McDonald Tree Service
(978) 375-2272

Common Tree
Species in Massachusetts

Know your trees. Different species need different care — and some cause more problems than others.

Middlesex County Field Guide

9 Common
Species

01

Red Oak

Quercus rubra

Height60–80 ft
Removal Cost$800–$2,500

One of the most common trees in Middlesex County. Strong wood but susceptible to oak wilt. Drops heavy limbs in storms. Pruning should be done in the dormant season to prevent oak wilt spread.

Key Facts
  • Susceptible to oak wilt disease
  • Heavy limb drop in nor'easters
  • Prune only in dormant season
  • Often needs crane near structures
Service Note

Removal cost varies significantly by size and site access. Large specimens near buildings require crane assistance. Never prune between April and July — that window triggers oak wilt.

02

White Oak

Quercus alba

Height60–80 ft
Removal Cost$1,000–$3,000+

Slow-growing, long-lived — can reach 200+ years. More resistant to disease than red oak. Extremely heavy wood makes removal more labor-intensive. Often needs crane assistance when near structures.

Key Facts
  • Can live 200+ years
  • Heavier wood than red oak
  • More disease-resistant
  • Crane almost always required
Service Note

White oaks are often the largest and most structurally complex trees on a property. Budget extra time and equipment — the premium removal cost reflects the difficulty, not just the size.

03

Sugar Maple

Acer saccharum

Height60–75 ft

The classic New England maple. Produces spectacular fall color. Prone to frost cracks and included bark unions. Regular structural pruning when young prevents major problems later. Common in Billerica, Chelmsford, and Lexington neighborhoods.

Key Facts
  • Frost cracks common in winter
  • Included bark unions are a failure point
  • Salt spray from roads causes decline
  • Structural pruning pays off long-term
Service Note

Sugar maples near roads suffer from salt damage — if yours is declining from the top down, that's often why. Early structural pruning is far cheaper than emergency removal of a failed scaffold limb.

04

White Pine

Pinus strobus

Height80–100+ ft
Removal Cost$600–$2,000

Tallest tree in the Northeast. Soft wood, shallow roots, extremely vulnerable to wind and ice storms. The number one species we remove after nor'easters. Drops large limbs regularly. Not a good tree near houses.

Key Facts
  • #1 storm removal in Middlesex County
  • Shallow roots = high blowdown risk
  • Soft wood breaks under ice load
  • Not recommended within fall distance of structures
Service Note

If you have a white pine leaning toward your house, don't wait for a storm to make the decision for you. Proactive removal is far cheaper than emergency removal plus roof repairs.

05

Eastern Hemlock

Tsuga canadensis

Height40–70 ft

Common in shaded areas and near waterways. Threatened by hemlock woolly adelgid, an invasive pest. Often found in conservation areas where removal requires permits. Beautiful tree but increasingly stressed by climate change and pests.

Key Facts
  • Hemlock woolly adelgid threatens all hemlocks
  • Brittle once infested — hazardous to climb
  • Conservation area removals need permits
  • Climate stress accelerates decline
Service Note

Severely infested hemlocks become structurally unpredictable. The dead wood is brittle and can fail without warning. Early removal while the tree is still manageable is strongly recommended.

06

American Ash

Fraxinus americana

Height50–80 ft
Removal Cost$500–$2,000

Severely threatened by emerald ash borer (EAB), an invasive beetle that has killed millions of ash trees across the US. If your ash tree has D-shaped exit holes, crown dieback, or bark splitting, it likely has EAB. Dead ash trees become extremely brittle and dangerous — don't wait.

Key Facts
  • EAB confirmed throughout Middlesex County
  • D-shaped exit holes = active infestation
  • Brittle dead wood — removal gets harder over time
  • Proactive removal is safer and cheaper
Service Note

An ash tree with EAB will be dead within 3–5 years. Once dead, the wood becomes extremely brittle and unsafe to climb — driving up removal cost significantly. Remove it while it's still workable.

07

Norway Maple

Acer platanoides

Height40–50 ft
Removal Cost$400–$1,200

An invasive species in Massachusetts. Dense canopy kills grass underneath. Shallow, aggressive roots damage sidewalks and foundations. Many towns are actively discouraging planting. Removal is usually straightforward.

Key Facts
  • Listed invasive species in Massachusetts
  • Roots damage sidewalks and foundations
  • Dense shade prevents grass growth
  • Stump grinding prevents vigorous resprouting
Service Note

Norway maples are one of our more common removal requests — and one of the easier jobs. Stump grinding is strongly recommended because the root system will resprout aggressively if left in place.

08

Eastern White Cedar

Thuja occidentalis

Height40–60 ft

Also called Arborvitae. Common as privacy hedging but grows into full-sized trees if not maintained. Pruning overgrown cedars is one of our most common jobs. Often needs thinning to reduce wind resistance and improve structure.

Key Facts
  • Common privacy hedge that outgrows its space
  • Wind resistance increases without thinning
  • Pruning restores form and reduces hazard
  • Responds well to structural pruning
Service Note

Most homeowners plant arborvitae for privacy and then forget about them for 20 years. By then they're 40 feet tall and full of dead interior wood. Regular thinning keeps them healthy and manageable.

09

Black Cherry

Prunus serotina

Height50–80 ft
Removal Cost$300–$1,000

Fast-growing with relatively weak wood. Drops branches frequently. Seeds sprout everywhere — often grows as an unplanned "volunteer" tree in yards and fence lines. Easy to remove. Note: leaves are toxic to livestock.

Key Facts
  • Weak wood — frequent branch drop
  • Seeds aggressively in yards and gardens
  • Leaves toxic to horses and cattle
  • Easy removal — straightforward job
Service Note

Black cherry is one of the most common unintended trees we remove. If you have a scraggly tree that appeared on its own near a fence or woodland edge, there's a good chance it's cherry.

Not Sure What You Have?

Need help
identifying
a tree?

We work with every tree species common to Middlesex County. If you’re not sure what species you have, whether it’s diseased, or whether it needs to come down, give us a call. We provide free on-site assessments.

We can tell you the species, assess its health, and give you an honest recommendation — not every tree needs to be removed, and we’ll tell you that if it’s true.

Free Assessments

We’ll come out, look at your tree, and tell you exactly what you’re dealing with.

(978) 375-2272

McDonald Tree Service — Billerica, MA — serving Middlesex County since 1995

Ready to talk
about your trees?

Call us. We answer the phone, give honest answers, and provide free estimates. McDonald Tree Service — family-owned since 1995.

(978) 375-2272

24/7 Emergency Available