Emergency Storm Cleanup in San Antonio
Spring storms, hail, and straight-line winds regularly bring limbs and whole trees down across San Antonio - onto roofs, cars, driveways, and fences. This is not next-week work. A 24/7 line takes storm calls, prioritizes trees that have hit or are threatening the house, and gets a crew out to make the site safe and clear the debris. When a limb is tangled in live power lines, CPS Energy is called first, because that wire is theirs to de-energize - the crew works the tree once the line is safe. Storm-broken oak limbs are cut clean and painted on the spot, whatever the season, because the wound is already open to oak wilt.
The number is driven far more by access and size than by the tree itself - how equipment reaches it, how close it stands to the house and power lines, and what has to be protected below. Every job is quoted in writing after a free on-site look.
When homeowners call us for this
- A dead, dying, or storm-damaged tree near the house
- A dead red oak that can seed oak wilt into the neighborhood
- A tree or heavy limb leaning over the roof, drive, or lines
- Cracked unions, hollow trunks, or heaving roots
- Limbs down after the spring storms or hail
- Clearing a tree before a build, addition, or new bed
How the work goes
- 1Free on-site estimate
A crew lead walks the property, looks at each tree's size, lean, and condition, and checks how equipment can reach it - then gives an honest price in writing. No charge, no pressure.
- 2A plan before the first cut
Larger and hazardous trees are planned around the rigging, the reach, and what stands below. Where a tree is too big or too tight to drop, a crane lifts sections out over the house.
- 3Careful removal or trimming
Licensed, insured crews rig and lower limbs over structures and run bigger jobs under an experienced climber - not guesswork. On oaks, timing and painted cuts avoid spreading oak wilt.
- 4Full cleanup & haul-away
Brush is chipped, wood is hauled or stacked for firewood, stumps ground on request, and the yard is raked down before the crew leaves.
Why choose us for this work
- · Every job walked and quoted in writing before a cut.
- · Careful rigging and crane work around houses and power lines.
- · Oaks pruned outside the Feb-Jun window and every cut painted, to avoid spreading oak wilt.
- · Licensed, insured, COI on request for any HOA or property manager.
- · Honest assessments - if a tree just needs pruning, that's what you'll hear.
Towns we serve
Frequently asked questions
How much does tree removal cost in San Antonio?
Most single-tree removals run about $1,200-$7,000, driven far more by access than by species. A large live oak over a house, tight to power lines, or reachable only from the front of a Hill Country lot costs well more than the same tree in an open yard. Very large or crane-assisted removals can reach $12,000-$18,000. Every job is quoted in writing after an on-site look - the size, lean, and how equipment can reach the tree are what set the number.
Do you handle emergency storm damage?
Yes. A 24/7 line covers trees or large limbs down on a house, a car, a driveway, or power lines after the spring storms, hail, and straight-line winds that move through South Texas. Hazards that threaten the home or block access are prioritized. When a limb is tangled in live utility lines, CPS Energy is called first - that wire is theirs to clear.
What is oak wilt and should I worry about it?
Oak wilt is a fungal disease that is serious across Bexar County and the Hill Country. It moves fastest through red oaks (Spanish oak, Shumard, blackjack), which die within weeks once symptoms show, and it spreads between live oaks through their connected roots. There is no cure, but the spread can be slowed: prune oaks only outside the February-June high-risk window and paint every cut, trench to sever shared roots between a sick tree and healthy ones, and inject high-value live oaks with propiconazole through a certified applicator. Dead red oaks are removed promptly so they can't seed new infection centers. A consultation is an honest look at whether a tree can be saved or should come down - no cure is promised.
When is it safe to prune my oaks?
Avoid pruning oaks from February through June, when the beetles that carry oak wilt are most active and fresh cuts are most likely to draw them. Prune in the coldest part of winter or the heat of mid-to-late summer instead, and paint every oak wound right away regardless of season. Storm damage is the exception - a broken oak limb should be cut clean and painted immediately whatever the month, because the wound is already open.
Will removal damage my lawn or garden beds?
The crew plans equipment paths to protect turf, beds, and hardscape, and uses plywood or mats under heavier machines on soft ground or thin caliche soil. On tight lots a crane can lift wood straight out over the house instead of dragging it across the yard. Any spot that does get disturbed is raked out before the crew leaves.
Do you grind the stump too?
Stump grinding is a separate line item, typically $100-$600 depending on the stump's diameter and how many you need done. It can be bundled with a removal or booked on its own. Grindings are raked back into the hole or hauled off, whichever you prefer.
Emergency Storm Cleanup - Service Areas
Alamo Heights is San Antonio's landmark live-oak neighborhood, where mature canopy stands close to high-value ...
Terrell Hills is a compact, affluent city of large homes under a heavy live-oak and pecan canopy. Careful remo...
Olmos Park is a small, historic city of stately homes and old live oaks near the Olmos Basin. Nearly every job...
Castle Hills is a settled inner-loop city of mid-century homes with maturing live oaks and cedar elms. Removal...
Shavano Park is a wooded, upscale city where the metro meets the Hill Country, heavy with live oaks and cedar....
Hollywood Park is a leafy north-side city of wooded lots and heavy live-oak canopy. Careful removals of large ...