Palm Tree Removal Houston? The 7 Latest Answer

Jump to a section: Cost – With the inclement weather that can hit Houston, Texas at any time, it’s important to keep your trees in their best condition to prevent more serious damage to your home or yard. See what you pay for maintenance versus what you pay for other damage.

Frequently Asked Questions – Learn more and see with a picture what species of trees are thriving or struggling in the Houston area, along with regulations set by the city regarding power lines and removal permits. Do you know what the tallest and shortest trees are in the area?

Services – Don’t wait for a storm to hit the city. Find the nearest professional to your home by browsing our full selection of tree care professionals.

How much does tree care cost in Houston? Living in Houston definitely has its perks, but one of the downsides can be that trees require a lot of regular maintenance to stay healthy. Tornadoes and high winds can knock down branches that require professional help to remove. If you need any type of pruning, cutting, trimming or removal, make sure you know the average estimates to ensure you are not overcharged for the job.

How much does tree removal cost?

Houston residents can expect to pay an average of $604 to remove trees from their property. Dead trees that have already been felled are slightly cheaper on average, and large trees that need to be felled are more expensive. If you also want to remove the wood, plan on paying an extra fee for the extra work. The different price range that Houston residents should prepare for is a high bid of $696 and a low bid of $512.

How much does stump removal cost?

Grinding a tree stump may seem easy, but it requires machines that can grind down the wood without removing the entire root system. In Houston, stump grinding costs homeowners between $81 and $135. Obviously the size of the stump determines the exact price. Stump removal, on the other hand, is a more difficult process due to the roots and girth of the stump. This costs between $350 and $400, although it takes less time than shredding the stump into wood chips.

Average cost of tree care in Houston

Pruning a tree is one of the more expensive jobs in Houston. Trees under 20 feet are cheapest, and the price increases with the height of the tree and its proximity to power lines. Expect to pay an average of $508 to take care of your trees, with the price increasing for larger yards or taller trees. If you have shorter trees with fewer branches, it’s likely to cost less than average. If you have trees near power lines it will cost more. The price range for these cases is between $431 and $585.

Houston Tree Facts & FAQ Trees are an important part of Houston’s ecosystem. Dry soil, frequent winds, and plenty of sun mean trees are valuable for providing shade and preventing soil erosion. Whether you’re planting or removing trees, the answers to these frequently asked questions can be helpful.

What are the most popular trees in Houston?

Trees planted in Houston are often chosen for their beauty and shade. Also, the root systems of trees help hold the soil in place in dry areas. Some of the most popular planted trees in the city are the following:

Two-winged silverbell (Halesia diptera)

Texas olive (Cordia boissieri)

Desert willow (Chilopsis linearis)

Southern wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera)

Another popular tree is the state tree, the pecan (Carya illinoinensis). Although it wasn’t officially designated a state tree until 1919, pecans have been around in Texas for thousands of years and were used as a food source for the state’s Native Americans.

What trees thrive naturally in Houston’s climate?

The types of trees that thrive in Houston’s climate are typically those native to the area. This ensures the trees require minimal attention and can handle Texas soil conditions and weather. Green Houston suggests growing trees like live oak, cedar elm, American elm, green ash, and magnolia, all of which have been present in the area for centuries.

Despite the heat and dry soil, there are a number of fruit trees that can thrive in the region. The Houston Chronicle suggests growing mangoes, guavas, star fruit, and figs.

With the right care, almost any tree in the city can thrive. However, it’s worth remembering that drought and heat can kill trees, and in 2012 up to 300 million trees died in the region, according to the Houston Chronicle. Look for trees that don’t require large amounts of water and won’t topple over in strong winds.

What diseases affect trees in Houston?

There are a number of common pests and diseases that can affect trees in Texas. The Houston Parks and Recreation Department says the most common problems affecting trees in the city are scales, southern pine beetles, galls, spider mites and black powdery mildew. Scale is a pest that isn’t always visible because it moves so slowly that it looks more like a growth than a pest, but it can pose a hazard to trees. Southern pine beetles are the most destructive pests of pine trees in the Houston area. Spider mites are common pests that need to be controlled regularly in the garden. Black powdery mildew is dangerous to plants during the summer months and should be trimmed as soon as possible.

Are there rules for growing trees near overhead power lines?

While Center Point Energy, the city’s electric utility, doesn’t have specific rules about where trees can be planted on private property, they recommend that individuals never plant trees directly under or near high-voltage power lines. Stricter standards apply to transmission corridors. When trees become a burden on overhead lines, Center Point Energy trims or removes branches as needed. In Houston alone, the company cuts over 700,000 trees each year.

