Trimming costs $150 to $500. Removal is $500 to $2,500+. Here is how to tell which you need.
Signs You Just Need Trimming
- Structure is sound with no cracks or dead sections
- Branches crossing or rubbing — common in coastal live oaks
- Lost branches in a storm but main trunk is intact
- Healthy but blocking your marsh view or near the roofline
Signs It Needs to Come Down
More than 50% dead or damaged. Liability is real heading into hurricane season.
Sudden lean. Sandy coastal soil is prone to root failure after heavy rain. A tree leaning toward your house is an emergency.
Fungal growth at the base. Signals internal decay — progresses fast in our humid coastal climate.
Water oak near your house. Short-lived trees (40 to 60 years) that decline fast. If it is showing stress over a structure, removal is almost always the right call.
The Storm Factor
A tree that looks fine may have hollow cores after Florence, Dorian, or Isaias. If it is large, near your home, and has been through multiple hurricane seasons — get a professional assessment.
Serving Wilmington, Leland, Ogden, Hampstead, Porters Neck, Masonboro, and all of coastal NC.