Tree cutting in Birmingham, AL: Hiring an Arborist

Choose an assessment, pruning or removal

Describe the problem you want to solve: a limb over the roof, storm damage, clearance for a project or uncertainty about keeping a tree. If preservation matters to you, request an assessment and pruning options before authorizing removal. Have the assessor explain the observations behind the recommendation and whether you need a written report.

Walk the property with each bidder and identify the same trees using photographs or a sketch. For pruning, record which limbs the crew will remove and the purpose of each cut. For removal, settle whether the crew will take away the trunk and brush, grind the stump or leave wood for your use. Require a written change before approving additional work.

Verify the business and the people doing the work

Alabama’s Department of Agriculture and Industries issues Horticulture Professional Services Licenses to businesses offering Tree Surgery and requires a certified operator for that category. Request the company’s current document and inspect the category. A claim that the business is licensed gives you less information than the license itself. [1]

The department requires annual renewal, with the license period beginning October 1 and expiring September 30. Check the dates when arranging work after that renewal boundary. For questions about the horticulture license, the department lists Lisa Kervin at 334-240-7269. [1]

Request liability insurance documentation and workers’ compensation information applicable to the crew. Identify the supervisor, the person assessing the tree and any subcontractors. Verify claimed arborist credentials with their issuer, and have the company explain who will handle damage concerns or changes to the agreed scope.

For work around or adjacent to power lines and electrical equipment, Alabama Power says only line clearance qualified personnel should perform the work. Request a utility evaluation and clarify the crew’s qualifications before scheduling cutting. [2]

Compare prices for the same finished job

Obtain site-specific written quotes with the same tree list and cleanup requirements. Give bidders the gate width, access route and locations of fences, patios and nearby structures. Have each contractor identify the equipment it proposes to use, where it will stand and how the crew will protect surfaces along the route.

List stump work as a separate item. Specify grinding depth, removal of grindings, soil replacement and final surface work. Explain how you intend to use the area afterward. For hauling, record which logs, brush and chips the crew will remove, the disposal destination and any charges outside the quoted total.

Agree on an arrival window, expected completion window and weather rescheduling policy. Discuss equipment access when the ground is wet and who will secure the site if the crew interrupts work. Put payment milestones in writing and inspect the agreed work with the supervisor before accepting completion.

Separate utility response from remaining cleanup

Stay away from a fallen tree touching a power line and contact Alabama Power. The utility warns that trees and limbs can conduct electricity and that downed lines may remain energized. Do not touch a downed line or drive over it. Keep family members and pets away from the area. [2]

Alabama Power distinguishes planned maintenance from emergency restoration. During planned maintenance in maintained or landscaped settings, it disposes of small limbs and brush but may leave larger cut wood. After emergency cutting to restore damaged facilities, the property owner handles debris disposal. Clarify what remains before agreeing to a contractor’s cleanup scope. [2]

New Georgia Landfill published carrier fees

Choose your first step

Your hiring checklist

1. Photograph each tree from a safe location and describe your goal.
2. Clarify ownership and whether you need city or utility involvement.
3. Inspect the current Tree Surgery license and request insurance documentation.
4. Give bidders the same tree list, pruning goals and access information.
5. Specify stump depth, grindings removal, hauling and surface finishing.
6. Confirm the disposal destination and any separate charges.
7. Agree on equipment placement, weather rescheduling and payment milestones.
8. Inspect the agreed work with the supervisor before accepting completion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which license should a tree surgery business show?

Request a current Alabama Horticulture Professional Services License covering Tree Surgery. The state issues this business license to firms offering that category and requires a corresponding certified operator. Inspect the category and renewal dates on the document. [1]

How do I clarify permission to remove a tree?

Have the contractor identify any required authorization in the written scope. If ownership, a public right-of-way or another restriction could affect the work, request address-specific guidance from the city before authorizing cutting. Use Birmingham 311 to report public-tree maintenance or visibility concerns. [3]

Will Alabama Power take away storm debris?

Alabama Power says the property owner handles disposal of wood, limbs and debris from emergency operations that restore damaged facilities. Clarify what the utility will leave, then obtain a quote for the remaining hauling and disposal. [2]

Do the published landfill fees determine my tree cleanup price?

No. The city notice lists the charted fees for municipal solid waste and construction and demolition debris carriers at New Georgia Landfill. Confirm the fee applicable to bulk brush with the facility. Have the contractor identify hauling, disposal and other cleanup charges in your quote. [4]