Trees are worth saving whenever we can, but sometimes a tree has to come down. When it is dead, dying, structurally unsound or simply in the wrong place, Bob Ray Co., Inc. removes it safely, protects everything around it and cleans up when we are done. We have been removing trees for homeowners, businesses and municipalities in Louisville and Kentuckiana since 1960.
Need a tree taken down? Call 502-425-7654 or get a free estimate. Tree on a house or power line? Go to our emergency tree service page.
Save It or Remove It? An Arborist Decides First
Not every troubled tree needs to go. An ISA Certified Arborist inspects the tree and gives you an honest recommendation. Sometimes pruning, cabling or bracing or a plant health care treatment can keep it standing safely. When the risk is too high, or treatment will not work, removal is the responsible choice.
Signs of a Troubled Tree
- Limbs without leaves in season
- Thinning branches and canopy, or dieback from the top
- Peeling or missing bark on the trunk
- Mushrooms, conks or other fungi growing at the base of the trunk
- Cracks or splits in the trunk or at major limb unions
- Cavities or hollow areas in the trunk
- A new or increasing lean, or soil heaving at the base
- Heavy storm damage, like a broken top or torn-out limbs
- Ash trees declining from emerald ash borer
- Roots intruding into driveways, septic systems or water lines
- Any of these signs on a tree close to a home, business, play area or power lines
Spot one of these? Have it looked at before the next storm. Learn more about decay in our post on Ganoderma root rot.
Common Reasons Trees Are Removed
- Dead or dying trees that become brittle and unpredictable
- Structural defects like splits, decay and weak unions that cannot be supported
- Storm damage beyond what pruning can fix
- Pest and disease loss, especially ash trees killed by emerald ash borer
- Damage to structures, foundations, driveways or utility lines
- Construction and site work where a tree is in the way
Our Tree Removal Process
- Assessment and free estimate: we look at the tree, what is around it and how to take it down safely
- Planning: we choose the method and equipment and acquire any local or state permits
- Site protection: timber mats protect lawns and driveways from heavy equipment, and traffic control is set up near roads
- Limbing: climbers or bucket trucks remove limbs from the top down
- Sectional dismantling: in tight spaces, the trunk is cut and lowered in controlled pieces with rigging instead of being felled
- Crane removal when needed: for large trees over homes or hard-to-reach spots, a crane lifts sections up and away
- Cleanup: brush is chipped, wood is hauled off and the area is raked clean
Safety Comes First
Tree removal is dangerous work. Our crews follow OSHA-compliant safety practices and TCIA best practices on every job. We use cranes, bucket trucks, chippers and other equipment to keep the work controlled, and we are fully insured. Ask, and we will provide proof of insurance.
Stump Grinding After Removal
Removing a tree leaves the stump. Stump grinding is a separate service you can add to your removal. We grind the stump below grade so the area can be mowed or reused. See stump grinding.
Debris Removal and Yard Restoration
- Debris removal: logs, brush and chips hauled away
- Yard restoration: ruts filled and disturbed areas smoothed
- Seed and straw: bare spots re-seeded so the lawn comes back
Emergency and Storm Tree Removal
When a storm drops a tree on your home, car or driveway, call 502-425-7654. We make the site safe first, then remove the tree and clean up. Visit our emergency tree service page. Never try to cut a tree that is touching a power line; call the utility.
Residential, Commercial and Municipal Tree Removal
We remove single backyard trees, trees for property managers and businesses, and roadside and park trees for municipalities, including the permits and traffic control that come with them. For larger brush or lot clearing, see our land clearing and forestry mowing services.
Why Choose Bob Ray Co. for Tree Removal?
- Serving Louisville and Kentuckiana since 1960
- ISA Certified Arborists to tell you whether a tree can be saved
- Accredited by the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA), with a TCIA Certified Treecare Safety Professional
- OSHA-compliant crews with cranes, bucket trucks and chippers
- Fully insured, with an A+ rating from the BBB
- Stump grinding, debris removal and yard restoration from one company
Tree Removal FAQs
How much does tree removal cost? It depends on the tree’s size, condition, location and access, and on whether a crane, permits or stump grinding are needed. Every estimate is free.
Do you grind the stump too? Stump grinding is a separate service you can add. Mention it when you request your estimate.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree? Trees in a public right-of-way or in some jurisdictions may need one. We will tell you and take care of the permit if one is required.
Can you remove a tree that is close to my house? Yes. We use rigging, sectional dismantling and cranes to lower pieces in a controlled way when there is no room to fell a tree.
Will my lawn be damaged? We use timber mats to protect lawns and driveways, and we restore disturbed areas with yard restoration and seed and straw.
Where do you remove trees? Louisville and Jefferson County, including St. Matthews, Jeffersontown, Middletown, Prospect, Lyndon, Anchorage and Fern Creek, plus nearby Oldham, Shelby and Bullitt counties and Southern Indiana.
Do Not Wait on a Hazardous Tree
A failing tree only gets more dangerous, and harder to remove, after a storm. Let a Bob Ray Co. arborist take a look. Call 502-425-7654 or get a free estimate.