What is the tree felling ordinance?

Before you can remove a tree near the roadway or a tree that is on an easement, you must obtain a permit from the Houston Parks and Recreation Department. Keep in mind that this is true even if the tree is entirely on your private property. If you need to remove hazardous branches or dead trees located on city property, simply call the 311 Houston Service Center and they will come to your property at no charge.

This Texas city’s Parks and Recreation Department suggests that trees be planted between November and February. This is also the best time to remove trees since most are dormant during Houston’s winter season.

Plant Hardiness Zones for East Texas

Here are the USDA provided plant hardiness zones for East Texas:

Image source:

Texas olive

Local tree care in Houston

Select tree care in Houston

Lift the root mass of the palm tree out of the hole and either place it immediately in a new, prepared hole or wrap it in burlap to keep the soil around the roots moist. If you tilt your palm to one side, tuck a piece of burlap under the roots with one side rolled up, lean your palm to the other side, and then unroll the burlap, you can easily wrap the roots with burlap. You can also use the edges of the burlap to lift the roots out of the hole.

Once you find you can cut the palm tree you have, try cutting it with other tools before using a chainsaw. A chainsaw may not be needed to trim the trunk of a palm tree.

Palm trees (Arecaceae) can be impressive specimens and grow tall. If you have a large one and need to trim or remove it, the Florida Tree team recommends that you look for palm species first. Once you’ve determined it’s okay to prune or prune your palm tree’s species, you can proceed. You may need a chainsaw to prune the tree. USDA plant hardiness zones for hardy palms are 7a and higher.

The pretty windmill palm (Trachycarpus fortunei, USDA hardiness zones 7 through 10) features deep green leaves that grow into fan-like shapes. It is cold-resistant with hair-like fibers on the trunk; it ends up at around 20 to 40 feet tall. The foxtail palm (Wodyetia bifurcata, USDA hardiness zones 9b through 11) is another large specimen that can reach 30 feet. It has bushy, full fronds worthy of its name. Last and not least is the spindle palm (Hyophorbe Verschaffeltii, USDA hardiness zones 10a through 11), which grows up to 20 feet tall and has long, arching fronds.

The common date palm (Phoenix dactylifera, USDA hardiness zones 8a through 11) can thrive in most soil types, produces sweet, delicious dates, and can grow 50 to 80 feet tall with a spread of 20 to 40 feet, according to HGTV. The smaller zombie palm (Zombia antillarum, USDA hardiness zones 9b through 11) grows fairly slowly and has long stem spines said to be used as needles for voodoo dolls. These trees typically don’t grow taller than 10 feet.

Not all experts agree on pruning palm trees with chainsaws, but the Florida Trees authors describe how to do it safely. They advise checking with authorities first, as some states will not allow you to fell these trees, depending on the species (another reason why tree identification is crucial). In California, for example, it may be illegal to fell palm trees more than 12 feet tall.

Palm trees can be pruned with pruning shears, pruning saws, serrated knives and chain saws. In most cases, you don’t have to resort to a chainsaw for pruning. This project can usually be done with these other pruning tools. Chainsaws are better for felling trees as long as you take the right precautions.

Some palm species are better left uncut and untrimmed. It can cost a lot of money to have a palm tree pruned or uprooted, especially for the larger varieties. However, if you plan to fell the tree or trim its trunk and it is a manageable size, you can consider using a chainsaw to do both.

If you are not intent on pruning and are permitted to fell the tree, enlist the help of another able-bodied adult before using a chainsaw on the palm of your hand. Plan to drop the tree in the direction it normally leans; Otherwise, dig up soil 2 feet away from the roots on the side you want it to fall.

When working with a chainsaw, be sure to wear a hard hat, safety goggles, hearing protection, work gloves, and work boots. When you’re done, use the chainsaw to cut a triangular notch at the base of the palm tree, about waist-deep on the side where you want it to fall. As you work, cut diagonally down about 1/4 the diameter of the tree. Remove the chainsaw, go to the other side and cut through the log until you hit the top of this notch.

You may need to replace your blade once or twice while cutting. Eventually, you’ll hear a cracking sound, and now it’s time to get out of the way. You now have a stump that you can remove with a stump grinder.

SINGLE TRUNK PALM TREES

When it comes to severing the growing top, or better known as the “crownshaft,” of a single-stem palm species, this will effectively end the tree entirely. The stem will not be able to sprout a new growing tip in place of the old missing canopy. And without the extra leaves that synthesize the incoming light, the palm tree will soon weaken and begin to rot. If you end up having to cut off the top of a single-trunk palm tree, the next step would be to simply plant a new tree.

