Tree Removal in Madera, CA
Timberline Tree Service Madera removes dead, dying, leaning and unwanted trees across Madera, Madera Acres, Parkwood and the Madera Ranchos. Removal is part of our tree service in Madera, along with trimming, stump grinding and emergency work. We're licensed and insured, we haul the wood away, and the estimate is free.
Signs a Tree Needs to Come Down
Some trees can be saved with trimming, and some have become a risk. These are the signs UC's tree experts list for a tree that may fail:
- Dead or dying: Dead or dying limbs, or large dead branches across the crown.
- A new lean: A tree that has started to lean, especially with soil lifting, cracking or roots showing at the base.
- Cracks and splits: Deep cracks into the wood of the trunk or where large limbs join it.
- Cavities and decay: Hollows in the trunk or at the base, or soft, crumbling wood.
- Mushrooms at the base: Mushrooms or shelf-like conks on the trunk or roots usually mean decay inside.
- Hanging branches: Broken limbs caught in the crown, which should be removed as soon as possible.
A tree growing in the wrong place is a reason too: roots lifting the driveway or pushing against the foundation, or a trunk crowding the house. If you're not sure, we'll look at it with you and tell you honestly whether it can stay.
How We Remove a Tree
Every removal starts with a look at the tree and what's around it: the house, fences, the pool, the neighbors' yards and the wires overhead. That decides the method.
A tree standing in open ground can often be felled in one piece. In a tight backyard or over a roof, it's taken down in sections from the top, with each piece lowered on a rope so nothing drops on the house, the fence or the lawn. For a big tree that stands over the house or can't be reached safely from the yard, we can bring in a crane to lift the sections out over the roof. Crews doing tree removal in other parts of the country use the same top-down, piece-by-piece method whenever a tree stands over a house.
Once the tree is down, we cut it up, load the wood and branches, and rake the yard before we leave. The stump is cut low to the ground, and we can grind it out as part of the same job with our stump grinding in Madera. If a tree has already fallen or is about to, call our 24/7 emergency tree service.
Tree Removal Near Power Lines
PG&E trims and removes trees to keep the lines between the poles clear, so for trees near those lines we'll point you to PG&E first. The service wire from the pole to your house is different: keeping trees clear of it is the property owner's job, and PG&E will switch your power off for a short time, at no charge, while the work is done. Ask for it through PG&E's Start/Stop Service, and we'll plan the removal around it.
PG&E advises keeping yourself and any tools at least 10 feet from power lines. If a tree or branch is touching a line, treat it as an emergency: stay at least 10 feet away and call 911.
Street Trees and Permits in Madera
Trees in the public right-of-way, usually the strip between the sidewalk and the street, follow the City of Madera's own rules. Under the city's municipal code, when a street tree has to come out because it is dead, diseased, hazardous or damaging the sidewalk or curb, the owner of the property next to it removes it and, where the site allows, replaces it with a tree from the city's approved street-tree list. The city asks owners to call Parks and Community Services at (559) 661-5495 for approval before removing or trimming a street tree.
The same chapter of the code doesn't set up a permit for trees in your own yard. It does let the city require an owner to remove or trim a tree on their property, or on the strip in front of it, that endangers a public street, sidewalk or sewer or public utility wires. We'll tell you at the estimate which rules apply to your tree.
When to Schedule a Tree Removal
A dead, split or leaning tree shouldn't wait for a better season, so call as soon as you notice it. For a healthy tree that just needs to go, timing matters for another reason. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife suggests doing tree work outside the main nesting season, roughly February to August, because state law protects active bird nests. We check for nests before we start, and if there's an active one we'll talk to you about waiting.
What Affects the Cost of Tree Removal
The price depends on the tree's height and spread, its condition, and how easy it is to reach. A tree in an open front yard costs less to remove than one in a tight backyard, leaning over the roof, near the service wire, or big enough to need a crane. Stump grinding and hauling the wood away add to the job. We'll look at the tree with you and give you a free estimate, with everything included, before any work starts.
Why we haul the wood away: Mid Valley Disposal, Madera's hauler, doesn't take tree trimmings over 4 inches thick or 4 feet long in the organics cart, and the city asks for large branches to go in the gray cart. A whole tree won't fit either way, so everything we cut leaves with us.
Tree Removal FAQs
Straight answers to what Madera homeowners ask about removing a tree. Tap a question to see the answer.
How much does tree removal cost in Madera?
It depends on the tree's size and condition, how easy it is to reach, and what's around it, such as a roof, fence or power line. Stump grinding and haul-away also affect the price. We give free estimates, with the price explained before any work starts.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Madera?
For a street tree in the public right-of-way, the City of Madera asks owners to get approval from Parks and Community Services, (559) 661-5495, before removing it, and to replace it with an approved street tree where the site allows. The city's street-tree code doesn't set up a permit for trees in your own yard. We'll check which rules apply when we give the estimate.
Can you remove a tree near power lines?
Near the service wire to your house, yes: PG&E will switch your power off for a short time, free, so the work can be done safely. For trees near the lines between the poles, which PG&E keeps clear, we'll point you to PG&E first.
What happens to the stump?
We cut it low to the ground. If you want it gone completely, so you can replant, put down sod or build over the spot, we grind it out as part of the same job.
Can I have my neighbor's overhanging branches cut back?
In California a tree belongs to the owner of the land its trunk stands on. Generally, you can trim branches that hang over your side back to the property line, without going onto their land, but you can be liable if the cutting harms the tree, so it's best to talk to your neighbor first. This is general information, not legal advice.
When is the best time of year to remove a tree?
Right away if it's dead, split or leaning. For a healthy tree, it's best to schedule the work outside the main bird nesting season (roughly February to August), and we check for active nests before we start.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. You can check any California contractor's license with the Contractors State License Board at cslb.ca.gov.
Do you clean up after the job?
Yes. The wood and branches are loaded and hauled away, and the yard is raked before we leave.
Still have a question?
Call us any time at (559) 527-5955. We'll answer your question and the estimate is free.