Frequently Asked Questions

For a tree in the public right-of-way, usually the park strip between the sidewalk and the curb, yes. Salt Lake City Urban Forestry requires a permit before any removal, pruning or planting there, and issues those permits only to ISA-certified arborists. Urban Forestry's pages don't describe a removal permit for trees fully on private property, but HOAs and some subdivisions have their own rules, so check yours.

Salt Lake City Urban Forestry does. Call (801) 972-7818, Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The city prunes for safety, obstructions and tree health and treats removal as a last resort; it generally won't remove a tree just because it lifts the sidewalk or is messy. If the city won't prune a tree to the extent you want, it says you can hire a certified arborist under a permit at your own cost.

National 2026 cost guides put the average tree removal at around $750 to $850, with small trees from about $200 and large trees $2,000 or more. Pruning averages $400 to $900 a tree, and stump grinding usually starts around $120 to $400 for the first stump. Access, what is under the tree and its condition change the price most. Your written estimate is the price.

That pattern is iron chlorosis, very common in Utah's alkaline, lime-rich soil. USU Extension says overwatering and poorly drained clay make it worse. Chelated iron applied to the root zone can help, but the long-term fix is often watering deeply and less often, or replacing the tree with an iron-efficient species.

Not while the line is live. Rocky Mountain Power asks people to call 1-888-221-7070; it can schedule a free temporary disconnect of the service line so the tree work can be done safely. Once the line is down or cleared, we can do the rest of the pruning or removal.

Late winter, while trees are dormant, suits most shade and fruit trees: you can see the structure, and fire blight cankers are easier to find. USU Extension advises against late-summer pruning because it can leave trees open to winter injury. Dead or broken limbs can come off any time.

Salt Lake City's brown compost cart accepts tree branches, and the material goes to the city's compost facility. Residents with city curbside service also get one scheduled green waste pickup a year through Call 2 Haul. For a whole tree, it is usually simpler to have the brush chipped and hauled as part of the job.

Yes. We cover all of Salt Lake City and the Salt Lake Valley, including Rose Park, Glendale, Poplar Grove and the south valley suburbs. Call or send the form with your address and a few photos, and we will set up a time to look.

National 2026 guides put most removals between about $200 and $2,000, with an average near $750 to $850. A small ornamental tree in an open yard sits at the low end; a 70-foot spruce beside the house with no truck access sits at the high end. We give a written price after seeing the tree.

Not without a permit from Salt Lake City Urban Forestry, which treats removal of public trees as a last resort. Call (801) 972-7818. The city may prune or remove a hazardous tree itself.

Often, yes. Dead wood is brittle, so climbers may need to work more slowly or use a lift, and pieces can break unexpectedly when lowered. Removing a dying tree before it is fully dead usually keeps the job simpler.

Yes. We can cut logs to firewood length and stack them where you want, or leave larger rounds. Elm wood from a tree with bark beetles should be debarked or disposed of instead of stored with the bark on.

Not always. If the quote is approved, gates are unlocked and cars are moved, we can work while you're out. We call when the job is finished.

Young trees benefit from light structural pruning every two or three years. Mature shade trees usually need attention every three to five years, or after a storm. Fast-growing species such as silver maple and Siberian elm may need it more often.

HomeGuide's 2026 guide puts the national average around $400 to $900 per tree, from about $250 for a small tree to $2,500 or more for a tree over 60 feet. We price after seeing the tree.

We don't top trees. Crown reduction shortens limbs back to healthy side branches, which lowers height and weight without the decay and weak regrowth topping causes. Some trees are simply too big for their spot, and removal is the honest answer.

Light pruning of dead or broken wood is fine any time. USU Extension advises against late-summer pruning because new growth may not harden off before winter. Heavier pruning is usually best done in late winter.

Park strip trees belong to Salt Lake City, and the city requires a permit for any pruning in the right-of-way. Call Urban Forestry at (801) 972-7818; the city often prunes these trees itself.

HomeGuide's 2026 national guide puts the first stump at about $120 to $400 and each additional stump at $30 to $60, with minimum service fees around $80 to $160. Large or very hard stumps cost more. We price it after measuring.

Usually several inches below the soil surface, which is enough for new sod. If you plan a garden bed or a new tree close by, we can go deeper. Tell us what you want the spot for.

Most species stop once the stump is gone. Some, such as elms and poplars, can still sprout from roots for a while; those sprouts can be cut or mowed until the root system runs out of energy.

Park strip trees and stumps belong to Salt Lake City. Urban Forestry provides stump grinding for park strip trees, so call (801) 972-7818 first.

Many stump grinders are built narrow enough for typical residential gates. If yours is very narrow or there are steps, tell us when you call so we can plan for it.

You can call (385) 217-6481 any time to leave the details. We return calls in order of danger, starting with trees on houses and blocked exits.

Many homeowner policies pay to remove a tree that damaged a covered structure, though coverage varies. Photograph the tree and damage before anything is moved, call your insurer, and keep the written quote and invoice.

Salt Lake City Urban Forestry. Call (801) 972-7818; the city lists storm pickup and hazard response among its park strip services, and emergencies like a limb blocking the street, sidewalk or a driveway go to that office.

Angi's 2026 figures put cut-and-haul of an already fallen tree at about $300 to $500, while emergency removals after storms can reach $5,000 when a tree is on a structure or a crane is needed. We give a written price once we've seen it.

Often, if the trunk and main forks are sound and the roots weren't lifted. Broken branches are cut back to clean wounds and the crown is balanced. A trunk crack through the main fork usually means removal.

Late winter, before the buds open, suits most fruit trees here. Avoid heavy pruning in late summer, which USU Extension says can leave trees more open to winter injury. Dead or broken branches can come off any time.

That is the classic look of fire blight. USU Extension recommends cutting 8 to 12 inches below the visible canker during dormancy and burning or trashing the cuttings. Avoid heavy nitrogen fertilizer, which feeds the soft growth the disease attacks.

Usually, over two or three winters. Taking it down too far in one year triggers a mass of upright sprouts. Each year the height is lowered and the crown opened a bit more.

No. This service is pruning. Some fruit tree sprays are restricted-use pesticides that require a licensed applicator. We can tell you what pests or diseases we see so you can arrange treatment.

Gum oozing from sunken bark on stone fruit often points to cytospora canker or borer damage. Pruning out affected branches and keeping the tree well watered helps; a canker on the main trunk can be harder to manage.

In the Salt Lake Valley, that's almost always iron chlorosis from alkaline, lime-rich soil, made worse by overwatering or heavy clay. USU Extension suggests watering deeply but less often and using EDDHA iron chelate in the root zone in spring.

Browning on the southwest side of conifers is often winter desiccation, which USU Extension says comes from trees losing water when the soil is dry or frozen. Deep watering in fall helps. Browning spreading from the bottom up or with cankers points to a different problem.

Warning signs include cracks, cavities, fungus at the base, dead limbs, a new lean and lifted soil. An on-site look tells you which matter and how urgent they are.

Park strip trees are city trees. Salt Lake City Urban Forestry offers hazard assessment and health evaluation for them; call (801) 972-7818.

Call or send the form with your address and a few photos of the whole tree, the leaves and any damage. We'll set up a time to look at it with you.