FAQ

We are based in Elkton, VA and serve the central Shenandoah Valley, including Harrisonburg, McGaheysville, Massanutten, Grottoes, Bridgewater, Timberville, Broadway, New Market, Luray, Shenandoah, Stanley, Staunton, Waynesboro, Front Royal, and Ruckersville, plus the surrounding Rockingham, Page, and Augusta County communities. If you are within about an hour of Elkton, we can help, and estimates are free anywhere in our service area.

We carry $1 million in general liability insurance plus workers compensation coverage, and TCIA (Tree Care Industry Association) certified staff are on every job site. A copy of our insurance certificate is attached to every proposal automatically, so you never have to ask for proof.

January through March for most deciduous and hardwood trees, especially oaks. Trees are dormant, cuts close cleanly before spring growth, and the risk of spreading fungal disease is at its lowest (fungal pressure in the Valley peaks in late summer, which is the worst time for large pruning cuts). Some maples and cherries can also be pruned in summer.Proactive winter pruning is also storm insurance: reducing limb weight and removing weak unions before summer thunderstorms and winter ice arrive. Half an inch of ice on a 30 foot canopy can add thousands of pounds of load.

Often, yes, and "do you want to save it?" is the first question we ask on every estimate. Our tree health assessments are free and cover the whole tree, from root flare and soil to canopy structure, checking for insect damage, fungal disease, root rot, nutrient deficiencies, and structural weakness. Where possible we treat organically, strengthening the tree through soil amendment and proper pruning so it can resist disease on its own. If the tree truly is a hazard or a poor investment to save, we will tell you honestly.One thing worth knowing: trees decline slowly, so if a tree looks bad, it has usually been struggling for a while. Calling at the first sign of trouble gives us the most options.

Call us first. If a tree has made your home uninhabitable, you are generally not required to collect multiple estimates before emergency work begins, and starting removal quickly limits further damage. We document everything with photographs and video for your claim, then bill you directly so you can work with your insurer from a position of good records.Keep in mind that homeowner policies typically only cover tree removal once a tree has hit a structure, and insurers will not pay for preventive removal of a declining tree, which is exactly why we recommend dealing with hazard trees before storm season.

Yes, we provide 24 hour emergency tree service Monday through Saturday across the Shenandoah Valley. If a tree has come down on your home, driveway, or power lines, call (540) 405-9440. We can remove the tree, tarp exposed roof sections to keep your home dry, and coordinate with utility companies. Until we arrive, stay away from the tree and treat any downed line as live.

Yes. Crane assisted removal is our specialty, and we are one of the few tree services in the Shenandoah Valley that offers it. A crane lifts heavy sections up and away rather than lowering them through the tree, which matters most when a tree is structurally compromised: dead or decayed wood cannot safely absorb the shock loads of traditional rigging. Crane work typically adds $2,000 to $3,000 to a removal day and is often the safest and most efficient option for large trees near homes, fences, and power lines.

Most single tree removals run $1,500 to $4,500. As a rough guide with easy access, small trees under 30 feet often start around $1,000 to $1,500, trees 30 to 60 feet run around $2,000 to $2,500, and 60 to 80 foot trees run around $3,500. Very large or complex removals can run $6,000 to $10,000.The honest answer is that methodology drives price more than height: a dead tree that cannot be climbed safely, tight access between houses, or the need for crane work all change the approach. That is why every estimate is free and done in person, so you get an exact number for your exact tree before any work begins.

No, estimates are always free. Owner Derrick Lawson looks at every job personally, and most customers have a written proposal in their email before he leaves the property. Every proposal automatically includes a copy of our insurance certificate and a map of your property with the quoted trees pinned.No deposit is required except on projects over $10,000 (10 percent), and payment is only due when the work is complete. We accept check, cash, ACH, and credit card.

Pruning is priced by scope rather than by tree. Our smallest pruning jobs start around $750, a typical project runs around $4,000, and large multi-tree structural pruning projects range from $10,000 to $15,000. Every job starts with a free on-site estimate, and we offer a winter pruning discount because late winter is the best time to prune most trees.

No. As long as we have access to the trees and a clear scope agreed in your proposal, most customers go about their day. Every job is documented in our system, including the pinned map of exactly which trees we worked on, so there is never confusion about what was done.

Yes. We grind stumps a guaranteed 6 inches below grade, which is full depth for most stumps, so your lawn can be seeded and mowed over the spot. Stump grinding uses separate equipment, so it is priced separately from tree removal: our minimum is $350, a 20 inch stump typically runs $700 to $1,000, and very large stumps run more depending on size and wood condition.We normally leave the grindings in place, where they break down and return nutrients to the soil, or we can haul them away on request. One honest note: no grinding depth guarantees a stump will never send up shoots, since that depends on the species.