--- title: Removing a Tree in a Tight Backyard url: https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/tree-removal-tight-backyard/ 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/) - [The Field Guide](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/) - Removing a tree in a tight backyard # How is a tree removed from a tight backyard? A tree in a tight backyard is removed either by climbers who rig and lower pieces, or by a crane or boom truck set up on the street or driveway and reaching over the house. The arborist decides at the assessment, based on access, what is under the tree and how far the equipment can reach. Key takeaways - Narrow access does not rule out removal; it changes the method. - A crane or the 75-foot boom truck can reach over a house from the street in many cases; the assessment decides. - Climbers and rigging serve yards with no equipment access. - Protecting the lawn, patio and irrigation is part of the plan, so ask about it. - Call 811 before stump grinding or digging. The tree you want out is behind the house, with a narrow side gate, a fence and a patio. That is a common situation, and the answer is not always 'no.' Here is how crews plan it. ## What does an arborist check first in a tight yard? The first things an arborist looks at are the gate width, the fence, the grade and whether a truck can reach any side of the house. Equipment that can stand on the street or in the driveway can sometimes reach the back yard from the front. Battle Born lists the set-up location as the first step in a crane job, and says elevation, overhead obstacles and proximity to structures all play a part. ## Method options | Access situation | Likely method | Why | |---|---|---| | Street or driveway within reach, house between truck and tree | Crane or 75-foot boom truck | Reach over the house from the front | | No equipment access, tree is climbable | Climbing and rigging | The crew works from the tree | | Small equipment can pass through a gate | Track loader or skid steer for hauling | Smaller machines move material out | | Tree among wires | Utility conversation first | See NV Energy; separate plan | For the details of each method, see [crane vs climbing vs bucket truck](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/crane-vs-climbing-vs-bucket-truck/). ## Equipment that fits small spaces Battle Born owns a 2014 Bobcat T870 track loader, a skid steer and a backhoe, and a chipper. Tracked machines spread weight and can fit through narrower openings than a truck. They help haul material out and clean up after. Whether a machine fits depends on the actual gate and path, so measure and tell us. ## Protecting the lawn and yard Anything heavy on turf can leave tracks. Ask about ground protection, where pieces will be set down and how the crew will move material out. Irrigation lines and sprinkler heads near the surface are easy to damage, so show the crew where they are. Hidden lines deeper down are why 811 exists. The International Society of Arboriculture notes that accidental digging into underground utilities can cause costly repairs, injury or loss of life, so call 811 before any stump grinding or digging. ## What if overhead lines run through the back yard? Many back yards have overhead lines running along the back property line. If your tree is in or near a line, stay away and call NV Energy. NV Energy handles its own primary lines. The ISA explains that the higher lines on a pole carry more voltage and need more clearance. If a neighbor's fence or tree is involved, tell the crew early so the plan accounts for it. ## Before the estimate - Take photos of the tree, the gate and the path to the street - Measure the narrowest gate or opening - Note fences, patios, pools, sheds and sprinklers under or near the tree - Tell us about HOA rules or permit needs for your area - Ask what happens to the wood, chips and stump A certified arborist assesses every job first. Battle Born Tree Service has two ISA Certified Arborists on staff, including ISA Certified Arborist WE-11728A. See [large tree removal](https://battleborntreeservice.com/tree-services/large-tree-removal/) and ask for a free estimate. Our [wood and chips guide](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/what-happens-to-wood-and-chips/) covers cleanup. ### Sources - [International Society of Arboriculture, Trees Are Good: Avoiding Tree and Utility Conflicts](https://www.treesaregood.org/Portals/0/TreesAreGood_Avoid%20Utility%20Conflict_0621.pdf) (read October 17, 2026) - [International Society of Arboriculture, Trees Are Good: Why Hire an Arborist](https://www.treesaregood.org/Portals/0/TreesAreGood_Why%20Hire%20An%20Arborist_0321.pdf) (read October 17, 2026) - [University of Nevada, Reno Extension: Planting Trees in Northern Nevada Landscapes](https://extension.unr.edu/publication.aspx?PubID=2754) (read October 17, 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. [Free estimate](#quote) ### Keep reading - [Crane vs climbing vs bucket truck: which job needs which](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/crane-vs-climbing-vs-bucket-truck/) - [How crane-assisted tree removal works](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/how-crane-tree-removal-works/) - [Tree removal](https://battleborntreeservice.com/tree-services/tree-removal/) - [Backhoe and skid steer services](https://battleborntreeservice.com/tree-services/backhoe-skid-steer-services/) - [Our equipment](https://battleborntreeservice.com/equipment/) - [Call 811 before stump grinding](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/call-811-before-stump-grinding/) ### Terms on this page [Arborist](https://battleborntreeservice.com/glossary/arborist/) [Rigging](https://battleborntreeservice.com/glossary/rigging/) [The full glossary](https://battleborntreeservice.com/glossary/) ## More from the blog Pruning and care October 17, 2026 5 min read ### What should you do with your trees in October in Carson City and Reno? In October, finish watering while the ground is open, look over your trees for dead or hanging limbs, and clear leaves and needles away from the house. Save most live-wood pruning for the dormant seas Pruning and care October 17, 2026 6 min read ### Young trees in new subdivisions: the first ten years A young tree in a new subdivision needs very little pruning in its first two or three years, then steady structural pruning to build one strong central trunk and well-spaced branches. The ISA says tre Removal and equipment October 17, 2026 6 min read ### Where tree debris and green waste go in Reno and Carson City Green waste has a few legitimate homes in our area: the landfill or transfer station if the load is only wood and green waste, a fire district drop-off day or curbside chipping program if you qualify, [All posts](https://battleborntreeservice.com/blog/) ## Questions people ask Still have a question? Call [775.232.8243](tel:775.232.8243). Phones are answered seven days a week. ### Can you remove a tree if the truck cannot get to the back yard? Often yes. Climbers can work from the tree, and a crane or boom truck on the street may be able to reach over the house. The assessment decides. ### Will equipment damage my lawn? Heavy equipment can mark turf. Ask about ground protection and the path the crew will use before the job. ### Do I need to call 811? Call 811 before stump grinding or any digging below grade. ### What if there are wires behind my house? Stay away from any tree touching or near a line and call NV Energy. Tell us when you ask for the estimate.