★★★★★
“I had to use Patrick Reed to do some work for me today. I must say what a wonderful talented man he was. He was so polite and helpful — I don't know how to thank him for his help.”
Professional Tree Removal in Tallahassee, FL
Safe, efficient removal of any size tree, from backyard saplings to massive oaks. Insured and equipped for the job.
Not every tree gets to stay. Sometimes a tree is dead, dying, or just in the wrong place. Storm damage, root problems, disease, or a new construction project, there are plenty of good reasons a tree needs to come down. When that time comes, you want a crew that knows how to drop it safely without tearing up your yard or your neighbor's fence.
When Does a Tree Need to Come Down?
Dead branches at the top, fungus growing on the trunk, roots pushing up your driveway, these are signs a tree is past saving. A leaning tree that wasn't leaning last year is a red flag. Same goes for large cracks in the trunk or major limbs. If a tree is within striking distance of your house, your power lines, or your kids' swing set, don't wait for the next storm to make the decision for you. We'll come out and give you an honest assessment. If we think the tree can be saved with pruning or cabling, we'll tell you that instead.
Every Removal Is Different
A small pine in an open yard is straightforward. A 100-foot oak hanging over your roof with power lines on one side and a pool on the other, that takes planning, skill, and the right equipment. We handle both and everything in between. Our crew does technical climbing removals, sectional takedowns, and crane-assisted removals for the big stuff. We've taken trees off roofs, out of swimming pools, and from between buildings with inches to spare. The size of the tree doesn't scare us. The tight spaces don't either.
Insured and Doing It Right
Tree removal is dangerous work. That's not something we take lightly. Every member of our crew is trained, and we carry general liability insurance. That protects you. If an uninsured crew damages your property or someone gets hurt on your land, you could be on the hook. With Reed Tree Service, you're covered. Tell Josh your address when you call (850) 888-5603 and our crew will say whether a permit rule applies before any cuts are made. Cleanup, debris hauling, and stump grinding are options we discuss with you during the free quote so you only pay for what you actually want done.
What Drives the Cost of Tree Removal in Tallahassee
Two trees that look alike from the street can be very different jobs, which is why we price on site and not over the phone. Height comes first: more height means more cuts, more rope work, and more wood to handle. Access comes next. A tree in an open backyard is a straightforward drop. One leaning over a fence, crowding your roof, or standing near power lines has to come down in controlled pieces, and that takes longer. A crane adds setup time and equipment cost, but on a big tree over a structure it is often the safest way and sometimes the faster one. Several trees in one visit usually cost less per tree, because getting the crew and equipment to your property is a fixed cost.
So the price comes down to height, trunk size, what is under the tree, how well the crew can reach it, and whether you want cleanup, which is always an extra. Call Josh at (850) 888-5603 for a free estimate.
Tree Removal Permits in Tallahassee and Leon County
Inside Tallahassee city limits, the City's Tree Protection Ordinance protects certain trees by species and size, and live oaks are the ones that come up most often. Heritage trees get extra protections and a higher bar for approval. Outside the city limits, the rules come from Leon County Development Services. The two are similar but not identical. Tell Josh your address when you call (850) 888-5603 and our crew will say whether a permit rule applies before any cuts are made.
A permit request usually means a visit from a city arborist, a documented reason for the removal, and a plan for replacement trees. If you have a project date, count in weeks, not days. Dead or imminently hazardous trees can move faster, though the city reviews those claims and wants documentation. If a protected oak fails in a storm and threatens your home, it can come down right away. You then notify the city and keep photos from before, during, and after.
Skipping the permit costs more than getting one: fines, replacement trees at your expense, and stop-work orders on construction. We confirm whether a permit applies before we schedule a protected tree, and we do not start until it is settled.
Live Oaks, Canopy Roads, and Older Neighborhoods
Tallahassee's canopy roads are legally designated corridors, including portions of Miccosukee Road, Centerville Road, Old Bainbridge Road, Meridian Road, and Old St. Augustine Road. A tree whose canopy reaches over one of them can be part of the protected system even if the trunk stands on private property, so removing it may need a permit. Some canopy roads fall under the city and some under the county.
Dead-wood and hazard work near these roads is generally supported, and sometimes required, because the rules exist to protect the living canopy. Tell us when you call if your property fronts a canopy road. Older neighborhoods like Killearn and Betton Hills bring the same puzzle: big live oaks, overlapping limbs, low clearances, and fences that leave little room to work.
Pines, Water Oaks, and Live Oaks Come Down Differently
Pines in a North Florida yard often reach 60 to 80 feet or more, so they usually mean climbing, a boom lift, or a crane, depending on access. Their roots run shallower than a hardwood's, which makes the stump easier to grind but can leave surface roots around the base. A pine killed by beetles can stay standing for a year or three, then starts shedding from the top in bigger and bigger pieces. Dead pine next to a house is also a fire risk in dry weather.
Water oaks and laurel oaks are everywhere in Tallahassee and fail more than their size suggests, because the wood is brittle and the roots are shallow in many soils. A large one over a roof deserves a hard look before storm season. Live oaks are the reverse: they hold up well in wind, but they are wide, heavy, and usually protected, so the work is mostly rigging and paperwork.
Tallahassee's clay-heavy soil matters as well. It changes how roots grow, how trees lean, and how they fail in storms, and soft ground after heavy rain can limit where heavy equipment can go.
Climbing, Boom Lift, or Crane: How We Decide
Most removals start with a climber working top-down, lowering limbs and trunk sections by rope to a ground crew. That handles most backyard trees. When it will not, we have a Nifty-Lift boom and our own National crane.
