Deadwood Removal in Plano, TX
Your tree is alive, but some of its limbs aren’t. We cut the dead wood out before it falls, and leave the healthy tree standing.
- ISA CertifiedArborist #TX-4334A (opens in a new tab)
- Fully InsuredProof on Request
- Written QuoteBefore Work Starts
- Cleaner ThanWe Found It
Dead limbs worth taking out
Dead limbs are easiest to spot in summer, when the rest of the tree is green. Look up for these:
- Bare, gray limbs in a leafy canopy
- Branches with bark falling away
- Twigs and sticks dropping after every breeze
- Hanging, broken limbs left from a storm
- Dead wood over the roof, deck or driveway
“I’ve used Eagle Tree Experts for the last eight years and they have been fantastic!”
Mike S., Google review
Most deadwood jobs are scoped by Taylor Guynes, an independent ISA Certified Arborist #TX-4334A (opens in a new tab), who also looks at why the limbs died. Meet Taylor.
The Eagle Tree Way
1
Find every dead limb
We look through the whole crown, not just what you see from the porch.
2
Price it in writing
One price for the dead wood we’ll remove.
3
Cut clean to live wood
Each limb taken back to the collar so the tree can seal it.
4
Drop zone cleaned up
Limbs chipped, hauled and the yard blown clean.
Included in every deadwood job
- Full-crown check for dead and broken limbs
- Written quote first
- Roping limbs over roofs and fences
- A note on what may have killed the limbs
- All wood and brush hauled away
Why dead limbs in a living tree matter
Every tree drops a little dead wood. Lower branches get shaded out, storms snap twigs, and that’s normal. The trouble is larger dead limbs high in the crown. They dry out, get brittle and eventually let go, often on a windy day and often over the spot you least want them to land.
Deadwood removal is one of the simplest ways to make a mature tree safer without changing how it looks. We climb through the crown, find the dead and dying limbs, and cut each one back to living wood at the branch collar. Limbs over the house or fence get roped down instead of dropped.
Dead limbs also tell you something. A few on the inside of the canopy are usually nothing to worry about. A lot of them, or dead wood concentrated on one side, can point to root damage, disease or drought stress. When Taylor scopes the job, we’ll tell you what we see and whether it’s worth watching.
Because it’s dead wood, this work can usually be done any time of year, even on oaks. If live limbs need cutting at the same visit, we’ll plan around the oak wilt (opens in a new tab) season. Every crew is insured, and the price is in writing before anyone climbs.
Deadwood in North Texas trees
Plano summers are hard on a canopy. In a long hot, dry stretch, a tree can’t keep every limb supplied with water, so it lets some go, and the dieback often starts near the top of the crown. Our clay soil makes it worse. It sheds water in a hard downpour and holds it tight when it’s dry, so roots get less than the rain gauge suggests.
Pecans are a big source of dead limbs here. They grow large and are known for dropping limbs, sometimes on a calm summer day. Cedar elms and red oaks build up dead wood inside the crown as they age, and live oaks collect a lot of small dead twigs in their dense canopy. Spring storms and hail add broken limbs on top of that. A broken limb that stays caught in the tree is called a hanger, and it’s the first thing we look for.
Oak wilt is why timing comes up. Texas A&M Forest Service (opens in a new tab) advises avoiding oak pruning from February through June and painting any fresh wounds on oaks. Cutting out wood that’s already dead carries far less risk, but we still keep live cuts on oaks out of that window when we can.
Deadwood cleanout or something more?
Often, cutting out the dead wood is all a tree needs. Sometimes the dead wood is a sign of a bigger problem worth checking first.
A cleanout is enough
- Dead limbs are scattered and mostly inside the crown
- The rest of the canopy is full and green
- The dead wood came from shading or an old storm
- The trunk and root flare look solid
- You want the tree safer without changing its shape
Look closer first
- Dead limbs are bunched on one side of the tree
- The top of the crown is dying back
- Bark is coming off the trunk, not just the limbs
- Fungus is growing at the base or on the roots
- Dieback started after construction, grading or a new patio
What affects the price of deadwood removal
Deadwood jobs are usually lighter than a full trim, but they still vary a lot from tree to tree.
- Number and size of dead limbs. A few small dead branches is a short job. Large dead limbs high in the crown take more time and rigging.
- Height in the crown. Dead wood near the top means a longer climb and slower, more careful work than limbs reached from low in the tree.
- What’s below. Dead limbs over a roof, pool or fence get roped down piece by piece instead of dropped.
- Hangers. Broken limbs already caught in the tree are unpredictable and take extra care to bring down.
- How many trees. Several trees in one visit is more efficient than separate trips.
- Live pruning added. If you want a trim at the same time, it’s added to the quote and, for oaks, timed around oak wilt season.
Your written quote says which trees we’ll work on and what we’ll take out, so the price matches the work you see when we’re done.
What to expect on a deadwood job
- Look from the ground. We walk around each tree and note the dead limbs, hangers and anything over the house.
- Climb and check up close. The climber moves through the crown and usually finds dead wood you can’t see from below.
- Cut to the collar. Each dead limb comes off just outside the branch collar, where living tissue can close the wound.
- Rope the risky ones. Limbs over the roof, fence or drive are tied off and lowered instead of dropped.
- Chip, clean and report. Brush is chipped, the lawn and gutters cleared, and we tell you what we noticed about the tree’s health.
How to get ready
- Point out the limbs that worry you most
- Move cars and patio furniture out from under the tree
- Tell us where kids play and where you walk most
- Unlock the gate and keep pets inside
- If a limb fell recently, leave it for us to look at
Deadwood removal questions
Is deadwood removal the same as tree trimming?
It’s one part of it. A full trim shapes the tree and thins live growth. Deadwood removal focuses only on dead and broken limbs, so it’s often quicker and lighter on the tree.
How big does a dead limb have to be before it’s a problem?
It depends on what’s under it. A dead limb the size of your wrist can do real harm falling onto a car or a person. Anything over the roof, drive or play area is worth a look.
Can you remove dead wood from oaks in spring?
Cutting out wood that’s already dead carries much less oak wilt risk than cutting live limbs. If any live cuts are needed, we’ll talk about timing first.
Does a lot of dead wood mean my tree is dying?
Not always, but it’s worth checking. We’ll look for signs of root problems, disease or drought stress and tell you honestly what we think.
What is a hanger, and why does it matter?
A hanger is a broken limb caught up in the tree, often left after a storm. It can fall any time, with no wind at all. Hangers over roofs, drives and walkways should come down first.
How often should deadwood be removed?
It depends on the tree. Many mature trees benefit from a check every few years and after any big storm. Pecans and older trees over the house may need it more often.
Will removing dead wood make my tree healthier?
It won’t fix whatever killed the limbs, but it helps. Clean cuts let the tree close the wounds, and dead limbs are an easy way in for decay. Mostly, it makes the tree safer to live under.
Can I leave dead limbs that aren’t over anything?
Small dead limbs over open lawn can often wait. Bigger ones still fall eventually, and yards get used in ways you don’t plan for. We’ll tell you what can wait and what shouldn’t.