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Tree removal crew safely rigging down a large live oak at a San Antonio home

San Antonio Tree Care

Tree Removal & Tree Service in San Antonio, TX

Safe, fully insured tree removal — clean scope, clean site, no surprises.

  • Free, written estimates
  • 24/7 emergency response
  • Oak-wilt-smart pruning
  • Full haul-away & cleanup

Cowboy Tree Care And Services provides complete tree service in San Antonio, TX — safe tree removal plus trimming, stump grinding, and oak-wilt care — with a written scope before we start and a clean site when we finish.

When a live oak outgrows its space, a cedar elm splits over a driveway, or a dead pecan starts dropping limbs on the house, you need a San Antonio tree service that removes the tree safely the first time — not one that guesses with a chainsaw. Cowboy Tree Care And Services handles removals across Bexar County, from tight inner-west lots near Woodlawn Lake to acreage on the Hill Country fringe.

We assess every tree from a safe distance, tell you honestly whether it needs to come down or can be saved, and put the whole job in writing before we start. That means you know exactly what removal, cleanup, haul-away, and stump work will cost — and what a permit, crane, or utility coordination adds — before you authorize anything.

Cowboy Tree Care crew performing tree removal in San Antonio, TX

Signs You Need Tree Removal

Dead, dying, or hollow trunk

Bare canopy, peeling bark, or soft, punky wood at the base.

Storm-cracked or leaning

A new lean or a visible split after high wind or ice.

Too close to the house or lines

Limbs on the roof or growth pushing into service wires.

Roots damaging structures

Cracked slab, lifted driveway, or plumbing intrusions.

What Our Tree Removal Includes

Every tree removal job in San Antonio is scoped in writing, so you know exactly what you're getting. Here's what's covered:

On-site hazard assessment

Species, structure, lean, targets, and utility exposure evaluated before we quote or cut.

Sectional or crane removal

Controlled dismantling with rigging, or a crane lift where access is tight or the tree overhangs the house.

Property protection

Lawns, beds, fences, and hardscape protected; limbs lowered, not dropped.

Utility coordination

We coordinate with CPS Energy whenever a tree is near an energized line — never cut around live lines.

Brush chipping & wood haul-away

All debris chipped and hauled, or the wood left cut to length if you want it.

Stump grinding (optional)

Quoted as its own line item — grind flush, deeper for replanting, or leave it.

Final cleanup & closeout

Work area raked clean and any tree-health findings documented in writing.

When a Tree Should Come Down

Not every troubled tree needs removal, and a good crew will tell you when pruning, cabling, or treatment is the smarter call. But some trees are past saving or too risky to keep, especially over a roof, driveway, or power corridor.

  • Dead or declining: More than a third of the canopy is bare, or the tree failed to leaf out after a hard freeze or drought.
  • Structural failure: A major trunk crack, split fork, or a lean that appeared or worsened after a storm.
  • Root problems: Heaving soil, cut roots from construction, or fungal conks at the base signaling internal decay.
  • Wrong tree, wrong place: Roots lifting a foundation or driveway, or a fast-growing species crowding the house and lines.
  • Disease pressure: Oak wilt in a live oak stand, or hypoxylon canker on a drought-stressed tree that can't be reversed.

How We Take a Tree Down Safely

San Antonio lots rarely give you room to simply fell a tree. Most removals here are sectional: a climber or bucket operator dismantles the tree in controlled pieces, rigging heavy limbs so they lower rather than drop. Where access is tight or the tree overhangs a structure, we bring in a crane to lift whole sections clear of the roof.

Before the first cut, we protect what stays — lawns, beds, fences, and hardscape — and we coordinate with CPS Energy whenever a tree is near an energized line. We never send someone up a tree that is touching a line, and neither should you.

Cleanup, Haul-Away & the Stump

A removal isn't finished when the tree is on the ground. We chip the brush, load and haul the wood, rake the work area, and leave the site clean. Stump grinding is quoted separately so you can decide whether to grind it flush, take it deeper for replanting, or leave it — and you'll see that choice as its own line on the estimate, never a surprise add-on.

Our Tree Removal Process

  1. 1

    Free on-site assessment

    We look at species, structure, targets, and access, then recommend removal only when it's the right call.

  2. 2

    Written scope & estimate

    Removal, rigging, crane, haul-away, stump work, and cleanup are itemized — no vague one-number quotes.

  3. 3

    Safe, rigged removal

    Sectional dismantling or crane lift, with property protection and utility coordination in place.

  4. 4

    Cleanup & closeout

    Brush chipped, wood hauled, site raked, and any tree-health recommendations documented.

