Frequently Asked Questions

It depends on the tree's height, what it could hit and how a crew gets to it. National guides from HomeGuide and Angi put most removals between about $200 and $2,000, with trees under 30 feet often $200 to $500 and trees over 80 feet $1,200 or more, and trimming most trees between about $250 and $1,200. A pine over a roof or a tree that needs a crane costs more than an open-yard tree of the same size. We give a written price after seeing the tree.

Yes. Louisiana law (La. R.S. 3:3808) requires anyone who advertises or works as an arborist, which covers removing and trimming trees for pay, to hold an arborist license from the state Horticulture Commission. LSU AgCenter notes that picking up debris that has already fallen does not require one, but cutting standing trees does. You can check any company's license with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry before you hire.

Not necessarily, but it is worth a look if it is large and over the house. LSU AgCenter notes water oak trunks often start to rot by about age 50, and water oaks are among the least wind-resistant trees in Louisiana. Warning signs include mushrooms or conks at the base, cavities, dead limbs high in the crown and soil heaving on one side after rain. Some trees can be thinned and kept; others are better removed before they come down in a storm.

Look for small whitish or reddish lumps of resin on the bark, called pitch tubes, fine sawdust in bark crevices or at the base, and needles turning yellow then red from the top down. Southern pine beetles favor pines already stressed by storms, lightning or drought. A pine that is turning red is usually past saving, and because nearby pines can be attacked next, it is best to deal with it quickly.

Late fall through winter suits most shade trees here: the leaves are off, the structure is easy to see, and it is ahead of spring storm season. Crape myrtles are usually pruned in late winter, lightly, without topping. Dead or cracked limbs over a roof should be handled whenever you notice them rather than waiting for a season.

Stay away from it and report it to SWEPCO, or whichever utility serves your address; SWEPCO takes tree reports through the Report a Tree Problem page on swepco.com and at 888-216-3523. The wires on the poles are the utility's to clear. Do not try to move limbs off a line yourself, even with a pole saw. Once the utility has cleared or shut off the line, we can remove the tree and clean up.

Often, yes. Stump grinding is a separate line on our quote, and when access allows we can grind it right after the removal. If you would rather wait, it can be scheduled later as its own visit.

National guides from HomeGuide put most trees under 30 feet at $200 to $500, 30 to 60 feet at $500 to $1,500, and larger trees $850 to $2,500 or more. Angi adds 25 to 50 percent for hard-to-reach or unsafe sites. A big oak over a roof sits at the high end. We give a written price after seeing the tree.

Usually not. Shreveport's development code has no protected or heritage tree list for private residential lots; its tree rules mainly govern landscape plans on development sites. Check first if the tree may be in the city right-of-way, if your subdivision has association rules, or if your home is in a local historic district such as South Highlands, where exterior changes go through the Historic Preservation Commission. We point out anything that looks like a city or shared tree when we visit.

Usually. Dead wood breaks unpredictably, so climbing and rigging take more care and sometimes a lift or crane instead of a climber. Removing a declining tree before it is fully dead is generally simpler and less expensive.

Yes. Limbs over the neighbor's side are cut and lowered on ropes so nothing lands where it should not. It helps to let your neighbor know, since the crew may need to step onto their side. Make sure the trunk is on your property before any removal.

We keep heavy equipment off wet ground where we can and use mats or plywood when we have to cross a lawn. After a week of rain, Shreveport clay can rut easily, so sometimes waiting a few dry days is the kinder option for your yard.

HomeGuide's national figures put trimming a tree up to 30 feet at $250 to $700, 30 to 60 feet at $600 to $1,200, and taller trees $1,000 or more. Crape myrtles run much less. We price each tree on a written quote after seeing it.

No. Topping removes the parts of the tree that make its food, leaves large wounds that decay, and triggers dense sprouts that are weakly attached and break easily. Reducing long limbs back to a side branch and thinning the crown makes a tree safer without those problems.

For mature shade trees, every three to five years is common, with dead or cracked limbs removed whenever they appear. Young trees benefit from lighter structural pruning more often in their first years.

The line running from the pole to your house is the property owner's to keep clear, and SWEPCO will send a crew to disconnect it temporarily if you call at least two working days before the work. We schedule around that disconnect. The primary, secondary and neutral wires on the poles are SWEPCO's responsibility, and its crews trim there, usually taking about three years of growth back to a natural branch point. Cable and phone lines, the lowest wires on a pole, are not maintained by SWEPCO.

