Large tree removal in Northern Nevada

Big trees are what this company is known for. Old cottonwoods along a ditch, a pine that towers over the roof, an elm that has outgrown a small lot: these jobs need planning, the right machines and a crew that has done it before.

At a glance

• Our own crane, 75-foot Altec boom truck and track loader
• An eight-man crew with two ISA Certified Arborists
• From a large cottonwood to a fruit tree
• Free estimate after an arborist has seen the tree
• Fully insured, Nevada Business License # 20131580674

What are the benefits of removing a large tree?

Nobody removes a mature tree lightly. When it is the right call, the reasons usually fall into three groups.

• Safety. An old, overgrown tree can carry weak and dead branches that are susceptible to storm damage. Falling branches can damage the house and are a danger to people nearby.
• Overgrown roots. Roots can cause structural damage to houses, pipes and even septic tanks, and the repairs are expensive.
• Time and money. A large tree with dead and sick branches can cost more to keep than to remove. Taking it out can save both in the end.

How do you know a big tree has a problem?

Some signs are easier to spot than others. Dead tops, fallen limbs and a fresh lean are obvious. Interior decay, cracks in the trunk, disease and insect infestation are not, and those are the things our arborists are trained to find.

The moment you notice decay is the moment to call an arborist. The recommendation may be removal. It may also be dead wooding, weight reduction or cabling and bracing if the tree can be kept. Either way you get it in a detailed estimate. Our guide to warning signs before a tree fails lists what to look for from the ground.

How is a large tree taken down in a small yard?

In pieces, from the top. Traditional rigging lowers each section on ropes past the roof and the fence. It works, but it is slow, and it can mean heavy machinery crossing the yard.

Where the site allows it, we use our crane. The crane holds each section while the climber cuts it, then lifts it up and over the house to a drop zone. That greatly reduces the time on site and the impact on the surroundings. One customer described a pine about 50 feet taller than the house: "a crane arrived and they separated the tree in several pieces and air lifted it up over the house". (Richard V., Google review)

The full process is on our crane-assisted tree removal page, and the comparison of methods is in crane vs climbing vs bucket truck.

Where are the big trees in our service area?

Large trees follow old houses and water. Census figures show about 62% of homes in Old Southwest Reno's ZIP 89509 were built before 1980, about 49% in Carson City and about 76% in Virginia City. Trees planted with those houses are now 45 years old or more.

On the valley floors that often means cottonwoods, elms and silver maples planted along ditches and lot lines. On the Tahoe side it means tall native conifers close to cabins. The species pages in our tree guide cover how each one tends to fail.

Large trees at Lake Tahoe

In the Tahoe Basin, removing a live tree over 14 inches in diameter at breast height needs a permit from the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency. On a lakeshore lot the limit is 6 inches for trees between the house and the lake. A dead tree that could fall on a house does not need a permit. Most large removals at the lake fall under these rules, so raise it when you call. See the 14-inch rule and how to measure.

Our main website also has a page on this service: Large tree removal in Reno (main site page).