyA tree is on my house right now. What should I do?
Get everyone out from under that part of the house, stay away from any wires, and call us at (828) 797-8733. If a line is involved, call the utility first, because nobody should be working near an energized drop.
Do you take trees out of power lines?
The service drop and the line itself belong to the utility. Once they have made it safe, we handle the tree, the yard and the cleanup.
Can you document damage for insurance?
Yes. We can take photos of the tree, the damage and the work before we clear the site, and give you a written itemized estimate you can hand to your adjuster.
Bucket Truck & Crane-Assisted Removals
Go to Bucket Truck & CraneHow do you decide between a climber, the bucket and a crane?
It comes down to the wood and the access. Sound tree with room to work, a climber is often fastest. Tall or dead with truck access, the bucket. No safe drop zone at all, crane-assisted picks.
Will the truck damage my driveway or lawn?
Outriggers go on pads to spread the load, we stage on pavement where we can, and we plan the machine route to avoid soft turf. Anything scuffed gets raked out at the end.
What if the truck cannot reach the tree?
Then we climb it, or we bring in a crane and pick the sections out to a landing zone. Backyards with no gate access are common here and there is almost always a way.
Lot & Land Clearing
Go to Lot & Land ClearingCan you clear part of a lot and leave the rest wooded?
That is how most of these jobs go. We flag the keep trees with you first, and we work around them so you do not lose the canopy that made the lot worth buying.
What happens to the brush and logs?
Brush is chipped on site. Logs go out with the grapple and get hauled away. If you want chips kept for trails or beds, or rounds left for firewood, say so up front.
Do you grind the stumps on a cleared lot?
Yes, and on a building site it is usually worth doing. Grinding the stumps out leaves ground an excavator or a grader can actually work.
Still have a question about your tree?
Call and describe it, or send the form and we will come look at it. Estimates are free and written down before any work starts.