10 best tree removal companies in Stockton, California

While healthy trees elevate your home's curb appeal and give your yard refreshing shade, unhealthy trees present potential hazards to your property. If a tree is diseased, decaying or threatening your home's architecture, you may need to remove it. Tree removal is also important for mitigating fire risk, as dead trees are more flammable than live ones. To ensure your hazardous tree gets removed safely, hire licensed professionals with the right equipment and experience.

It's essential to remove diseased trees, trees with high fall risk and trees that are damaging your foundation. However, undertaking this task yourself increases the potential for injury and damage to your home.

When you hire a reputable tree removal company in Stockton, you'll have a skilled team to safely remove trees with specialized cutting techniques and equipment in accordance with local requirements.

Find the best local tree removal companies for you in Stockton

Look for tree removal companies in Stockton with at least 3.5 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews and a good rating on Better Business Bureau (BBB). Use the filters below to help you find the right company for your needs.

How do you know a tree needs to be removed?

Consider removing a tree if you observe severe damage or decay, or if its roots or offshoots are growing too close to your house. The number of decayed trees in Stockton is below average compared to other American cities. get in touch with a tree removal specialist if you notice any of the following signs:

The tree has damage from heavy rain or thunderstorms. The tree is dropping far more needles, branches, seeds, sap or leaves than usual. The tree is severely burned or visibly dead. The tree's trunk or branches are cracked and won't heal. The tree or its offshoots are dangerously close to your home or another structure on your property. The tree has mold, diseases or pests weakening its structure. The tree's roots are making your home's foundation crack or lift.

Leaning trees and trees with raised dirt surrounding their trunk bases are at higher risk of falling. Contact a tree removal expert as soon as possible to evaluate the extent of the damage and take down the tree if necessary.

What is a hazard tree?

When a tree has irreparable structural defects that put it at significant risk of falling, it becomes a hazard tree, sometimes called a danger tree. Falling trees can cause significant property damage and gravely hurt people and pets. Signs of structural defects include dead branches, large cracks, loose bark, rotten wood and hollow cavities near the tree base. If you have a hazard tree on your property, get it removed as soon as you can.

What other tree services might you need?

Tree removal companies offer a variety of services. In addition to removing trees, many companies offer the following:

• Stump removal: After the team finishes removing your tree, only the stump will be left. You can choose to grind down the stump so it will more easily decompose. A contractor can also completely remove the stump in some cases. While this is more expensive than grinding, it guarantees the tree won't grow back.
• Wood chipping: Tree removal specialists can use wood chippers to shred tree trunks and branches. You can use the chips to improve plant growth.
• Debris removal: Debris like leaves, logs and branches is often left behind after tree removal. Some companies can use dump trucks or flatbeds to haul debris away.
• Landscaping services: Some tree removal providers also offer landscaping services. These services might include leveling and repurposing the area where the tree stump was or planting a new tree.

How to choose the best tree removal service in Stockton

Find the right tree removal company for your project based on these factors.

Ask whether the company has a licensed arborist on staff

A tree removal company's staff arborist is the go-to expert to get your tree care questions answered. They'll tap into their extensive scientific training to examine your tree's health and provide the necessary treatments, including restoration or removal if the tree poses a falling hazard. Arborists are also a valuable resource for advice on pruning, moving and planting trees. California does not require arborists to be licensed, so we recommend looking for an arborist certified by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). Arborists must have at least three years of experience and pass an exam to obtain the certification. ISA-certified arborists have the skills, experience and knowledge to remove your tree.

Make sure the company is licensed and insured

When hiring a tree removal company, make sure it has comprehensive insurance, including general liability, workers compensation and business liability. This coverage safeguards you, your property and the company's employees if an accident occurs during the job. In California, a tree removal professional must have a Tree Removal Contractor license through the Contractors State License Board. Ask potential tree removal service providers about their licensing before hiring them.

Request a tree risk assessment

To determine if removing a tree is the best choice, have a professional tree risk assessment (TRA). During the TRA, an arborist will evaluate a tree's likelihood of falling and the damage that could result. First, they'll visually evaluate the tree from a distance, looking for obvious damage signs. Next, they'll inspect the crown, roots and trunk by circumnavigating the tree. Some arborists use specific tools to examine the tree's internal structure.

Get a free estimate

Many tree removal companies offer free estimates and consultations. Get estimates from more than one company to compare prices and recommendations.

Read reviews from homeowners

Ask those closest to you for tree removal company recommendations. While referrals from trusted sources can be insightful, take time to read online reviews on Yelp, BBB and Google Reviews before making your choice.

Our methodology for selecting tree removal companies

The Homefront Local team employs a proprietary scoring algorithm that evaluates companies based on key factors you value, such as average customer review ratings and trustworthiness indicators. Our method for determining trust involves a comparative analysis of the number of reviews a company receives compared to its local competitors. This leads to companies that have earned more trust from your local community being awarded a higher score.