Some examples of single-trunk palms are the Mexican fan palm, royal palm, Christmas palm, and cabbage palm. These are all great options to choose from when deciding which single trunk palm to grow.

The importance of palm pruning

Hold on friends, we’re going all over Florida in this post – well, not exactly Florida. You won’t find swimsuits-in-December, a we-live-where-you-vacation attitude, or Florida-man-on-the-cover-of-the-newspaper-total-Florida-isms in this post.

But we’re going full Florida foliage — that’s right, this is all about palm trees. And for a good reason.

If you’ve read any of our Landcrafters blog posts about palm trees, you already know that we’re big fans of these Florida favorites (we have a post called An Ode to the Palm Tree, for goodness sake). But we love these palm trees for a reason – they grow beautifully here, they’re so tropical, and for the most part, they’re fairly easy to care for.

But just because they don’t need a lot of love and attention doesn’t mean they don’t need some major tweaking throughout the year. The most important TLC they need?

Trimming and Pruning.

Sure, it’s not the most exciting topic in the entire world of landscaping, but it’s definitely vital to the health of your palms – and the safety of your landscape!

Want to learn more about why you absolutely must prune your palm trees? Check out this post – it’s full of our decades of experience with palm trees.

If part of a tree has moved to another property, the other property owner can cut back the part of the tree up to the property line.

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DALLAS — The winter storm that struck Texas in February did extensive damage to the environment, including trees. This caused many trees to die off on both public and private land.

This led some WFAA viewers to ask how tree removal laws work in their county, state and nationwide.

THE QUESTION

Do I need a permit to fell a tree on my property?

THE SOURCE

Courtney Blevins, Regional Town Ranger at Texas A&M Forest Service

Naomi Rotramel, City of Austin Arborist

Tree Removal.com

THE ANSWER

In Texas, you do not need a permit to remove a tree planted on your property.

If you have part of someone else’s tree on your property, you can trim the part on your property as long as you don’t kill or damage the tree’s foundation.

WHAT WE FOUND

Tree felling laws and regulations differ depending on which state you live in.

The only overarching policy across the country is about utility lines. If you plant a tree that’s too close to power lines, there’s a good chance a utility company or the city you live in will send someone to cut or remove the tree.

In Texas, state law allows city officials to deal with nuisance trees that may impact other trees, whether on public or private property.

There are no state laws preventing someone from removing their own tree that is on their property. Also, unlike other states, Texas does not require a tree owner to obtain a permit to remove a tree on their property.

“Whoever has the trunk of the tree in their yard is the owner of the tree,” Blevins said.

If part of a tree has moved to another property, the other property owner can cut back the part of the tree up to the property line. This person must remain on their property if they choose to do so.

“The property owner has the right to trim their airspace,” Rotramel said. “That has been held up in court over the centuries.”

However, if pruning or pruning the other property owner’s tree causes permanent damage to the plant, this is an issue that could be taken to court.

“You can do whatever you want, but if it’s a live tree and you kill it, you could be held liable,” Blevins said. “There are no laws governing the felling of trees on private property in the state of Texas.”

Local ordinances can vary depending on where you live in Texas, depending on the type of tree, where it is planted, and the tree’s livelihood—these are some of the factors that go into these regulations from city to city.

For example, in Dallas and the surrounding suburbs, there are no regulations on felling a tree, nor is a permit required. In Austin, however, the city passed a tree ordinance in 1983, which is subject to the Land Development Act.

Austin law requires property owners, whether on private or public land, to obtain a permit to remove a tree that is 60 inches or more in circumference. There are certain criteria that must be met for someone to get permission to remove this type of tree if you live in Austin.

Interestingly, I was told by the city that “palm trees” are not actually trees. “Tree” isn’t defined in the Land Development Code, but there must be a scientific reason why palm trees don’t fall into it. So a palm would not be a protected tree even if it were over 19 inches in diameter.

heritage trees

Historical trees measure over 24 inches in diameter when measured as described above. While protected trees include all types of trees, only the following types are considered heritage trees:

Texas Ash Bald Cypress American Elm Texas Madrone Bigtooth Maple ALL OAKS!!! Pecan Arizona Walnut Eastern Black Walnut

Why it matters

As you might expect, cultivated trees are subject to stricter regulations than protected trees, so identification is particularly important. Protected trees and heritage trees are subject to specific removal and developmental impact rules.

distance

Protected Trees

Pruning is defined as the actual removal of a tree or anything that would reasonably cause the tree to die, such as cutting through the main trunk or over-pruning.