Ready for Tree Removal in San Antonio?

Call for a free, written estimate — same-day and emergency service available across San Antonio, Bexar County & the Texas Hill Country.

What Affects the Price

We don't post one-size-fits-all prices, because no two trees are the same. Every job is quoted in writing after we see it. These are the factors that move the number up or down:

  • Tree height and trunk diameter
  • Access — can equipment reach the tree, or is it all hand-carried through a gate?
  • Proximity to the house, fences, and power lines (rigging or crane need)
  • Haul-away volume and whether the wood stays or goes
  • Stump grinding depth and surface restoration
  • Permits for protected or heritage trees

Why San Antonio Chooses Us for Tree Removal

Written, itemized quotes

Removal, rigging, crane, haul-away, stump, and cleanup are separated — never a vague one-number bid.

Rigging over dropping

We lower heavy limbs with ropes and cranes instead of free-dropping them onto your yard or roof.

Insured to city standards

San Antonio requires a Tree Maintenance License and at least $300,000 liability — ask for our number and certificate.

Honest save-or-remove advice

If pruning or cabling keeps the tree standing safely, we'll tell you before you pay to remove it.

Tree Removal Across San Antonio & Beyond

We remove trees across all of Bexar County — from tight inner-west lots near Woodlawn Lake to large-canopy removals in Stone Oak and Alamo Heights — plus Hill Country properties around Boerne and Helotes. Access, targets, and tree size drive the plan, so we scope every removal on site.

Don't see your area? We serve 68 communities across Bexar County and the Hill Country.

Tree Removal FAQs

How much does tree service cost in San Antonio?
Published local ranges place smaller pruning around $75–$300 per tree, stump grinding around $100–$600, simpler emergency cleanup around $300–$800 or more, large mature-tree removal around $3,500–$12,000, and crane removal around $4,000–$18,000. Height, access, utilities, rigging, haul-away, stump work, nearby structures, and cleanup all change the scope, so we quote every job in writing after we see it.
Why do tree removal prices vary so much in San Antonio?
Prices vary because height, trunk diameter, access, structures, power lines, lean, rigging, crane need, haul-away, stump work, and cleanup change the work required. A large mature-tree removal can range from $3,500–$12,000, while crane removal can reach $4,000–$18,000. A vague, one-number quote usually hides charges — insist on an itemized written estimate.
How do I know whether a damaged tree needs removal?
A qualified arborist should assess the species, trunk, roots, canopy, lean, targets, utility exposure, and failure risk. Depending on that assessment, the right option can be removal, structural pruning, cabling or other support, treatment, stabilization, or simply monitoring. Diagnosis should come first whenever the hazard allows time for it.
Is stump grinding included in a typical tree removal estimate?
No — stump grinding is not automatically included. Ask whether the estimate includes grinding depth, chip cleanup, soil replacement, surface restoration, surface-root removal, and haul-away. We list stump work as its own line item so you always know what is and isn't covered.
Does San Antonio require a Tree Maintenance License for tree contractors?
Yes. San Antonio requires a city Tree Maintenance License for businesses that prune, treat, or remove trees inside city limits. City materials specify at least $300,000 in general liability insurance, and the fee schedule lists a $165 fee, renewal every 3 years, and 4 hours of continuing education. Always ask for the exact license number and current insurance certificate before you sign.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in San Antonio?
Often, yes. San Antonio protects larger trees, and heritage trees (generally 24 inches in diameter and up for many species) fall under stricter rules through the city's development-services process. There is a limited exemption for trees that are dead, diseased, or an imminent danger. We help document the tree's condition and navigate the permit path before any protected tree comes down.
Should I get more than one estimate?
For major or non-urgent work, yes — compare three written estimates. Look at the method, access equipment, utility coordination, permits, haul-away, stump work, cleanup, warranty, and payment milestones, rather than trusting a single hourly-labor claim. For active emergencies, safety and response time come first.
What should I do if a tree touches a power line?
Stay away and call CPS Energy or emergency services as appropriate. Do not touch, cut, move, or inspect the tree up close — even when the power appears to be off. CPS Energy notes that some residential line-clearance situations require up to 5 business days of coordination, but an active dangerous contact should be reported immediately.

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Get Your Free Tree Removal Quote

Get a free, no-pressure written estimate from a local, fully insured crew. Same-day and 24/7 emergency service available across San Antonio, Bexar County & the Texas Hill Country.

  • Free, written estimates
  • 24/7 emergency response
  • Oak-wilt-smart pruning
  • Full haul-away & cleanup
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