Tree services
Tree removal means taking a tree down safely, in sections if needed, and hauling away the wood and brush. Cape Cod homeowners call for it when a tree is dead, leaning, storm damaged, or crowding a house, driveway or septic system.
Taking down a tree is rarely one cut at the base. Most trees near a house come apart from the top down. Limbs are removed first, then the trunk is lowered in manageable pieces so nothing lands on a roof, fence, shed or leach field. Brush is chipped, logs are cut and loaded, and the ground is raked. If you want the stump gone too, grinding can be scheduled with the removal or afterward. You decide whether the wood leaves or stays for firewood.
Every job starts with a look at the tree and everything around it. The crew checks the lean, dead wood, decay at the base, nearby wires and the space available for lowering pieces. From there they choose the method that keeps people and property out of the drop zone. Ropes control each section on the way down. Newcomb's uses modern equipment sized to the site, and safety comes first on every cut. If a tree touches primary power lines, the utility has to deal with that part before work begins.
Cape Cod trees have their own problems. Pitch pines weakened by drought, southern pine beetle or black turpentine beetle can die quickly and turn brittle. Oaks stripped by spongy moth for several seasons often do not recover. Sandy soil gives roots less to hold, so a tall pine can lean after one soaked, windy night. Many lots are small summer-cottage parcels where a tree stands a few feet from the house, the neighbor's fence and the septic system all at once. That calls for careful, piece-by-piece work.
You get a written estimate first, at no charge. On the day, the crew arrives when they said they would, walks the site with you if you are home, and confirms what stays and what goes. You do not need to be there, which helps if the house is seasonal. Expect chipper and saw noise for part of the day. When the tree is down, the crew rakes and blows off lawns, walks and driveways. What remains is a stump cut low, unless grinding was part of the job.
Video
Watch a removal
A short look at our crew taking trees down from the bucket, on the ropes and from the ground.
How it works
From first call to clean yard
01
Free estimate
Call or email. Someone visits the property, looks at the tree and its surroundings, and gives you a written price with the scope spelled out.
02
Scheduling and prep
You pick a date. Move vehicles out of the work area if you can. Point out septic covers, irrigation heads and anything fragile before work starts.
03
Controlled takedown
The crew sets up a safe work zone, removes limbs, then lowers the trunk in sections. Brush goes through the chipper as the work moves along.
04
Cleanup and walkthrough
Logs are loaded or stacked, the site is raked and blown off, and the crew walks the yard with you or sends photos if you are away.
Pricing
What affects the price
Tree size and species
Taller, wider trees take more time and produce more wood to handle. A dense oak with heavy limbs is a bigger job than a pitch pine of similar height.
Access to the tree
A tree beside the driveway is simpler than one behind a cottage with a narrow side yard. When equipment cannot get close, more of the work is done by hand.
What sits underneath
Roofs, decks, fences, sheds, wires and septic components under the canopy mean smaller pieces and more rigging. Open ground around a tree lets the crew work faster.
Condition of the tree
Dead or decayed wood behaves unpredictably and cannot always be climbed safely. A brittle, long-dead pine often needs a slower, more cautious plan than a healthy tree.
Wood and stump options
Hauling every log off the property adds trucking and disposal. Leaving firewood on site reduces that. Stump grinding is quoted as its own line so you can choose.
Reviews
What customers say
Isaiah and his crew from Newcomb’s Tree Service of Cape Cod were outstanding. After the major storm this winter left me with significant tree damage, they stepped in and handled everything with true professionalism. They arrived right on time, worked efficiently, offered a great price, and left the property spotless.
Very professional staff, they came and gave us a free estimate. We contracted with them. One week later they returned to perform the work. After completing the work they cleaned the areas as if no work had been done. We couldn’t be happier with them.
They arrived on time and were extremely professional and efficient. They are so knowledgeable and went above and beyond for me, taking 3 very tall trees down easily and efficiently. Extremely reasonable rates. Local family business which I love.
Questions
Tree Removal FAQ
For most trees fully on your own lot, usually not. There are exceptions. Trees near wetlands, ponds, coastal banks or dunes may need Conservation Commission review. Public shade trees along the road fall under the town tree warden. Some properties sit in historic districts or on scenic roads with extra rules. Check with your town before work begins.
It depends on the tree and the site, so an honest number needs a visit. Height, trunk diameter, species, condition, access for equipment and what sits under the canopy all change the work involved. Hauling wood and grinding the stump are separate choices. Newcomb's gives free written estimates, so you know the price before anything is cut.
Yes. Trees a few feet from a house are common on Cape Cod's small lots. The tree is taken apart from the top, and each piece is lowered on ropes instead of dropped. The crew plans around the roof, wires, deck and septic system before the first cut. If primary power lines are involved, the utility handles those first.
Removal can be done any month. Late fall through early spring is often easier because the ground is firmer, leaves are off hardwoods and yards are quiet. Seasonal owners often schedule work for the off-season so it is finished before they return. A dead or hazardous tree should not wait for a convenient season.
If it can reach a house, driveway, play area or road, remove it. Dead pitch pines dry out and become brittle fast, and they get harder and riskier to take down the longer they stand. A dead pine deep in the woods, well away from anything it could hit, can often be left for wildlife.
Related services
Ready for a free estimate?
Call or send a photo of the tree. You get the price before any work starts.