Tree Removal in Pinellas County and the Tampa Bay Area

Most people do not. A tree owner would need to invest some time getting educated about trees and how they function to correctly answer this question. Fortunately, you do not need to know the answer because we do. We have ISA Certified Arborists and Tree Risk Assessment Qualified (TRAQ) arborists on staff to help with exactly this question. We look for things such as:

• Branch attachments and aspect ratio (the size of the branch relative to the trunk or stem it is attached to)
• Branch spacing and structural defects
• Cavities, decay, and wound closure
• Growth rate by year
• Cracks and seams
• Dead branches and branch tip dieback
• Leaf size, leaf color, and overall canopy health
• Root disease and root rot

If a tree can be saved with plant health care, proper pruning, or supplemental support such as cabling or bracing, we will recommend that instead. Our goal is always to preserve trees when possible. When a tree is unsafe or past the point of recovery, removal is the most responsible and reasonable choice. If you are still unsure after meeting with an arborist, seek out another arborist who is well versed in the ISA Best Management Practices for Tree Risk Assessment. A thorough assessment can be provided in writing by a qualified TRAQ arborist.

A dead tree usually has no green leaves or needles left in the canopy. Many self-proclaimed arborists tell homeowners a tree is dead when it is only declining.

If a self-proclaimed doctor, or even an actual doctor, told you that you were dead or dying while you were still standing, most of us would get a second opinion.

If the canopy is not completely brown, it is likely not a dead tree. Most trees do not just suddenly die. Ninety-nine percent of the time they have been declining for years before they finally give up. Decline happens over many years, and eventually the tree runs out of resources.

$993.22. We took all of the tree removals we performed and the total price of them over the last six years, and $993.22 was the average cost. This obviously includes small trees that could have been 3 to 5 inches in diameter all the way up to trees measuring more than 84 inches in diameter. Factors that affect cost include:

The biggest thing to consider is how much collateral damage you are willing to allow on your property. Many tree companies can come out and drop a tree, but we have all seen those videos online, and it rarely ends well.

The best thing to do is have a professional arborist come out so you can ask questions, understand the risks, and set clear expectations. A truthful person will tell you things you do not want to hear, even if it risks the sale. If you are not comfortable or you feel they were not fully honest, trust your gut.

Tree removal is one of the most dangerous jobs in the country, not landscaping, but actual arboriculture. When arboriculture is separated from landscaping and measured by deaths per 100,000 workers, we land somewhere around 110 to 150 deaths per 100,000. That number would put us at or near the top of the most dangerous jobs in the United States, just under logging at 78 per 100,000. You are paying for:

Anyone can cut a notch and yell timber. Making sure a tree does not hit your house, fence, pool cage, shed, or your neighbor’s house takes real skill.

And maybe more importantly: when something does go wrong, does the company do what is right, or do they run and try to push the mess onto your insurance?

The cost is not about cutting a tree. It is about making sure the job is done safely, responsibly, and professionally.

Yes, with very limited exceptions. There is only one city in Pinellas County that does not require a permit, and none in Hillsborough County are exempt across the board. However, certain species may not require a permit in some municipalities. It is best to check with your city arborist or a reputable arborist who can correctly identify the species and confirm the requirements. O’Neil’s can handle this for you when required so everything is done legally and with minimal stress.

It can. The bigger the tree, the more likely there is some risk of property impact. We work extremely hard to protect lawns, driveways, and landscaping. We use protective mats, cranes, rigging systems, turf-friendly equipment, and controlled lowering techniques to keep things as clean and neat as possible. The larger the tree and the more precautions required, the more the removal costs. Most of the time, when we are done, homeowners tell us it looks like we were never there, minus the stump.

1.58 hours is the average time to remove a tree across all diameters we have removed over the last six years. Keep in mind we remove far more small ornamental trees than anything else, and this average includes small trees along with trees exceeding 84 inches in diameter. We also use some of the most sophisticated tree removal equipment available, which makes us very efficient. There are not many tree removals that take more than a day to get on the ground. We plan everything ahead so the job runs as smoothly, safely, and efficiently as possible.

