Tree Trimming Service in Houston, TX

Most tree trimming jobs cost about $80 to $1,800 per tree, based on national cost guides from Angi and HomeGuide. Small trees under 25 feet often run $80 to $400. Medium trees run about $150 to $900. Large, mature shade trees over 50 feet can run $300 to $1,800 or more, especially near a roof or fence. Height, access, how much wood comes out and debris hauling all affect the price. We look at your trees in person and give you a free, itemized quote.

The Texas A&M Forest Service advises avoiding oak pruning from February through June when you can. In those months, sap beetles are active and can carry oak wilt spores to fresh cuts. Late summer through winter is the safer window. The same agency says every fresh cut on an oak should be painted right away, in any season. If a broken or hanging limb is a safety risk, it should come down now, with as few cuts as possible.

It depends on the tree's age, type and where it grows. Young trees benefit from light shaping every year or two, so they grow a strong structure. Many mature shade trees only need trimming every few years to remove dead wood and keep limbs off the house. Trees near roofs, driveways or pools may need more frequent clearance trims. Before hurricane season is a good time to have a look. We tell you what each tree needs and do not push work it does not need.

No. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension experts call heavy topping crape murder, and it is not needed for blooms. Topping leaves ugly knuckles, weak new shoots that can snap in wind, and extra new bark that invasive crape myrtle bark scale likes. A better approach is to remove suckers at the base, take out crossing or rubbing branches and cut limbs back to a side branch. The tree keeps its natural shape and still blooms well.

Not near energized lines. If a tree or limb is within 10 feet of a power line, CenterPoint Energy asks you to call them at 713-207-2222 so a forester can look at it. The utility handles trimming around its lines. If a line is sparking or a tree is on fire, call 911. Once the utility has made the area safe, we can trim or clean up the rest of the tree and haul away the debris.

For trees on city property, yes. The City of Houston requires a permit from its Urban Forestry team to remove or trim trees on city property, which includes street rights-of-way, medians and parks. Trees fully on your own lot are generally your call inside Houston city limits, but HOAs, deed restrictions and nearby cities can have their own rules. We help you sort out which rules apply before we start.

Most trees are worth saving. Good trimming can fix limbs over the roof, weak branches and poor shape. Removal makes sense when a tree is dead, badly leaning, rotting at the base or trunk, or too close to the house to keep safe. After a freeze, wait before you decide, since Texas A&M AgriLife experts advise giving plants time to show new growth. If a tree does need to go, see our tree removal service page for how that works.