A tree comes down in a Phoenix monsoon for one of three reasons:
saturated soil let the roots go, the trunk was already split, or it was a palm
carrying too much weight up top. Which one it was changes the job.
Before anyone touches it
If the tree is on, near, or leaning towards a power line, stop.
Call APS or SRP. They attend downed lines free and fast, and no cleanup crew in
the Valley can legally start until they have released it. That includes us.
The same goes for a trunk still under tension — a tree held up by a fence
or another tree can move violently when cut. If it is creaking, leave it.
What it costs in the Valley
Tree removal across Phoenix generally runs
$300 to $2,200. Small desert shrubs sit at
the bottom of that; tall Washingtonia palms, protected natives and
storm-damaged trees sit at the top.
Two things move the number more than size does:
- Access. Front lawn beside the kerb versus a back yard
behind a locked gate is a bigger price difference than ten feet of trunk. - What it landed on. Flat on grass is straightforward. Across
a block wall, into a fence, or resting on a roof line is slow, careful work.
Timing matters too. Removal prices rise
20 to 50 percent in the first 48 hours after a
storm, because every crew in the Valley is booked at once. If nothing is
blocked or unsafe, waiting three days usually costs less for identical work.
The Phoenix trees that fail
Washingtonia palms
Top-heavy, shallow-rooted, and the most common monsoon casualty in the
Valley. A palm that has shifted rarely straightens up — it has usually torn
roots on one side and the next storm finishes it.
Mesquite
Fast-growing with weak branch attachments. Splits at the crotch rather than
uprooting, which leaves a hanging limb that has to come down carefully.
Ficus
Popular, shallow-rooted, and unhappy in saturated soil. Ficus tend to go over
whole rather than break.
Eucalyptus
Tall, brittle, and capable of dropping a very large limb with no warning in
still air, let alone a haboob.
What we do
- Cut the tree down to manageable sections and remove them
- Clear limbs off fences, walls, roof lines and driveways
- Take down trees leaning far enough to be next storm’s problem
- Cut the stump low and flush — grinding is separate, just ask
- Rake and sweep the area before we leave
Everything goes with us unless you want rounds kept for firewood, which we
are happy to stack.
Common questions
How much does it cost to remove a fallen tree in Phoenix?
Generally $300 to $2,200 depending on size, access and what it landed on. Prices rise 20 to 50 percent in the first 48 hours after a storm.
Who removes a tree that is on a power line?
APS or SRP. They attend downed lines free, and no cleanup crew can legally begin work until the line has been made safe.
Do you take the wood away?
Yes, everything goes with us. If you want rounds left for firewood we will stack them instead.
My palm is leaning after the storm. Is that urgent?
Usually yes. A palm that has shifted has torn roots on one side and rarely recovers. It tends to come down in the next storm, often onto whatever it is leaning towards.
Tree down and not near a power line? Text photos to 623-263-5172 with your suburb. We reply with a price and the soonest date we can be there. If you are working to an HOA deadline, say so and we will tell you straight away whether we can beat it.