Yes. This is something we specialize in. Many of our crew members love the challenge of removing a tree in a tight spot with limited or no access. These types of removals require much more skilled and trained arborists. We handle jobs like this almost daily. We use cranes, rigging, and controlled lowering to remove the tree safely without damaging the surrounding area.

Yes. In most municipalities in Pinellas County and Tampa, it is actually illegal to leave debris behind for the city to pick up. All logs, branches, and debris are hauled away and recycled unless you want to keep material for firewood or woodworking. Cleanup is one of the most important parts of the job, and we make sure your yard looks clean before we leave. Our goal is for your yard to look like we were never there.

In Florida, any time of year works. If you are trying to get the best price, tree companies are typically slower in the winter, so you are more likely to get a discount. Florida does not deal with frozen ground or snow like northern states, so turf and yard damage are more controllable. The main issue is the rainy season, which can make things sloppy and increase the chances of ruts and yard damage.

What matters more than the season:

It depends. If you have a tree that is already declining, leaning from root zone damage, cracked, or showing root plate problems, hurricane season can increase the chances of it failing. We often see perfectly green trees with large canopies fall because they have structural defects. Think of a large sail on a boat with a damaged mast versus the same mast with a small sail that has holes in it. A full, dense canopy on a structurally compromised tree is the highest-risk combination.

If a tree is healthy, well-structured, and well-maintained, there is usually no reason to remove it just because hurricane season is approaching. We assess each tree by considering:

We never recommend removal unless the tree is at least a high-risk tree and its removal actually reduces your risk, not just because a date on the calendar says June 1st.

No, not typically. Once a tree is removed, the roots stop growing. Without a canopy they cannot produce energy or sustain themselves, so they slowly die off. Sometimes young trees or certain species may sprout from the stump for a while. If not kept at bay, these sprouts can re-supply the roots and cause them to grow again. They can be cut periodically until the stump runs out of stored energy. Options to fully ensure the roots die include stump grinding, excavating the roots and hauling them away, or treating the stump and roots with an herbicide. Always consider the long-term impacts and side effects of any products before use.

No, not typically. Ninety-eight percent of the time it does not. However, if you have a tree that is truly high risk, removing it can absolutely increase value by eliminating that risk. Removing a healthy tree, on the other hand, can reduce property value by 15% or more. Research comparing properties with mature trees to similar properties without trees shows that trees can account for 15% or more of value at closing.

Removing a perfectly healthy, beautiful, well-structured tree is a bad move. People love trees. Trees make people feel comfortable, peaceful, and happy. They provide shade, lower power bills, reduce atmospheric cooling and make a property feel established. However, removing a dangerous, heavily declining, or structurally failing tree can increase value because you are removing risk.A reputable company will:

When trying to decide whether a tree adds value or creates risk, call a reputable company with Certified Arborists on staff. If you are trying to figure this out on your own, ask yourself: am I certain this tree is dangerous? If you are certain, the tree is likely a candidate for removal. Before making a final decision, consider how much value it also adds to your property.

• They talk about a tree being ‘dangerous’ but never use words like likelihood of failure or likelihood of impact; if you do not hear those terms, that is a red flag
• You cannot get them to discuss times they have made mistakes and how they made them right
• Their price is suspiciously low
• They do not perform a job site safety assessment (JSA)
• Workers are not wearing safety gear such as hard hats, ear protection, and chainsaw pants
• No cones are set out around equipment
• No ropes are set in the tree other than the climber’s line (a secondary rope is a rescue line; its absence is a red flag)
• They only use ladders and have no climbing gear
• No offer or ability to use ground protection mats or plywood
• They have no plan to perform the work
• They say ‘don’t worry about insurance’
• They cannot explain how they will protect your property during the removal
• Their equipment looks like it barely survived a disaster; though a brand-new company just starting out may still have good people who lack capital

A professional should walk you through every step and willingly answer any question. If they seem rattled by your questions, that is a bad sign. I had a client tell me he asked a tree service representative to ensure all crew members had government IDs so he could verify them against the workers’ comp policy. The representative responded: “Who are you, the Gestapo?” If a company makes you feel bad for asking questions, be on full alert.

