Tree Removal in Abilene, TX

Dead, leaning or split trees near a house are the usual removals. National guides put most removals at about $200 to $2,000.

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Tree removal in Abilene usually means taking down a dead, leaning or split tree before it falls on a house, fence or line. National guides put most removals at about $200 to $2,000.

Abilene Tree Pros is a referral website, not a tree service company. We send your request to one independent local tree service company. You never pay us; companies we refer you to may pay us for referrals. If a tree needs to come down, send a request with the form.

Tree touching a power line? Don't cut it and don't let anyone climb it. Call AEP Texas at 877-373-4858.

Signs a tree should come down

Not every sick-looking tree needs removal. These signs usually mean it does, or at least that it needs a close look soon:

Dead or mostly dead canopy. No leaves in the growing season, or bark falling away in sheets.
A new lean, especially with cracked or heaving soil on the side away from the lean. A tree that has leaned for decades is different from one that started leaning after a storm.
Splits and cracks in the trunk or where two big stems meet in a tight V.
Rot or hollows at the base, mushrooms growing on the trunk or roots, or soft wood you can push a screwdriver into.
Storm damage that took out half the crown or left large broken limbs hanging.
Roots or trunk against the house, foundation, driveway or sewer line, where trimming won't fix the problem.

A note on live oaks. The Texas A&M Forest Service says evergreen oaks shed old leaves in spring while they grow new ones, which can make a healthy live oak look thin. Oak wilt is different: it shows up as yellow to brown veins in the leaves and affects every leaf. If you're not sure, ask whoever looks at the tree to explain what they see.

Why removals around Abilene can be tricky

Wind. The July 5, 2026 windstorm brought 80 mph winds to the Abilene area. AEP Texas said numerous line sections were broken and downed "due to trees blowing into the lines," and more than 60 poles had to be replaced. A dead or split tree that made it through one storm is still a candidate for the next one.

Power lines. AEP Texas trims or removes trees that grow too close to its pole-to-pole lines. Trees threatening the service drop, the line from the pole to your house, are the property owner's responsibility. AEP asks you to call 877-373-4858 at least two business days before that work so it can send a crew to temporarily disconnect the line. Tell the tree company about any line near the tree before it prices the job.

Back yards. A tree behind a fence, next to a shed or over an alley often can't be dropped in one piece. It has to be taken down in sections, which takes more time and more gear.

Oak wilt timing. If you're removing a dead oak but keeping nearby oaks, the Texas A&M Forest Service's spring rule still matters: avoid wounding oaks from February through June, and paint fresh oak wounds year-round.

How a tree removal usually goes

A typical removal has five steps:

Assessment. The company looks at the tree's height, lean, condition, what's under it and how equipment can reach it. This is when you should mention lines, septic tanks, sprinkler heads and anything fragile nearby.
Quote. You get a price that should spell out cleanup, brush hauling, what happens to logs, and whether the stump is ground.
Rigging and cutting. In an open yard, a tree may be felled in one piece. Near a house it's usually taken down in sections, with limbs lowered by rope. HomeAdvisor says trees over 80 feet may need a crane, which it puts at about $250 to $600 per day.
Cleanup. Brush is chipped or hauled, and logs are left or removed as agreed. The City of Abilene says residential curbs can't be used to dispose of a hired tree trimmer's brush, so hauling should be part of the plan.
Stump. Grinding is usually a separate line item. See stump grinding.

What tree removal costs in Abilene

HomeAdvisor, updated in June 2026, puts most removals at about $200 to $2,000, with an average around $750. Its prices by height:

Tree height	Typical national range (HomeAdvisor)
Up to 30 feet	About $150 to $450
30 to 60 feet	About $450 to $1,200
60 to 80 feet	About $800 to $1,500
Over 80 feet	About $1,000 to $2,000

HomeAdvisor adds that large trees near power lines can top $10,000, that a tree already on the ground runs about $75 to $150 plus hauling, and that companies may charge $50 to $200 for travel outside their usual area. Pricing and scheduling come from the company. The tree removal cost guide covers every line item.

Questions to ask before you approve a removal

Is the price all-in: cutting, cleanup, brush hauling and log removal?
Is stump grinding included? If so, how deep, and do you haul the grindings?
How will you take the tree down, and what could it hit?
Can I see proof of liability insurance in the company's name?
Who assessed the tree? If they say an ISA Certified Arborist did, ask for the name and check it in ISA's directory at TreesAreGood.org.
Will heavy equipment cross the lawn, and who pays if a sprinkler line or the driveway is damaged?

If the tree is on the property line

The Texas State Law Library says Texas has no specific statute on boundary trees, but court cases generally treat the location of the trunk as deciding who owns the tree. A neighbor may trim branches back to the property line, but can be sued for injuring the tree or other property in the process. If a shared tree needs to come down, talk to your neighbor before anyone cuts. The FAQ covers who pays when a neighbor's tree falls.

Related services

A removal often comes with other work. If the tree came down in a storm, see storm damage tree removal. If it's a mesquite, read mesquite tree removal first, because cutting one off at the ground usually isn't the end of it. If the tree only needs thinning or limbs taken off the roof, tree trimming may be enough.

The form takes removal requests from Abilene and nearby towns, including Clyde and Tye.

Common questions

How much does it cost to take down a 30-foot tree?

HomeAdvisor puts trees up to 30 feet at about $150 to $450 and trees from 30 to 60 feet at about $450 to $1,200. A 30-foot tree over a roof or near a line costs more than the same tree in an open yard, and stump grinding is usually extra.

Do I need a permit to remove a tree on my own lot in Abilene?

We didn't find a City of Abilene permit requirement for removing a tree on a private residential lot. Trees in the public right-of-way, in easements or under HOA rules can be different, and state law limits how Texas cities regulate tree removal. If you're unsure, call the City of Abilene at 325-676-6200 or check your HOA covenants before work starts.

Can a dead tree wait until spring?

A small dead tree in an open spot may wait. A dead tree that could hit the house, a fence, a car or a power line shouldn't. Dead wood breaks more easily in wind, and the July 2026 windstorm showed how much damage falling trees and limbs do around Abilene.

What happens to the wood?

It depends on the quote. Some companies haul everything, some leave logs cut to length, and some charge extra for chipping or hauling. HomeAdvisor lists chipping at about $95 and debris hauling at about $70 when they aren't included. Ask before you sign.

Is it OK to remove an oak in the spring?

Removal is different from pruning, but nearby oaks still matter. The Texas A&M Forest Service says any fresh wound on an oak from February through June can let oak wilt in. If neighboring oaks could be wounded, or you're keeping oaks nearby, ask the company how it handles timing and wound paint.

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Last updated 2026-10-23