In general you can cut back overhanging branches on your side as long as you do not harm the tree, but it is wise to talk with your neighbor first. Heavy cuts on one side can unbalance a tree, so we look at the whole tree before cutting.

HomeGuide's national figures put a first stump at about $120 to $400 and each additional stump at $30 to $60, or $2 to $6 per inch of diameter. Very large oak or pecan stumps can run $300 to $800. We price each stump after measuring it.

Often, yes. Smaller grinders fit through gates as narrow as about three feet. If the gate is narrower or the path is soft after rain, we will tell you what it would take before scheduling.

Grinding usually ends sprouting because it removes the root crown. Some species, especially sweetgum and Chinese tallow, can still send up shoots from roots for a while; those can be mowed or cut until the roots die.

Yes, but plant a little to one side of the old spot if you can, and ask for deeper grinding and backfill with topsoil. Wood chips break down and settle, and fresh grindings are poor soil for a new tree.

It is a good idea. Louisiana 811 marks buried utility lines for free, and grinding can reach several inches below grade. Private lines such as sprinklers and pet fences are not marked, so tell us where those run.

Often, when a tree falls on a covered structure such as the house, garage or fence, policies typically cover removing it, subject to limits and your deductible. A tree that falls without hitting anything is often not covered. Photograph everything before work starts and check with your insurer.

Yes, you can call (318) 309-7506 any time to leave the details. We work through storm calls in order of danger, starting with trees on occupied homes and blocked exits.

Stay away from it and keep others back. Call SWEPCO or your utility to report it, and 911 if there is fire or injury. We can remove the tree after the utility has made the line safe.

In many cases your own homeowners policy handles damage to your house regardless of whose tree it was, though if the tree was obviously dead or neglected your insurer may pursue the neighbor. Talk to your insurance company before arguing it out over the fence.

Sometimes. A tree that lost a few limbs but has a sound trunk and roots can often be pruned and kept. One that has split down the trunk, lost most of its crown or lifted its root plate usually needs to come down.

For everyday cleanup, Shreveport collects limbs and brush from residents on request through 318-673-6300 or the city's Report a Concern form, with pieces no more than 8 inches thick or 6 feet long and one pile no larger than 15 by 6 by 6 feet. The city does not pick up after contractors, and it does not take stumps or roots. After big storms it sometimes runs a special collection: after the June 16, 2023 windstorm it estimated about 100,000 cubic yards of wood waste and hired a debris contractor to make two passes. If we do the cutting, the written quote says whether we haul the wood or leave it.

Usually not once a southern pine beetle attack is widespread and the needles are fading. Lightly attacked trees with only a few pitch tubes are sometimes watched, but a pine that is turning yellow or red is generally past saving and should come down, especially near the house.

National guides put pine removal at about $250 to $1,600 (HomeGuide) or $475 to $1,450 (Lawn Love). Tall pines that lean toward a house or need a crane cost more. We give a written price after seeing the trees.

Not automatically. A healthy, well-rooted pine is not necessarily a hazard. We look at its lean, root area, any trunk damage and how close it is to the house, and tell you honestly whether removal makes sense.

Pine burns fast and leaves more creosote, so it is not a good choice for indoor fireplaces. It works for outdoor fire pits once dried. Wood from beetle-infested pines is best hauled off rather than stacked near healthy trees.

Pines naturally shed older inner needles in late summer and fall, which turn brown while the branch tips stay green. If the whole crown or the top is fading, or you see pitch tubes on the trunk, that points to beetles or another problem.

HomeGuide's national figures put light clearing around $1,200 to $2,500 per acre and heavily wooded land $4,500 to $8,000 per acre, with a quarter-acre lot often $800 to $3,000. Dense pines, big stumps and hauling everything off raise the price. We quote after walking the property.

Yes, and that is usually the better result. We mark the keeper trees with you first and work around them, keeping machines off their root zones as much as possible.

A machine with a rotating cutting head grinds standing brush and small trees into chips and leaves them on the ground as mulch. It is quicker than cutting and hauling on larger areas and helps hold soil, but it leaves a mulch layer rather than bare dirt.

On private land, clearing brush and trees is generally allowed, but subdivision covenants, building plans and wetland rules can limit it. If the property has low, wet ground, check before clearing or filling it.

It can be chipped and spread on site, mulched in place, or hauled away. Hauling everything off costs more, so we list each option on the quote.