Large Tree Removal in Plano, TX
Big trees, tight yards. We take large trees down piece by piece with ropes and rigging, so nothing lands where it shouldn’t.
- ISA CertifiedArborist #TX-4334A (opens in a new tab)
- Fully InsuredProof on Request
- Written QuoteBefore Work Starts
- Cleaner ThanWe Found It
What makes a removal a large one
It’s not just height. A removal becomes a big job when the tree is heavy, close to things that matter, or hard to reach. Common examples:
- Mature oak, pecan or elm with a wide canopy
- Trunk within a few feet of the house
- Limbs reaching over the neighbor’s fence or roof
- Backyard access through a narrow side gate
- Power or service lines running through the crown
“Professional, provide quick reasonable quotes; leave the job site clean and give sound advice.”
Robin P., Google review
Most large removals are planned on site by Taylor Guynes, an independent ISA Certified Arborist #TX-4334A (opens in a new tab). Meet Taylor.
The Eagle Tree Way
1
Site and rigging plan
We map where every section will go before anyone climbs.
2
One written price
The full job priced on paper, rigging and cleanup included.
3
Sectioned, roped down
Limbs and trunk lowered in controlled pieces.
4
Wood out, yard restored
Heavy wood hauled, lawn raked and blown clean.
Included in every large removal
- On-site rigging and drop-zone plan
- Written quote with no surprise add-ons
- Ropes and lowering gear to protect roof and fence
- Heavy wood cut and hauled away
- Cleanup down to the last twig
Related services
Taking down big trees without the damage
A big pecan or red oak can weigh several tons, and in most Plano yards there’s nowhere safe to drop it. So we don’t. A climber works down from the top, cutting the tree into pieces small enough to control, and the ground crew lowers each one on a rope through a rigging point. It’s slower than felling, and it’s the reason the roof, the fence and the flower beds are still there when we’re done.
The plan starts on the ground. We look at where the weight sits, which way the tree leans, what’s under each limb and how we’ll get wood out of the yard. If the only way in is a side gate, we account for that in the price instead of springing it on you later.
Sometimes a large tree doesn’t need to come down at all. A heavy limb over the house might be handled with crown reduction or cabling, and we’ll tell you when that’s a real option. When removal is the right call, you’ll know why.
Large removals are exactly where insurance matters. Every crew is insured, and we’ll send you the certificate before work starts. If you want the stump gone too, ask for it on the same quote.
Large trees in Plano yards
Many of the big trees we take down around Plano are pecans, red oaks and cedar elms that went in when the house was new and have since outgrown the lot. Pecans get tall and heavy and are known for dropping big limbs. Live oaks grow wide more than tall, so with them the hard part is usually reach over the roof and fence, not height.
Our heavy clay soil matters on a big job. It swells when it’s wet and shrinks and cracks in summer drought, and that cycle is hard on roots. After a long dry spell and then a soaking spring storm, a large tree with weak roots can start to lean. Wet clay also changes the plan for the day, because soft ground limits where equipment can go and how much weight the lawn can take before it ruts.
Taking a big tree down sometimes means cutting limbs off a neighboring oak to clear the way. Texas A&M Forest Service (opens in a new tab) advises against pruning oaks from February through June because of oak wilt, so we keep those cuts out of that window when we can. If you’re in an HOA neighborhood, check with your HOA before a large tree comes out, in case they have rules about it.
Save the big tree or take it down?
A large tree takes decades to replace, so we don’t recommend removal lightly. This is how we usually weigh it.
Worth trying to save
- The trunk is solid and the root flare looks sound
- The problem is one or two heavy limbs over the house
- Most of the canopy leafs out full and green
- Crown reduction or cabling can take weight off the weak spot
- It shades the house and you’d miss it
Time to take it down
- A large crack or cavity runs into the main trunk
- The tree has started to lean and the soil is lifting
- Half the crown or more is dead or dying
- Roots were badly cut by construction or a new slab
- It’s grown into the roof or lines and can’t be pruned clear
What affects the price of large tree removal
Every large removal is priced on site, because no two are alike. These are the things that move the number.
- Size and weight. A taller, wider tree has more wood to cut, rig and haul, and it keeps the climber in the air longer.
- What’s underneath. Roofs, pools, fences and garden beds under the canopy mean more pieces get roped down instead of dropped, and that takes time.
- Access to the yard. A wide driveway lets wood go straight to the truck. A narrow side gate means every piece is carried out by hand.
- Rigging or a crane. Most large trees come down with ropes and rigging. A few, usually over a house with no safe landing spot, are better done with a crane, which changes the cost.
- Lines in the crown. Service lines through the tree slow the work. If the main utility lines (opens in a new tab) are involved, the utility has to be part of the plan.
- Stump and wood. Grinding the stump, hauling every log or leaving firewood rounds each change the total, so you choose.
You get one written price after we’ve seen the tree. It covers the rigging, hauling and cleanup we talked about, and it doesn’t change halfway through unless you ask us to add something.
What to expect on the day of a large removal
A big takedown is usually a full day for the crew, sometimes more. Here’s how it tends to go.
- Walk-through and setup. The crew lead walks the yard with the plan, marks the drop zone and lays down protection where wood will be moved.
- Climber goes up. The climber ties in high and takes off the smaller limbs first, lowering anything over the house or fence on a rope.
- Sectional takedown. Big limbs, then the trunk, come down in pieces sized for the rigging, with the ground crew controlling each one as it’s lowered.
- Wood processed and hauled. Brush goes through the chipper, logs are cut to a size the crew can move, and everything is loaded out.
- Final cleanup and walk. We rake the lawn, blow off the drive and roof edge, and walk the yard with you before we leave.
How to get ready
- Move cars out of the driveway and off the street in front
- Unlock the side gate and tell us about any pets
- Pull patio furniture, grills and planters away from the tree
- Give neighbors a heads-up if limbs hang over their yard
- Tell us about sprinkler heads, septic lines or anything buried near the trunk
Large tree removal questions
How do you remove a big tree that’s close to my house?
In sections. A climber cuts the tree into controlled pieces from the top down, and each piece is lowered on a rope so it never swings into the house.
Will heavy equipment tear up my lawn?
We plan access to keep wear to a minimum and choose the lightest way to move wood out. If there’s a soft or tight area, we’ll talk through it before the job.
How long does a large tree removal take?
Many are done in a day, but it depends on the size, the rigging needed and access. You’ll get a realistic estimate along with the written price.
Is the stump included?
Stump grinding is quoted separately so you can decide. We can usually grind it on the same visit.
Do you use a crane for large tree removal?
Most large trees come down with ropes and rigging, no crane needed. When a tree is over the house with nowhere safe to lower the wood, a crane can be the safer choice. If we think one is needed, we’ll explain why and include it in the written quote.
What happens to all the wood from a big tree?
We chip the brush and haul the logs away as part of the job. If you’d like some firewood rounds left stacked, say so before we quote and we’ll plan for it.
Do I need a permit to remove a large tree?
It depends on where you live. Some cities and HOAs have rules about removing big trees. Check with your city (opens in a new tab) or HOA, and ask us if you’re not sure where to start.
My neighbor’s large tree is leaning toward my house. What can I do?
Start with your neighbor, since the tree is on their property. We’re glad to look at it with them and give an honest opinion on whether it’s a real risk.