How long does it take to remove a tree?

A typical yard tree is usually done in a day, cleanup included. Large trees over a house, crane jobs and several trees at once can take longer.

Do I need to be home during the removal?

Not always. Many crews only need the gate open and someone they can reach by phone. Be there at the start if a protected tree, a shared fence or a neighbor's yard is involved.

Can a tree near power lines be removed?

The part within 10 feet of Oncor's main lines has to be handled by Oncor or its contractors. Call Oncor at 1-888-313-6862 first. For the line from the pole to your house, Oncor recommends a temporary disconnect while the crew works.

What happens to the wood?

Usually it's chipped and hauled away. If you'd like firewood, ask for the logs to be cut into rounds and left. A state quarantine restricts moving ash wood out of Collin County because of emerald ash borer, so ask how it will be disposed of.

Who pays when a neighbor's tree falls on my property?

Usually your own homeowners insurance handles storm damage to your property, even when the tree was your neighbor's. If the tree was clearly dead and the owner ignored it, their insurer may be responsible. Call your insurer either way, and take photos before anything is moved.

Tree Removal in McKinney, TX | McKinney Premier Tree Service

Signs a tree in your yard should come down

Dead or bare branches across a large part of the crown, or no new leaves in spring.
Mushrooms or shelf-like fungus at the base or on the trunk, which often means decay inside.
Deep cracks, a split where two trunks meet, or a hollow trunk.
A lean that's new or getting worse, or soil heaving up on the side away from the lean.
An ash tree thinning from the top, with small D-shaped holes in the bark or woodpeckers stripping it. These are signs of emerald ash borer.
Roots breaking a foundation, driveway or sewer line, where cutting the roots would leave the tree unstable.

Not sure? Ask the crew whether pruning would save the tree. Removal is the last step, not the first.

How a tree is taken down safely

Open space: felled in one piece

If there's room for the whole tree to fall, the crew cuts a notch, drops it where they've planned, and cuts it up on the ground. It's the fastest method, and usually the cheapest.

Near the house or fence: taken down in sections

A climber or a bucket truck works from the top down, lowering heavy pieces on ropes so nothing lands on your roof, fence or pool. Backyard removals in McKinney's older neighborhoods are often done this way.

Very large trees: crane removal

For a big tree leaning over a house, a crane can lift whole sections out over the roof. It costs more per hour, but it can make a dangerous job safer and much quicker.

What's included, and what to ask about

Branches: chipped and hauled away, or left as mulch if you want it.
Logs: hauled away, or cut into firewood rounds and stacked.
The stump: ground out now or left for later. See stump grinding in McKinney.
Cleanup: raking and blowing the lawn, driveway, gutters and roof.

Ask for each of these to be written into the quote. That's where most surprise charges come from.

Permits, HOAs and protected trees in McKinney

The City of McKinney protects quality trees with a trunk 6 to 41 inches across, and every tree 42 inches or larger, measured 4.5 feet above the ground. Its tree permit form has an option for existing homes, and removing a protected tree can mean planting replacements or paying into the City's reforestation fund. The City's Urban Forester makes the final call.

Our McKinney tree permit guide explains how to measure a trunk and how to apply. If you live in an HOA community such as Stonebridge Ranch, check whether you need its approval as well.

Ash trees and emerald ash borer

The emerald ash borer, a beetle that kills ash trees, was confirmed in Collin County in 2024, according to Texas A&M Forest Service. Infested trees die from the top down and turn brittle, which makes them harder and more dangerous to take down the longer they stand. A state quarantine limits moving ash wood out of the county, so ask the crew how they'll dispose of it.

Tree Removal in McKinney, TX