To remove a protected tree, you usually need a permit. The only exception is if the tree is damaged and removed within 7 days of the damage and the tree causes “imminent danger to life or property”. This is typically relevant to damage to a tree from a storm.

For permission to remove a protected tree, the tree must meet one of the following criteria (paraphrased here, verbatim):

preventing reasonable access to property; prevents proper use of the property; presents an imminent threat to life or property (and cannot be mitigated without complete removal); is dead; is sick and cannot be cured; is diseased and contagious to other trees and could endanger their health; if on public property/road/property prohibits a necessary road/alley/utility/drainage facility.

While technically all protected trees are equal, in my experience some trees (like oaks) receive more protection than others.

heritage trees

Heirloom trees can only be removed after a variance has been approved. They can only be removed without modification under the same circumstances as a protected tree can be removed without permission (see above).

A derogation can only be granted if, following the City Arborist’s recommendation, it is determined that the tree is: (paraphrased, exact language in code linked above) is:

is dead; presents an imminent threat to life or property (and cannot be mitigated without removal); is sick and cannot be cured; is diseased and contagious to other trees and could endanger their health.

There are a few other nuances to variance in heritage tree removal under 30 inches that hinder development, but I won’t go into that in this post. For those who are curious, they are located at LDC Section 25-8-642(c) and LDC Section 25-8-643.

reduction

In certain situations where tree removal is permitted, the city requires remedial action, often in the form of planting replacement trees. See ECM 3.5.4 for more details.

development

critical root zones

The most important concept you need to understand in order to understand the city’s development-related tree rules is a tree’s critical root zone (“CRZ”). A tree’s CRZ is a measurement system created to determine acceptable impact on a tree’s roots. The full CRZ of a tree is a zone that extends around the tree and is equal to the diameter of the tree. The CRZ is then divided into the 1/2 CRZ (a zone extending around the tree, equal to half the tree diameter) and the 1/4 CRZ (a zone extending around the tree, equal to 1/4 of the tree diameter). Different rules apply in each of the different sections of the CRZ of a tree.

What should you do if your neighbor’s trees are overhanging your property? You can call or text 800-929-1725 to schedule an appointment with our attorneys in Fort Bend County, Wharton County or Matagorda County.

Neighboring trees can often become a nuisance. Your branches could block sunlight, shed unwanted pollen, acorns, or leaves, or pose a risk of injury or property damage. Your rights and responsibilities regarding your neighbor’s trees or property depend on state law.

In Texas, a person is not required to prune a healthy tree if its branches extend across a neighbor’s property. This is true even if the branches are sticking out over the neighbor’s roof or driveway where cars are parked. The law protects the owner of a healthy tree if branches fall on a neighbor’s property and cause injury or damage.

Philip Hundl was everything and more when we were faced with a possible pipeline conviction. He made himself available to us within hours of the initial conversation, carefully examined our property to fully understand our concerns, and then gave us a complete and clear path to follow. I couldn’t have been more impressed. A true Texas gentleman and scholar. Look no further.

Can you cut down your neighbor’s trees?

The neighbor has the right to cut the overhanging tree with the following restrictions.

The tree can only be trimmed to the property line.

The tree must not be pruned to the extent that the health of the tree is damaged or compromised.

There is no right to enter the neighbor’s property to cut the tree.

The cutting neighbor bears the cost of cutting the tree.

What if your neighbor’s trees are unhealthy?

If the tree owner knows (or should know) that the tree is diseased, the negligence act places a duty on the owner. The tree owner must take all necessary measures to prevent personal injury and property damage from falling branches and branches. A tree owner who disregards this duty and fails to adequately prune the diseased tree will be liable for any injury or damage caused by fallen branches.

Call us if you have any concerns

Call or text 800-929-1725 to schedule an appointment with our attorneys in our Fort Bend County, Wharton County and Matagorda County offices. Appointments can be made in our offices, by phone or online.

similar links

One of the first questions most people ask when considering getting rid of an unwanted tree is “how much does tree removal cost?”

Felling trees is a complex process that often involves great risks. In order to carry out tree felling safely, it is necessary to have the right equipment and a crew that has special training. The cost of removing a tree can vary widely depending on several factors.

Here’s helpful information to answer your questions about determining tree removal costs. It’s virtually impossible to estimate the cost without seeing the tree in person. For this reason, professional tree care services usually offer free estimates. Below are the main factors that an estimator will use to determine the cost of tree removal. A committed written quote from a professional tree care service is the best way to start any tree felling process.

