Frequently Asked Questions

It depends on the tree's height, its condition, and above all access and what is underneath it. This Old House's Pittsburgh figures put tree removal at about $308 to $1,356, and Homeyou's October 2026 Pittsburgh guide puts trimming a medium tree at about $448 to $666. Hillside, crane and storm jobs can run well above that. We give you a written price after seeing the tree.

Not on your own if it is a street tree. The City of Pittsburgh owns trees in the right-of-way, and private work on them needs a tree work permit from the Forestry Division, with the work supervised by an ISA Certified Arborist. The city asks residents to call Forestry (or 311) first. We will tell you at the estimate if a tree looks like a city tree.

Duquesne Light serves the city and most of Allegheny County. Stay away from the tree and the wire and report it to the utility; its customer service line is 888-393-7000. Once the line is clear or de-energized, we can take down the rest of the tree and clean up.

If it is already dead or more than about a third of the crown is bare, usually yes, especially near a house, driveway or street. Penn State Extension notes that removal is the main option once trees are infested, and dead ash become brittle and riskier to take down the longer they stand. A healthy, valuable ash can sometimes be protected with insecticide treatments started before infestation.

Most deciduous trees prune well in late winter while dormant, when the branch structure is easy to see. Oaks should be pruned December through March, because Penn State Extension warns that beetles carrying oak wilt can reach a fresh cut within 15 to 20 minutes in warm weather. Dead, cracked or storm-damaged limbs should come off whenever you find them.

Only small amounts. The City of Pittsburgh's yard debris collections take branches tied in bundles no longer than five feet and under four inches thick, and brown paper bags up to 35 pounds. Logs and the volume from a removal are far beyond that, so we chip the brush and either haul the wood or leave it for you, as you prefer.

Get a written quote that lists each tree, the cleanup and whether the stump is included. Ask for a certificate of liability insurance and workers' compensation sent from the insurer, and look up the contractor's Pennsylvania home improvement registration on the Attorney General's site. For disease or safety calls, ask whether an ISA Certified Arborist will look at the tree; that credential can be checked on the ISA website.

This Old House's Pittsburgh figures run from about $308 to $1,356, with an average near $633. National guides put large trees over 80 feet at $1,160 to $2,000, and crane jobs often cost several thousand. A tree on a slope or over a roof costs more than the same tree on open lawn. We give you a written price after seeing it.

For a street tree in the city right-of-way, yes: the city owns it, and private work needs a Forestry Division tree work permit. For a tree on your own lot in the city, the Forestry pages we have reviewed do not describe a removal permit, but zoning rules can apply on steep slopes or in development projects. Suburban municipalities set their own rules, and we check them for your address.

Often, yes. Dead wood breaks unpredictably, so it usually means smaller pieces, more rigging and sometimes a lift or crane instead of a climber. A tree that is declining but still alive is usually easier to remove.

Yes. Limbs over another property are tied off and lowered on ropes. A crew may need to stand in the neighbor's yard, so it helps to let them know before the work day. Make sure the tree is on your side of the line before it comes down.

Only if you want it. The stump is a separate line on the quote, so you can decide. Many people have it ground the same day.

Homeyou's October 2026 Pittsburgh guide puts a medium tree at about $448 to $666, with small trees from about $75. Large trees with lots of dead wood can reach $1,000 or more. Your written estimate is the price.

We do not top trees. Topping leaves stubs that rot and sprouts that grow back fast and weakly attached, so the tree ends up taller, messier and more dangerous. Crown reduction, which shortens limbs back to a healthy side branch, is the better way to bring a tree down in size.

Because of oak wilt. Penn State Extension says beetles that carry the fungus are drawn to fresh cuts within minutes in warm weather, and the disease has no cure once a tree is infected. Pruning from December through March avoids that risk.

Every few years for most mature yard trees, more often for fast-growing species or trees over a house. Pittsburgh's street tree management plan recommended an eight-year routine pruning cycle for city trees, and young trees benefit from training every two to three years.

Not near the utility's lines. Duquesne Light manages trees near its lines, and you can reach its customer service at 888-393-7000. We can trim the rest of the tree once the line area is handled.

This Old House puts stump removal in Pittsburgh at about $68 to $497, averaging about $316. National guides run about $131 to $438 for a job, with additional stumps much cheaper once the machine is there. Your written estimate is the price.

Typically several inches below the soil line, which is enough for grass or new sod. If you plan to plant a new tree in the same spot or pour a patio, tell us and we can go deeper where the machine and the roots allow.

Yes. City of Pittsburgh Forestry keeps a list of street-tree stumps and removes them as crews are available. The city says requesting a new tree for that spot moves the stump up the list.

Usually. Smaller grinders fit through a standard gate. If the only way in is a staircase or over a wall, we will tell you at the estimate whether it can be done and how.

Most trees do not regrow once the stump is ground. Species that sucker from roots, like tree of heaven and black locust, can send up shoots, which can be cut or treated as they appear.

Duquesne Light, which serves the city and most of Allegheny County. Keep everyone away from the tree and the wire. Once the line is cleared or de-energized, we can remove the tree and clean up.

National guides put emergency removal at about $450 to $3,000, and This Old House cites around $1,627 for emergency service in Pittsburgh. A tree on a roof or under tension costs more than one lying in the yard. Your written estimate is the price.

It depends on your policy and on whether the tree hit a covered structure. Many policies cover removal when a tree damages the house or garage but limit coverage for trees that fall in open yard. Photograph everything and call your insurer early.

Yes. You can call any time to leave details and photos. After a large storm, jobs are lined up by danger, with trees on occupied houses and blocked exits first.

A fresh lean with cracked or lifted soil on the opposite side is a warning sign that the root plate has moved, especially on wet slopes. Keep people and cars out from under it and have it looked at soon. A tree that has leaned the same way for years is a different situation.

Because almost every piece has to be rigged and lowered instead of dropped, the crew moves slower on steep ground, and the wood often has to be carried or winched out by hand. A tree that would take a few hours on flat lawn can take a full day on a bank.

Removing a tree does not usually cause a slide on its own, especially if the stump and roots are left in place. Grading, drainage changes and clearing large areas are bigger concerns. If your slope has moved before or has cracks, ask a geotechnical engineer before major clearing.

Usually not. Stumps and roots help hold soil, and grinders need level footing. On a bank we normally cut the stump low and leave it.

Yes. The plan keeps pieces from landing on the wall and avoids pulling roots out of the soil behind it. If the wall is already bowing or cracked, mention it when you call.

For removing a tree from an existing yard, the city's Forestry pages do not describe a private-tree permit. Steep-slope and Hillside District zoning rules mostly concern grading and development, so check with the city's zoning office if your project includes those.

Possibly, if it is still mostly healthy. Penn State Extension says imidacloprid treatments in May or early June can protect ash and work best when started before infestation. Trees that are already heavily infested or have lost much of their crown are usually removed.

Dark stripes between the leaf veins, seen best from underneath looking up into the canopy. Later the leaves thicken, curl and dry, and the canopy thins. It has now been reported in every Pennsylvania county.

Have it looked at, and avoid pruning nearby oaks until winter. Oak wilt kills from the top down quickly and spreads through connected roots and beetles drawn to fresh cuts. Infected trees should be removed promptly and the wood kept on site or local.

Often, yes. Many fungi that fruit at the base or on the trunk are decaying wood inside. Some decay is minor, but conks on the root flare of a large tree near the house are worth a closer look.

It helps. Tree of heaven is an invasive tree and a favorite host of spotted lanternfly, which is established in Allegheny County. It also sprouts from roots after cutting, so plan on follow-up for the sprouts.