Some trees just need to go. Maybe it’s a dead laurel oak hanging over the bedroom, a pine that leans a little more after every storm, or roots that keep lifting the driveway. Darrell’s Lawn & Tree Services has been taking down trees across Tampa since 2010, and our crews have removed more than 2,000 of them. We’re licensed and insured, we answer the phone 24/7, and every job starts with a free estimate.
Tree Removal in Tampa, FL: When It’s Time
Not every sick-looking tree has to come down. A good trim can fix a lot. But these signs usually mean removal is the safer call:
- Dead or bare limbs high in the canopy, especially on the side facing your roof.
- A new or growing lean, or cracked soil and lifted roots on one side of the trunk.
- Hollow spots, fungus or soft wood near the base.
- Deep splits where two main trunks meet.
- Roots damaging slabs, pool decks, sidewalks or sewer lines.
- Storm damage that has torn away a big part of the crown.
- Branches touching power lines or growing into the house.
If you’re seeing two or three of these on the same tree, give us a call. We’ll come look and give you a straight answer.
How We Take a Tree Down
Big trees in Tampa yards rarely have room to fall. There’s a house on one side, a fence on the other and a car in the driveway. So we don’t fell most trees in one piece. We take them apart from the top down.
Our bucket lift and tracked spider lift put a climber right next to the limbs. The spider lift is narrow and light on its tracks, so it can slip through a side gate and work in a backyard without tearing up the lawn. Limbs are cut and lowered in controlled sections. Brush goes straight into the chipper truck. A skid steer moves the heavy logs to our dump trucks. When the trunk is down, the stump grinder can take the stump below grade.
Every job follows the same four steps: you request an estimate, we do an on-site assessment, we complete the work, and we do a final walkthrough with you.
Residential Tree Removal
Most of our calls come from homeowners. Common jobs include:
- Oaks and pines too close to the house or pool cage
- Dead palms and overgrown queen palms
- Trees whose roots are cracking driveways or walkways
- Clearing a spot for a pool, shed, addition or new patio
We protect what’s around the tree. We rake and blow the yard when we’re done. You shouldn’t have to spend your weekend picking up after us.
Commercial Tree Removal for HOAs and Property Managers
We also work for HOAs, property managers, apartment communities, retail centers, churches and builders. On commercial sites, the tree is often next to a parking lot, a common area or a building entrance. That means planning around traffic, tenants and business hours.
We can schedule work early in the day, coordinate with your on-site manager, and remove several trees in one visit so you’re not paying for repeat trips. For HOA common areas, we’re happy to walk the property with a board member and talk through which trees are a hazard and which only need trimming.
Tampa Tree Permits and Local Rules
Before any tree comes down, it’s worth knowing the rules. Inside city limits, the City of Tampa requires a permit to remove trees 5 inches or more in diameter at breast height, not counting invasive species. The same page says grand trees, 32 inches or larger, need special circumstances for removal, and a healthy grand tree may go through a public process first. That matters in older neighborhoods with big live oaks.
Outside the city, Hillsborough County says a permit may be needed for properties in unincorporated areas. It also notes that Plant City, Tampa and Temple Terrace handle their own tree permits. If you’re not sure which applies to your address, bring it up during your on-site assessment.
Serving Tampa Neighborhoods and Beyond
We’re based on North Whittier Street in East Tampa, and our trucks are out all over the county. We’ve taken down oaks along the brick streets of Seminole Heights and Hyde Park, near Bayshore Boulevard. We work the big lots in Carrollwood and the shady streets of Temple Terrace near the Hillsborough River. Up north, we’re regulars in Hunters Green and New Tampa off Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.
We also travel into Pasco County for Wesley Chapel, Land O’ Lakes and Zephyrhills, and into Hernando County for Spring Hill.
Storm Season Tree Removal in Hillsborough County
The NOAA National Hurricane Center lists the Atlantic hurricane season as June 1 to November 30. Spring is a smart time to deal with dead or weak trees before the wind picks up. If a storm has already done the damage, we’re available 24/7 to cut up fallen trees and clear driveways and roofs.
Get a Free Tree Removal Estimate
Have a tree that’s worrying you? Request a free estimate online or call 813-680-3844 any time, day or night. We’ll come out, look at the tree and tell you what it needs, even if that’s just a trim.
Tree Removal FAQs
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Tampa?
Often, yes. The City of Tampa requires a permit to remove any tree 5 inches or more in diameter at breast height, except invasive species. Grand trees, 32 inches or larger, need special circumstances before they can come down. In unincorporated Hillsborough County, the county may require its own permit. Ask us about it during your on-site assessment.
Can you remove a tree that is leaning over my house?
Yes. Trees over roofs, pools and fences are a big part of what we do. Our crews use bucket lifts and a tracked spider lift to reach the canopy and take the tree down in small pieces instead of dropping it whole.
Do you handle emergency tree removal after a storm?
Yes. We are available 24 hours a day, Monday through Sunday. If a tree or large limb has fallen on a home, car or driveway, call 813-680-3844 and tell us what happened.
What happens to the stump after the tree is gone?
We can grind the stump with our stump grinder so the spot can be leveled, sodded or replanted. Just let us know during the estimate if you want the stump handled too.
Do you haul away the wood and debris?
Yes. Branches go through our chipper truck, and logs and heavy wood are loaded into our dump trucks. We finish with a final walkthrough so you can check the yard before we leave.
Is Darrell’s Lawn & Tree Services licensed and insured?
Yes. We are licensed and insured, and we have been working in Tampa since 2010. Estimates are free.