The importance of palm pruning

Hold on friends, we’re going all over Florida in this post – well, not exactly Florida. You won’t find swimsuits-in-December, a we-live-where-you-vacation attitude, or Florida-man-on-the-cover-of-the-newspaper-total-Florida-isms in this post.

But we’re going full Florida foliage — that’s right, this is all about palm trees. And for a good reason.

If you’ve read any of our Landcrafters blog posts about palm trees, you already know that we’re big fans of these Florida favorites (we have a post called An Ode to the Palm Tree, for goodness sake). But we love these palm trees for a reason – they grow beautifully here, they’re so tropical, and for the most part, they’re fairly easy to care for.

But just because they don’t need a lot of love and attention doesn’t mean they don’t need some major tweaking throughout the year. The most important TLC they need?

Trimming and Pruning.

Sure, it’s not the most exciting topic in the entire world of landscaping, but it’s definitely vital to the health of your palms – and the safety of your landscape!

Want to learn more about why you absolutely must prune your palm trees? Check out this post – it’s full of our decades of experience with palm trees.

Pruning your palm trees is a necessary part of tropical tree care here in Florida. By cutting off old, damaged parts, your tree has more room to sprout new, healthy leaves and is better able to focus its energy on new growth instead of feeding on the old leaves that have finished developing. Also, old dry leaves are quite flammable, so removing them will help reduce the risk of fire. Here are some basic palm tree pruning guidelines so you can do it all safely and easily yourself.

How do you prune a palm tree?

Unlike many other trees or shrubs, palm trees don’t need to be pruned as drastically to encourage new growth. In fact, if you overdo it with trimming, it could actually stunt growth and harm the plant. Never prune for aesthetic reasons or for reshaping – only trim if dead and damaged material is present. Take the less is more approach – do it seldom, but do it right and your palms will be happy. Early spring is the best time for pruning, and you should never do it more than once a year.

If you cut off the leaves, or “fronds,” make sure they’re almost completely brown. If there is a significant amount of green left in the leaves and stems, just leave them as they are until they turn completely brown. If you cut it too soon, you could permanently scar the trunk. When removing the frond, try to cut it as close to the trunk as possible.

Wear heavy gardening gloves to protect your palms – you know, the ones on your hands!

In addition to cutting off the leaves, you can also snip off any old fruit stalks left on the plant, as well as seed pods and flowers that sap energy from your trees and slow their growth. Remember to always disinfect your pruning equipment with isopropyl alcohol or hydrogen peroxide before use to prevent fungus or disease from entering your tree. If there are loose petioles underneath the fronds, you should be able to gently pull them off by hand. If they’re still securely in place, just leave them alone.

Equipment for trimming palm trees

If you have smaller palm trees on your property, you should be able to use hand-held secateurs to snip off leaves and fruit stalks. However, if it is a larger, more mature plant, it is better to use a long pole saw. Luckily, damaged or dead fronds tend to hang down, making them a bit easier to reach than the healthy ones. Make sure the blades of your trimming tools are well sharpened because if the blades are dull you could end up with a pretty unsightly chop job.

Wear heavy gardening gloves to protect your palms – you know, the ones on your hands! Sawing can loosen a lot of particles and shards from the log, so it’s also a good idea to wear safety goggles to avoid getting any bits of debris in your eye. You may have to use a small ladder to reach the higher branches, but be careful and take great care to keep your balance. We recommend having a friend or family member hold your ladder, especially if the terrain is a bit uneven.

Well, if your palms are very large and you are unsure whether you can reach the blades with your pole saw when they are so high up, it may be in your best interest to hire a professional contractor to do the work for you Get them done, or rent an aerial work platform so you can reach those hard-to-reach areas without losing your balance.

How to properly dispose of clippings

The leaves and branches in your palms can be quite sharp, so continue to wear your gloves while you gather the cuttings to dispose of them. If the leaves show no signs of fungal growth, you can put them in your compost bin. Be sure to dispose of all fallen fruits and seeds as they can attract pests that damage trees and other plants. The fruits can also mess up your sidewalk and are quite difficult to remove.

Contact your local waste department to see if there are any specific regulations or recommendations regarding the disposal of palm tree waste. Fort Lauderdale has a weekly garbage collector who collects your clippings, as long as they are cut short enough to fit in the designated trash can with the lid closed. Check our local Property Information Reporter if you are unsure of your assigned pickup day.

Looking to add some new seedlings to your home landscape? We have a wide range at Living Color Garden Center and offer a delivery and planting service to make it as easy as possible. Trees are a great way to add value to your property and they help keep our air clean so they’re always a good investment!

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