Trim or remove? How to tell
Trim it when: dead or broken limbs hang over your roof, driveway, or walkway; branches cross and rub each other; the canopy is so thick no light gets through; limbs touch your house or roof.
Remove it when: the tree is dead or mostly dead; it leans — and the lean is getting worse; roots are lifting your driveway or foundation; mushrooms grow around the base (that means rot inside); a storm split the trunk.
Not sure? That's the most common answer. A pro reads a tree in five minutes on a free visit. Guessing wrong costs either a tree you loved or a roof you didn't want to replace.
Safety rules that matter
- Never cut near power lines yourself. If a tree touches lines or leans on them, call the power company first, then a pro. Electricity plus ladders plus chainsaws kills people every year.
- Keep clear. People, pets, and cars stay at least twice as far from the work as the tree is tall.
- Ropes and rigging aren't optional. Big limbs get lowered on rope — a falling limb doesn't care where your roof is.
- No climbing spikes on a tree you're keeping. Spikes wound the trunk. A real trimmer climbs on rope or works from a lift.
- Storm damage on your house? Stay out from under it and call. Don't cut your own way in.
What a fair quote includes
- Exactly what's being cut — which trees, which limbs, how much
- Cleanup in writing: brush chipped, wood hauled or stacked, yard raked — “we'll tidy up” is not a plan
- The stump: is grinding included, or separate? (Typical range: $195–$600)
- Proof of insurance — ask to see it before work starts
- One written price, approved before any work starts
- Start date and how long the job takes
Typical price ranges
National ranges, not quotes — every tree and yard is different.
- Small tree removal (under 30 ft): $150–$450
- Medium (30–60 ft): $285–$700
- Large (60–80 ft): $700–$1,200
- Very large (80 ft and up): $1,000–$2,000+
- Stump grinding: $195–$600
Most homeowners pay $200–$2,000 for a removal. Big oaks close to a house sit at the high end. Trimming and pruning prices depend on size and access — your free written estimate is the real number.
Charles County permit notes
The short version: for a normal homeowner taking down a tree in your own yard, Charles County does not require a tree-removal permit the way some Maryland counties do. But four situations have rules — check before you cut:
- Roadside trees. Maryland's Roadside Tree Law (on the books since 1914) protects any tree growing in a public road right-of-way. Trimming or removing one needs a Tree Care Permit from the Maryland DNR Forest Service — and any paid work must be done by a Maryland Licensed Tree Expert. Fines start at $2,000.
- Near tidal water. The Chesapeake Bay Critical Area restricts tree clearing near tidal water. If your lot is near the water, check first.
- Big clearing jobs. Clearing 40,000 square feet or more of forest triggers the county's forest conservation rules.
- HOAs. Many HOAs require approval before a tree comes down. Read your HOA's rules before you book the crew.
Not sure about your lot? Call Charles County Planning & Growth Management at (301) 645-0692 and ask. It's a free call.
Storm-prep checklist
- Walk your yard every spring and fall. New lean? Dead limbs? Bark falling off in sheets? Mushrooms at the base? Each one is a warning.
- Trim dead limbs over the roof, driveway, and walkways before storm season — not after.
- Know which trees lean toward the house. Check those first after every big storm.
- Save our number: (240) 213-4913 — 24/7 for tree emergencies.
Not sure about your tree?
Free on-site visit, written price, no pressure. Call (240) 213-4913 or request a free estimate. For deeper cost detail, see our tree service cost guide.
