Frequently Asked Questions

This Old House puts the average Corpus Christi tree removal at about $572, with most jobs between roughly $279 and $1,226, and Angi's 2026 figures for Texas run about $300 to $850. Big trees over houses, pools or lines cost more, and Angi adds 25 to 50 percent for tight or unsafe access. We give a written price after seeing the tree.

A dead central spear leaf on a date palm is the most distinctive sign of lethal bronzing, which is present in Nueces County. The Texas Department of Agriculture advises removing and destroying palms that test positive, because the disease is spread by insects to nearby palms and infected trees usually die within a year. Your county extension office can help with testing; we can remove the palm and haul it away.

Texas has no state license or permit for cutting a tree on private property. A tree in the public right-of-way, one required by a development plan, or a property with HOA or deed rules can be different, so check with the city or your HOA if any of those apply. We tell you at the estimate if a tree looks like it stands on public land.

Under Texas law you can generally trim branches that cross onto your property, up to the property line and from your own side, as long as you do not kill or seriously damage the tree. Talking to the neighbor first avoids most disputes. If the whole tree is the problem, it is the owner's decision to remove it.

Not a regular tree company. Call AEP Texas, which runs its own vegetation program, at 1-866-223-8508 or use its online tree problem report. Once the line is made safe or the power is cut, we can take down the rest of the tree.

Not every big tree. Healthy live oaks are among the most wind-resistant trees on the coast. The ones to deal with before June are dead or dying trees, palms with heavy dead skirts, trees with cracks or decay at the base, and limbs hanging over the roof. A short walk-around in spring is cheaper than storm cleanup in September.

The city collects heavy brush, meaning limbs over three inches thick, only during scheduled set-out periods. Piles can be no larger than 6 feet high, 10 feet long and 6 feet deep, placed near the curb but not in the street, gutter or ditch, and extra truckloads are charged. When we remove a tree, hauling the debris is part of the quote.

Yes. We work on the island and in Flour Bluff as part of our regular area. Those lots are sandy and exposed to salt wind, so palms and wind-damaged trees are most of the work there.

Watch for sudden fruit drop, old fronds browning from the tips, and above all a dead central spear leaf. Those signs point strongly to it, but a lab test confirms it. Your Nueces County AgriLife Extension office can explain testing.

No. There is no cure for an infected palm, and it usually dies within a year. Treatments discussed by extension services are preventive, for healthy palms nearby, and applying them for hire requires a Texas Department of Agriculture pesticide license.

If the old palm died of lethal bronzing, many homeowners choose a species that is not a host, such as a native tree or shrub, rather than another date palm. Ask the extension office about current host lists before replanting.

National guides put most palm removals between about $150 and $1,500 depending on height, with HomeGuide listing $200 to $900 for a 30 to 60 foot palm. Spiny date palms and tall fan palms over a roof cost more. We give a written price after seeing the palm.

Yes, over time. Dead fronds and seed stalks fall without warning, and as the trunk and crown rot, the whole head can drop. A dead palm next to a driveway, patio or roof should not wait for hurricane season.

Often, when the tree damaged a covered structure such as the house or a fence, and usually up to a set limit. A tree that fell in the yard without hitting anything is often not covered. Read your policy or call your agent, and photograph everything before cleanup.

Not while the line is live. Call AEP Texas at 1-866-223-8508. Once the utility has made the line safe or cut the power, we can remove the tree and the rest of the debris.

It depends on how many trees are down across the city and what is blocking roads. We work trees on occupied homes first and give each caller an honest estimate of timing rather than a promise we cannot keep.

A tree that started leaning in a storm has usually lost roots on one side, and it can go over in the next strong wind or rain. If it leans toward the house, a road or a play area, have it looked at soon.

We advise against it. Trunks under load can spring when cut, roofs can give way, and chainsaw injuries spike after storms. Tarp the inside if you can, stay off the roof, and call.

Scratch a small twig with a fingernail. Green, moist tissue underneath means that part is alive; brown and dry means it is dead. If most twigs are dry and no new leaves appear in the growing season, the tree is likely dead.

No. Many trees grow with a lean, especially on the windy coast. A lean that is new, that has changed after a storm, or that comes with cracked or lifted soil on the opposite side is the warning sign.

Tell the neighbor in writing and keep a copy. In Texas you can trim branches that cross onto your property up to the line, but removing the tree is the owner's call. A written notice can matter if the tree later falls and causes damage.

Sometimes, if it stands well away from anything it could hit. A dead tree near a house, fence or play area should come down. Part of the trunk can be left as a short snag in a back corner if you like.

A crane puts heavy loads on its outriggers, so setup is usually on the street or driveway with pads under the outriggers. Lawns can show tracks, especially when wet. The setup plan in your quote spells out where the crane will sit.

The crane itself adds cost, but it can cut the number of hours a crew spends on a big tree. For some large trees over houses, the total is similar to a long rope-and-rigging job and the risk is lower.

Cranes have to keep a safe distance from energized lines, and work very close to lines usually needs the utility to de-energize or cover them first. If AEP Texas lines run near the tree, that is part of the plan from the start.

It helps to be reachable, and you need to make sure cars are moved and the work area is clear. Pets should be kept inside.

For a mature, healthy live oak, a light pruning every few years is usually enough, plus dead or broken limbs as they appear. Young trees benefit from structural pruning more often to set up a strong shape.

Removing dead fronds, seed stalks and heavy fruit clusters is sensible, because they become projectiles. Stripping a palm down to a few green fronds is not; the green fronds help the palm survive.

Not near the line itself. Branches near AEP Texas distribution lines should be reported to the utility, and only line-clearance-qualified workers should cut close to energized wires. We can trim the parts of the tree that are well away from the line.

People use the words interchangeably. In the trade, pruning usually means selective cuts for the tree's health and structure, and trimming often means cutting back for clearance or appearance. A good job does both with the same standards.

Typically several inches to about a foot below the soil surface, enough to lay sod or mulch over the spot. Deeper grinding costs more and is worth it for mesquite or where you plan to plant a new tree.

You can, but it is better to shift a few feet over. The old roots keep decaying and the soil settles for a while. If it must be the same spot, have the chips removed and the hole filled with soil.

For most trees, yes, the remaining roots slowly rot. Mesquite and some others can resprout from buds below ground, so watch for shoots for a season and cut them while small.

Yes. Texas 811 marks buried utility lines for free, and grinding counts as digging. Private lines such as sprinklers and yard lights are not marked, so show us where those run.