• What mistakes have you made, and how did you fix them?
• Can I talk to those clients?
• Can you walk me through the risks of my job and tell me what your company will do to ensure my property is not damaged?
• Can all of your employees provide government ID on site that I can verify against your workers’ comp policy?

A reputable company will show you their process, explain the risks honestly, provide copies of their workers’ comp policy with every employee listed, carry proper equipment, own their mistakes, and give you a detailed plan of action. If a company says they have never made a mistake, they are either lying or inexperienced. If someone is only telling you what you want to hear instead of the truth, that is a red flag. Do not get salesman-shipped. Ask the hard questions.

And one more test: ask yourself whether you would trust this person in your home alone. If the answer is no, that is worth listening to. Your gut is usually right.

NO, 98% (this is my estimate) of the time.  However, if you have a tree that is truly a high risk tree, yes, it could increase value.
Most trees (~98% of the ones O’Neil’s sees) are low risk trees if the arborist were to conduct a Risk Assessment as outlined in The Best Management Practices for Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ).

Removing a healthy tree can reduce property value by 15% or more.  This is based on researched conducted which indicates that properties with mature trees as compared to properties of the same kind with no trees are 15% less at closing.

Removing a perfectly healthy, beautiful, well-structured tree is a bad move. People love trees. Trees make people feel comfortable, peaceful and happy. Trees provide shade and people love shade, especially in Florida. Shade lowers your power bill and makes a property feel more “established.”

However, removing a dangerous, heavily declining, or ugly tree that’s dropping limbs, blocking views, or threatening the home can absolutely increase value, because you’re removing risk.

When you are trying to decide if. the tree adds value to your property or not, it is best to call a reputable company that has Certified Arborists on staff, but if your trying to figure this out on your own, Ask yourself, “Am I certain this tree is dangerous?”  If you are certain, then the tree is likely a candidate to be considered for removal.  Before you make your final decision make sure you consider how much value it adds to your property as well.

There are a few easy signs:

• They won’t talk about risks.  This is a huge red flag
• You can’t get them to tell you about times they have made mistakes and how they made them right.
• Their price is suspiciously low
• They don’t perform a jobsite saftey assessement (JSA)
• Workers aren’t wearing safety gear such as hard hats, ear protection and chainsaw pants
• No cones are set out around the equipment
• No ropes are set in the tree
• They only use ladders and have no climbing gear
• No offer or no ability to use ground protection mats (this does add cost)
• They have no plan to perform the work
• They say “don’t worry about insurance”
• They can’t explain HOW they will keep your property safe during the removal
• Their equipment looks like it barely survived a zombie apocalypse. However, when a company is just starting out, they could be good but they just don’t have the money for newer stuff yet.

A professional should walk you through every step and willingly answer any question you may have. If they seem ruffled by your questions, this is a bad sign. I had a client tell me that he asked a tree service representative to make sure that all the guys on site had their government IDs so he could check them against the insurance and the tree guy said, “who are you, the Gestapo?” If a company you are considering is making you feel bad for asking questions, I would be on full alert!
If someone brushes questions off, or tells you “trust me,” Don’t!

If the company is legitimate, fully insured, and honest, they will handle it quickly, with integrity, and without dodging responsibility. The contractors O’Neil’s provides for repairs are professional companies with appropriate licensing and insurance. We also let the client choose their own repair company if they prefer.
If you choose the wrong company, you are about to enter a nightmare of finger-pointing. Tree companies hiding something almost always:

This is why hiring based on price alone is dangerous. Cheap companies in this industry do not have the resources to fix problems when they occur. Hire people who take responsibility seriously and have proof of it.

