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Tree removal in Saginaw and Saginaw County

Most removal requests we expect fall into three groups: dead or dying ash, trees damaged by storms, and healthy trees that are simply in the wrong place, like over a roof, into a foundation, or tangled in a service drop. Each one is priced and planned differently.

Dead ash: the most common case

Emerald ash borer has been killing Michigan ash since at least the late 1990s. It was first identified near Detroit in 2002. Ash that has been dead for a while is a specific hazard. Purdue University's extension and New Jersey's agriculture department describe how EAB-killed wood dries, cracks, and becomes brittle, with branches that can break with little or no force. Both advise that dead or dying infested ash should not be climbed. Expect a provider to talk about a bucket truck, a crane, or felling from the ground, and to price accordingly. The longer a dead ash stands, the fewer safe options there are.

Oaks: removal and oak wilt

If an oak needs to come out because it is dying, ask whether oak wilt could be the cause. The Michigan DNR notes that the disease moves through connected roots to neighboring oaks and travels on firewood cut from infected trees. It also says wood from a suspected oak wilt tree can be burned on site, chipped, or debarked before April 15 to slow spread, and that wood dried more than a year, or with all its bark loose, can no longer spread the disease. That affects whether you should keep the logs for firewood.

What drives removal cost

  • Height and spread. A 30-foot ornamental and an 80-foot silver maple are different jobs.
  • What it could hit. Houses, garages, fences, and especially overhead lines.
  • Access. Can a truck and chipper reach the back yard without crossing soft lawn? On Saginaw's poorly drained clay soils, spring and late fall access can be limited.
  • Cleanup. Chipping brush, hauling or cutting logs to length, and whether the stump is ground.

For reference only, HomeGuide's published national average for tree removal is $400 to $1,200, with small trees from about $200 and large or complex removals up to about $3,000. A written estimate from the provider is the only number that counts.

Trees near power lines

Consumers Energy, the electric utility for much of mid-Michigan, advises hiring a qualified contractor for trimming near the line to your house and calling the utility if a temporary disconnect is needed. Never cut a tree that is touching a power line yourself. Tell the provider about wires up front so they can plan.

Parkway trees in the City of Saginaw

The city's Streets Division inspects parkway trees between the curb and sidewalk and removes dead, diseased, or dangerous ones on city-owned streets. If the tree is in the right-of-way, call the city at 989-399-1311 first. Private work in the right-of-way needs a city right-of-way permit.