--- title: Tree Service Questions and Answers | Battle Born url: https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/ business: Battle Born Tree Service address: 6301 US Highway 50 East, Carson City, NV 89701 phone: 775.232.8243 hours: Office Monday-Friday 8:30 am-5:00 pm; phones answered seven days a week; 24-hour emergency service credentials: ISA Certified Arborist WE-11728A on staff; Nevada Business License # 20131580674; fully insured type: Tree service (removal, crane work, pruning, stump grinding, defensible space, snow removal, firewood) --- - [Home](https://battleborntreeservice.com/) - Questions and answers # Questions and answers Estimates are free, a certified arborist looks at every job first, and the phone is answered seven days a week at [775.232.8243](tel:775.232.8243). The questions below cover what people ask most, and each topic has its own page with more. ## Questions by topic [Estimates and scheduling](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/estimates-and-scheduling/) [Tree removal](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/tree-removal/) [Pruning and trimming](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/pruning-and-trimming/) [Stump grinding](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/stump-grinding/) [Crane work](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/crane-work/) [Emergencies and storms](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/emergencies-and-storms/) [Defensible space and fire](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/defensible-space-and-fire/) [Permits and rules](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/permits-and-rules/) [Lake Tahoe tree work](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/lake-tahoe/) [Snow removal](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/snow-removal/) [Firewood and wood chips](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/firewood-and-wood-chips/) [Commercial, HOA and property managers](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/commercial-hoa-property-managers/) [Tree health and problems](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/tree-health-and-problems/) ## Estimates and the office ### Is the estimate free? Yes. Our residential and commercial tree services always include a free estimate before any work is done. More on the [estimates and scheduling page](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/estimates-and-scheduling/). ### Who looks at my tree? A certified arborist assesses every job before work begins. Two ISA Certified Arborists are on staff, including ISA Certified Arborist WE-11728A. ### When can I reach the office? The phone line is staffed seven days a week. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. If you reach the message box, your request is returned within 8 hours. ### Can you give me a price over the phone? No. Every tree and every site is different, so the arborist sees the job in person first. You can attach photos to the [free estimate form](https://battleborntreeservice.com/free-estimate/) to help the office understand what you need. ### How do I pay? We accept cash and major credit cards. ## Tree removal and crane work ### How do I know if a tree needs to be removed? The most common reasons are signs of decay, storm damage, and roots or branches growing too close to the house. Some problems are hard to see from the ground, such as interior decay and cracks in the trunk. If you are not sure, have a certified arborist look at it. The estimate is free. ### What are the benefits of large tree removal? Safety, because old and overgrown trees can drop weak and dead branches in storms. Protection from overgrown roots that damage houses, pipes and septic tanks. And saving time and money when a tree has dead and sick branches. ### Why use a crane to remove a tree? A crane lifts each section up and away, so there is no complex rigging and no heavy machinery driven across the yard. It takes less time and has less impact on the surroundings. See [crane-assisted tree removal](https://battleborntreeservice.com/tree-services/crane-assisted-tree-removal/) and the [crane work questions](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/crane-work/). ### Can I remove a large tree myself? We do not recommend it. Large tree removal is risky and dangerous. Have it assessed by an arborist and done by a crew with the equipment for it. ### Do you haul everything away? Yes. Limbs are chipped and logs are loaded and hauled, so the property is left clear. Tell the arborist if you want anything handled differently and it will be written into the estimate. ## Pruning and tree care ### When is the best time to prune trees? Dead branches and safety hazards can be pruned at any time. Otherwise prune when the tree is dormant: late winter for most deciduous trees and early spring and summer for most conifers. The [pruning timing guide](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/best-time-to-prune-trees-northern-nevada/) has more. ### What is dead wooding? Removing dead, dying and broken branches from a tree that is otherwise worth keeping. It lowers the chance of limbs falling in wind or snow. See [dead wooding](https://battleborntreeservice.com/tree-services/dead-wooding/). ### Can a split or leaning tree be saved? Sometimes. Cabling and bracing can support a weak fork or a heavy limb. Whether it suits your tree is a judgment an arborist makes on site. See [cabling and bracing](https://battleborntreeservice.com/tree-services/cabling-bracing/). ### Do you top trees? Topping, cutting the top of a tree back to stubs, weakens the tree and is not accepted pruning practice under the ANSI A300 standard. When a tree is too tall for its place, the arborist will talk with you about crown reduction or removal instead. The guide on [topping](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/why-tree-topping-is-not-pruning/) explains why. ### Do you spray or treat sick trees? No. We do not apply pesticides or other treatments, and we do not plant trees. An arborist consultation can identify the problem and tell you whether pruning or removal is the right step. ## Stumps ### Is stump grinding included in a large tree removal? All estimates are tailored to each client and their needs. Ask for stump grinding and it will be written into the estimate. ### Why