You can leave the stump. It is your yard. There are not many negative consequences from leaving a stump besides it being an eyesore. Some possible issues you may not think of:

• Some species can sprout and try to grow back; you can cut these back periodically to keep them at bay
• Insects move in, which could include termites
• It becomes a tripping hazard
• Grass does not grow well around it
• You bang your mower into it
• Palms can attract Ganoderma fungus, which can get into the soil and make replanting new palms nearly impossible without risking them getting the disease

Stump grinding is usually worth it if any of these reasons apply. If the stump is far enough from your home or in a natural area or woods, leaving it is fine. Termites need a home too, and better a stump than your house.

If the crew knows what they are doing, the chances of significant damage drop considerably. That said, dragging large trees across turf to get debris to the road can cause damage. Your tree company should discuss this and offer ground mat protection or plywood to reduce the risk.

When removals are done correctly, with mats, rigging, cranes, turf-friendly loaders, and proper planning, the yard should look 90% or more normal afterward. Stump grinding will always leave behind an area that needs attention and potentially a large pile of mulch. Many companies do not haul mulch away as part of the job, so be sure to clarify if that is an extra cost.

If a crew will be driving skid steers or heavy trucks across your yard to remove and haul material from a large tree removal, you should expect ruts, torn grass, and possibly broken sprinklers. Most homeowners do not realize that cleanup is an important and time-consuming part of the job. If the company does not emphasize
cleanup, they probably do not do it well.

Yes, we use cranes, and yes, they affect cost. If the tree is large, dangerous, leaning, over a house, near a pool, or in a tight spot, cranes reduce the risk of damage, increase efficiency, and make the job site far more predictable. A new 40-ton crane can cost $800,000 or more to buy, and that cost is reflected in the removal price.

Manual removals in tight spaces create more labor hours on site, and often the crane ends up costing less than the labor would have. Another important factor is the reduction in landscaping damage. Landscaping is expensive to install and maintain, and a crane can nearly eliminate the possibility of damage to it. Cranes are heavy, however, and can crack sidewalks, driveways, and patio stones if pulled onto your property. Discuss this with your arborist ahead of time.

Cranes: reduce time, reduce risk, reduce property damage, and keep climbers safer. Not every removal needs one, but when it does, nothing else comes close.

No, but we do not mind if you are. There are some instances where we would actually prefer you not be in the house, such as when a crane is lifting tree parts over the roof. In the unlikely event something went wrong, we would rather you not be directly below it. If you will not be home, please make sure of the following:

• The crew can access the backyard
• You reviewed the work with the estimator
• You trust the company
• No gates, pets, or vehicles are blocking access; sort this out before you leave

Here is what helps the job go smoothly whether you are home or not:

• Move cars out of the driveway and down the street if possible
• Let your neighbors know, especially if any part of the tree is over their property or we will be blocking traffic
• Lock pets inside
• Clean up any dog waste where removal personnel may walk or work
• Clear kids’ toys, grills, garden tools, and anything fragile
• Unlock gates
• Move patio furniture and potted plants away from the work area

Yes. Let your arborist know you would like to keep some material and be specific about the size and how much you want. A large tree may produce far more wood than

Just keep in mind:

If you do not want it, it will be hauled off. Make sure to discuss this with your arborist before the job begins.

Prices vary because companies vary:

• Some have credentials and are insured and some are not
• Some use cranes and proper rigging and some free-fall everything
• Some pay trained arborists and many hire anyone with a chainsaw
• A few carry $400,000 or more in insurance and many carry none
• A few pay payroll taxes on all their employees and most do not
• A few do things the safe way and others do things the fast way
• Some fix their mistakes and some disappear
• Very few train and educate their employees and most do not
• Some have staff that can assist with permits and some do not
• Very few provide employee benefits and real careers and most do not

Cheap work is not cheap if it results in devalued property, arguments, anxiety, property damage, lawsuits, or injuries. If you are still unsure whether your tree needs to be removed, schedule a consultation. We will evaluate the tree honestly and explain every option, including ways to save the tree if that is possible.