Tree Trimming FAQ — Charleston, SC

The price depends on the size of the tree, how close it is to your house or power lines, and how much work needs to be done. A small crape myrtle in the backyard is a quick job. A 50-foot live oak hanging over a roof in the Wagener Terrace neighborhood takes more time and more care. Call for a free estimate.

Late winter — January through early March — is usually the best window here. The trees are dormant, insects are less active, and you are getting ahead of the June-through-November hurricane season. That said, dead or hazardous branches should come off whenever you spot them, regardless of the time of year.

Look for branches that are dead, cracked, or hanging at an odd angle. Bark that looks sunken or discolored around the base of a limb is a bad sign. In Charleston, salt air off the harbor can weaken trees closer to the water over time, so those are worth checking more often.

Trimming usually does not require a permit, but removing a whole tree in the City of Charleston often does — especially on historic properties or near protected tree canopy zones downtown. If you are unsure whether your job crosses into removal, call the city's Urban Forestry Division before any work starts.

Trimming removes specific dead, weak, or overgrown branches at the right cut points so the tree stays healthy. Topping cuts the whole crown back to stubs — it looks dramatic, but it leaves big open wounds, causes fast weak regrowth, and shortens the life of the tree. We do not top trees, and you should be skeptical of any crew that recommends it.

Most residential trimming jobs in the Charleston area take a few hours. A single small tree might be done in under an hour. A large live oak with lots of deadwood over a house can take most of a day. We will give you a realistic time estimate when we come out and look at the tree.