Pruning near roofs, power lines and tight backyards.
A tree job is priced as much on what sits underneath and around the tree as on the tree itself. Sharing your gate width, overhead wires, roof overhang, septic tank location, and local permit rules upfront helps every tree service bid the same equipment and rigging plan.
Six site and seasonal details to include in your scope
Put these six details in your scoping notes before asking tree services to visit.
- 1. Primary utility lines vs house service drop
- High-voltage distribution lines on street poles are maintained by the electric utility; call the utility first. For the insulated service drop running from the pole to your house weatherhead, ask the utility whether they will temporarily drop the line so the tree crew can work safely.
- 2. Roofline clearance & rigging over structures
- Branches extending over shingles, skylights, screen enclosures, or A/C condensers cannot be dropped freehand. Specify the clearance distance you want from the roof (often 6 to 10 feet) and ask how limbs will be roped down.
- 3. Gate width for Spider lifts and stump grinders
- Compact tracked lifts and self-propelled stump grinders usually need a 36-inch straight-line gate opening without tight turns. If your gate is narrower, state the exact width in inches.
- 4. Septic tanks, drain fields & driveway weight
- Bucket trucks, chipper trucks, and mini-skid loaders are heavy enough to crack thin concrete aprons or collapse a buried septic tank lid. Mark where vehicles may and may not drive.
- 5. Oak wilt & seasonal disease windows
- In oak wilt regions (such as Texas and the Upper Midwest), forestry agencies advise against pruning oaks during spring beetle flight (for example, February through June in Texas) and require immediate wound paint on every fresh cut year-round.
- 6. Municipal tree ordinances & HOA rules
- Many cities require a permit to remove or heavily reduce trees above a set DBH (diameter at breast height, measured 4.5 feet above the ground). Confirm in writing whether the homeowner or contractor applies for any required permit.
Related tree work scope guides
- ANSI A300 Tree Pruning Cuts vs Tree Topping
- Crown cleaning, thinning, raising, and reduction cuts back to lateral branches, and why tree topping is harmful.
- Tree Removal, Stump Grinding & Wood Hauling Scope
- Sectional rigging, stump grinding depth below grade, mulch mound cleanup, and trunk log disposal.
- Interactive Tree Signs & Height Calculator
- Mark visible signs from the ground and estimate tree height with a tape measure.
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Not for emergencies. A tree on a house or a line down: call 911 or your electric utility.