A crane is the right call when a section would land on a roof, pool, vehicle, or HVAC unit, when a fenced yard or soft ground keeps trucks out, when a storm has split or partly uprooted the tree and it may shift as we cut, or when a dead tree is too brittle to climb. The crane sits on outriggers, holds each section while our climber cuts it, then swings it to a landing zone. A crane removal typically runs from two hours to a full day.
What Removal Day Looks Like
Before we arrive, move vehicles and outdoor furniture out of the work zone, keep kids and pets inside, and leave gates open or be there to open them. If equipment will run near buried utilities, have them marked through Sunshine 811.
On the day, the climber takes the smaller upper limbs first and lowers them by rope, the trunk comes down in sections, and the ground crew feeds limbs through the chipper. Tell us at the start if you want the logs or the chips. That is a lot easier than asking after the chipper has run. Most single trees are finished in a day or less.
What Is Included and What Costs Extra
Your quote covers taking the tree down. Cleanup, debris hauling, and stump grinding are add-ons, and we go through each one with you at the estimate so the price matches what you actually want. You can have the limbs chipped and hauled but keep the logs for firewood, or leave the stump for now and grind it later.
The stump stays at ground level unless grinding is on the quote. If you plan to replant that spot, wait until the stump is ground and the major surface roots are cleared. When you compare quotes, compare scope along with price: one may leave the brush on your lawn while another hauls it.
When to Call Now and When a Tree Can Wait
Call now if a tree is on or leaning toward your house, if a new crack has opened in the trunk or a major limb, if a lean is new, or if a dead tree stands within reach of a structure. If a tree is tangled in power lines, call the utility first, then us. A healthy tree you just want gone, or a small ornamental, can be scheduled.
Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, and demand for tree crews jumps once storms start forming. If you already suspect a tree, late spring is a better time to call than the week a storm is named. Not sure which camp yours is in? A free estimate costs nothing, and if pruning or cabling would save the tree, we will say so.
Where We Remove Trees
We remove trees across Leon County and the Big Bend, including these Tallahassee neighborhoods and nearby towns.
Our Tree Removal Process
We don't cut corners. Here's how every tree removal job works from start to finish.
1
Assessment
We walk the site with you, evaluate the tree's condition, check for hazards like power lines and structures, and give you a clear quote.
2
Planning
We figure out the safest approach, directional felling, climbing and sectioning, or bringing in the crane. We plan the drop zone and protect your property.
3
Removal
Our crew takes the tree down in controlled sections. We work efficiently but never rush. Every cut is intentional.
4
Cleanup (optional add-on)
Debris handling is quoted when you call Josh at (850) 888-5603. Cleanup and haul-off are add-ons. If you want to handle some or all of it yourself, that's your call.
Why Choose Reed Tree Service for Tree Removal?
You've got options for tree work in Tallahassee. Here's why our customers keep calling us back.
- Crane-assisted removal available for large or hard-to-reach trees
- General liability insurance, you're protected
- We tell you whether a permit rule applies before any cuts are made
- Same crew from start to finish, no random subcontractors
- Cleanup and stump grinding offered as add-ons during your quote
Tree Removal FAQ
Common questions about tree removal in Tallahassee and the surrounding area.
It depends on the size of the tree, where it is, and what's around it. A small tree in an open yard is a much smaller job than a large oak near your house that needs crane work. Every property is different, so we give free estimates on site, no ballpark guesses over the phone. Call Josh at (850) 888-5603 and we'll come take a look.
It depends on the size and species. The City of Tallahassee has a tree protection ordinance that covers certain trees. Tell Josh your address when you call (850) 888-5603 and our crew will say whether a permit rule applies before any cuts are made. If a tree is dead or hazardous, the permitting process is usually faster.
Most single-tree removals are done in a day. Some we finish in a few hours. Very large or complex jobs (like a tree on a structure or one requiring a crane) might take a full day or occasionally two. We'll give you a time estimate when we quote the job.
A written quote names the tree or trees to be removed, the method (climbing, boom lift, or crane), and each add-on priced separately: cleanup, debris hauling, and stump grinding. We walk the property with you first, so the price reflects the real access, lean, and obstacles and not a guess from photos. To have the property walked, call Josh at (850) 888-5603.
Cost comes down to height, trunk size, what is under the tree, and how well the crew can reach it. A big live oak often costs more because of its spread, its weight, and the tight spots it grows in, and it may need a crane. Cleanup is an extra, and if the tree is protected, the permit is a separate step. Call Josh at (850) 888-5603 for a free estimate.
Usually, per tree, yes. Getting a crew and equipment to your property is a fixed cost for each visit, so spreading it over several removals is more efficient. Mention every tree you are considering when you call, including the ones you are unsure about.
Not unless stump grinding is added to the quote. We leave the stump at ground level by default. Grinding is a separate add-on priced by stump diameter, and Josh quotes it along with the removal. If you plan to replant, wait until the stump is ground and the major surface roots are cleared.
It depends on whether your property is inside city limits or in unincorporated Leon County. The City of Tallahassee handles permits inside the city, and Leon County Development Services handles the rest. The frameworks are similar but not identical. Give us your address when you call and we will know which one applies.
Related Services
Other ways we can help with your trees and property.
Storm Cleanup
Storm and hurricane tree cleanup after tropical storms, hurricanes, and severe weather across Tallahassee and North Florida.
Learn More
Stump Grinding
Fast, thorough stump grinding to reclaim your yard. Any size stump, ground below grade.
Learn More
Debris Removal
Haul-off of tree debris, brush, and yard waste on larger jobs, quoted per job.
Learn MoreTree Removal Across North Florida & South Georgia
We provide tree removal throughout the Big Bend region and beyond.