grind the stump? A stump left in the ground is a hazard. Grinding removes it while preventing new foliage from growing from the roots, and it lets you plant grass, shrubs or even new trees where the tree once stood. See [stump grinding](https://battleborntreeservice.com/tree-services/stump-grinding/). ### Will you grind a stump from a tree someone else removed? Yes. Stump grinding is a service on its own. Ask for a free estimate and tell the office how many stumps there are and how a machine can reach them. ## Emergencies and storms ### Do you offer emergency service? Yes, 24 hours a day. Call [775.232.8243](tel:775.232.8243). After severe storms our priority is existing clients, but we are equipped to help anyone in need. ### A tree fell on my house. What do I do first? If anyone is hurt, call 911. If a power line is down or touching the tree, stay well away and call NV Energy. Then call us at [775.232.8243](tel:775.232.8243). Stay out from under the tree and do not try to cut it yourself. The [first hour checklist](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/tree-fell-on-house/) covers the rest. ### What does emergency service include? Removing trees from houses, clearing roads and driveways, tree and limb removal, cabling and stabilization, a safety assessment, and collection and disposal of storm debris. ## Fire and land clearing ### What is defensible space? The area around a building where plants and other fuels are managed to slow a wildfire. The University of Nevada, Reno Extension's Living With Fire guide divides it into Zone 0 (0 to 5 feet from the house), Zone 1 (5 to 30 feet) and Zone 2 (30 to 100 feet). ### What does your fire mitigation work involve? We assess the fire risks around your house, remove the fuel and create a defensible zone. That means brush mowing, trimming, removing debris and checking the health of your trees, with a plan built by our certified arborists. See [defensible space and fire mitigation](https://battleborntreeservice.com/tree-services/defensible-space-fire-mitigation/). ### Can you clear a whole lot? Yes. We clear lots with hand crews, the brush mower and the masticating head on our Bobcat track loader. See [lot clearing](https://battleborntreeservice.com/tree-services/lot-clearing/). ## Permits and Lake Tahoe ### Do I need a permit to remove a tree? It depends on where the tree is. In Reno, no permit is needed on private property, but trees in the City right-of-way need a Tree Work Permit and a Certified Arborist. In Carson City, check with Carson City Public Works for trees in the right-of-way. At Lake Tahoe the rules are stricter. See the [permit guide](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/tree-removal-permits-northern-nevada/). ### What is the 14-inch rule at Lake Tahoe? In the Tahoe Basin, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency requires a permit to remove a live tree over 14 inches in diameter at breast height, measured 4.5 feet above the ground. On lakeshore lots it is 6 inches for trees between the house and the lake. A dead tree that could fall on a house needs no permit. The agency decides. ### Do you work on the California side of Lake Tahoe? We work in Nevada. At Lake Tahoe that means Incline Village, Crystal Bay, Glenbrook, Zephyr Cove, Stateline and Kingsbury. ## Snow and firewood ### Do you remove snow? Yes. We plow, haul, shovel and salt for homes and businesses in Reno, Carson City and the surrounding areas, around the clock in snow season. At Lake Tahoe, ask whether your address is on the snow route when you call. Ongoing customers can get a custom flat rate. ### Do you clear snow for commercial properties? Yes: corporate offices, shopping centers, medical facilities, retail stores and industrial properties, as well as homes. See [snow and ice removal](https://battleborntreeservice.com/tree-services/snow-removal/). ### Do you sell firewood? Yes. Call the office for availability and pricing. ### Do you sell wood chips? Yes, firewood and wood chips are both sold. Call the office at [775.232.8243](tel:775.232.8243) for availability and pricing. ## Credentials and service area ### Are you licensed and insured? Battle Born Tree Service holds Nevada Business License # 20131580674 and is fully insured. The Nevada State Contractors Board's consumer guide lists removal and trimming of trees and shrubs among the work that does not need a board license, so there is no board number for tree work. ### What does ISA Certified Arborist mean? It is a credential a person earns by passing the International Society of Arboriculture exam and keeps with continuing education. ISA Certified Arborist WE-11728A is on our staff. The guide to [ISA certification](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/what-is-an-isa-certified-arborist/) explains how to verify one. ### Which towns do you serve? 45 Nevada towns and neighborhoods from our Carson City yard, including Reno, Sparks, Minden, Gardnerville, Dayton, Virginia City, Fernley, Fallon, Hawthorne and the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe. See [service areas](https://battleborntreeservice.com/service-areas/). ### How long have you been in business? Since October 2013, when Michael Orlick opened the company in Carson City. ### Sources - [University of Nevada, Reno Extension: Living With Fire Defensible Space Guide (SP-23-07)](https://extension.unr.edu/publication.aspx?PubID=5522) (read October 1, 2026) - [Tahoe Regional Planning Agency: Trees and Defensible Space](https://www.trpa.gov/trees-and-defensible-space/) (read October 1, 2026) - [City of Reno Urban Forestry: Tree FAQs](https://www.reno.gov/parks-and-recreation/parks-facilities/urban-forestry/tree-faqs.php) (read October 17, 2026) - [Truckee Meadows Water Authority: Local Tree Ordinances](https://tmwa.com/article/local-tree-ordinances/) (read October 1, 2026) - [Nevada State Contractors Board: Choosing the Right Landscaper, a consumer's guide](https://www.nvcontractorsboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Choose_Landscaper_english.pdf) (read October 1, 2026) ### Talk to the office [775.232.8243](tel:775.232.8243) | Monday to Friday | 8:30 am - 5:00 pm | |---|---| | Saturday and Sunday | Office closed, phones answered | Phones answered seven days a week. 24-hour emergency service. 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