Tree Removal
in Wellesley, MA
Professional tree removal for hazardous, dead, storm-damaged, and unwanted trees. Serving Wellesley and the Merrimack Valley.
What Does Tree Removal
Look Like in Wellesley?
We remove trees. That's the short version. The longer version involves chainsaws, rigging ropes, cranes when needed, and decades of knowing exactly where a tree is going to fall before we make the first cut.
In Wellesley, we handle everything from small ornamental trees to massive 80-foot oaks pressed up against houses. Wellesley has a tree bylaw with teeth, a Tree City USA designation longer than any other community in New England, and some of the most valuable heritage oaks and beeches in Norfolk County. Section XVIE applies to most renovations in town, the Tree Bank fee schedule is tiered, and we have read the bylaw enough times to know it cold. The drive from Billerica is forty minutes. We are happy to make it.
Every removal starts with an honest assessment. We'll tell you if the tree actually needs to come down — sometimes pruning is enough. But when it's time, we get it done safely, cleanly, and without drama.
We serve all Wellesley neighborhoods including Wellesley Square, Wellesley Hills, Wellesley Farms, Wellesley Lower Falls and surrounding areas.
Common Tree Removal
Projects in Wellesley
Hazardous tree removal near homes and power lines
Storm-damaged tree removal and cleanup
Dead and dying tree removal
Large oak, maple, and pine removal
Tight-space removals between buildings
Crane-assisted removal for difficult access
Our Work in
Wellesley
Wellesley keeps the bylaw paperwork side of the business busy. Last quarter we ran the Section XVIE Tree Protection and Mitigation Plan on a Cliff Estates tear-down with three Protected Trees, took down a 42-inch declining beech off Cliff Road (BLD diagnosis was the call), and filed a Riverfront Area RDA for a Conservation Commission review on a property backing onto Fuller Brook. We also walked a Wellesley Hills homeowner out of a $4,500 removal on a healthy 28-inch oak that just needed structural pruning and deadwood out — a Saturday afternoon's aesthetic correction instead of a small used car.
How Much Does Tree Removal
Cost in Wellesley, MA?
Tree Removal in Wellesley, MA typically costs $300 - $3,000+. McDonald Tree Service provides free estimates with guaranteed pricing — the estimate is the price you pay, with no hidden fees or surprise charges.
| Tree Size | Height | Cost Range | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | Under 30 ft | $300 – $500 | Cutting, chipping, hauling |
| Medium | 30 – 60 ft | $500 – $1,000 | Rigging, cutting, full cleanup |
| Large | 60+ ft | $1,000 – $3,000+ | Crane if needed, full cleanup |
Here's the honest answer: it depends. A small tree in an open yard is a few hundred bucks. A 70-foot oak wedged between your house and your neighbor's garage with power lines overhead? That's a bigger number.
What affects the cost? Size is the biggest factor. Then access — can we get our equipment close, or are we carrying everything through a side yard? Species matters too. Hardwoods are heavier and take longer to cut. Location near structures or power lines adds complexity.
We don't do bait-and-switch pricing. The number we give you at the estimate is the number on the invoice. No surprises, no add-ons. If something changes during the job, we talk to you first.
How It
Works
01
Call Us
Call (978) 375-2272 and tell us what you need. We’ll ask a few questions and schedule a time to come look at it. No phone tag, no automated menus.
02
Free Estimate
We come to your Wellesley property, look at the job, and give you an honest price on the spot. No pressure, no follow-up sales calls. Just a number.
03
We Do the Work
We show up on time, do the job right, and clean up when we’re done. Your property looks better when we leave than when we arrived.
Wellesley
Permits
Wellesley's Section XVIE Tree Protection and Preservation bylaw applies to demolition and major construction triggering removal of any Protected Tree (≥10" DBH in the Tree Yard of a residential property). Mitigation is either on-site replanting per a Tree Protection and Mitigation Plan or contribution to the Town Tree Bank ($150/$250/$400 per DBH inch, tiered). Public shade trees require Natural Resources Commission approval with a public hearing under MGL Chapter 87. Riverfront Area and wetland-buffer trees require Conservation Commission review.
Permit rules change. Confirm with your municipality. We can help — call (978) 375-2272.
Wellesley
on the Map
Why Us
30+
Years in Business
24/7
Emergency Response
Section XVIE bylaw specialists — we quote the Tree Bank math separately so you see the bylaw cost up front
40 minutes from our Billerica base via Route 128 — booked for technical and bylaw-heavy work
Heritage tree expertise — copper beech, European beech, large oaks, sycamores
Beech leaf disease assessment and management for the Hunnewell-era canopy
Tree Removal in Wellesley
Questions & Answers
Does Wellesley really charge $400 per inch on a 76-inch tree?
Yes. Section XVIE's Tree Bank mitigation schedule is tiered — $150 per DBH inch on the first 20 inches, $250 per inch from 21 through 75, and $400 per inch on 76 inches and above. A 76-inch copper beech costs ($150 × 20) + ($250 × 55) + ($400 × 1) = $17,150 in mitigation for a single tree, before any service cost. The tiered math gets eye-watering quickly on heritage trees, which is the whole point — the bylaw was designed to make builders think twice about removing the biggest, oldest trees in town.
My beech trees have striped leaves — is it serious?
Likely beech leaf disease, caused by a foliar nematode (Litylenchus crenatae). It is now established across MetroWest including Wellesley. Look for dark interveinal banding on the leaves in spring and curled leathery foliage by midsummer. Mature trees can decline within six to ten years of infection. Some experimental phosphite treatments are showing early promise. Get an assessment before the canopy thins past the point where treatment can help — and if the tree is a Protected Tree under Section XVIE, factor the bylaw math into the timing of any eventual removal.
Do you handle the Conservation Commission filing for trees along the Charles?
Yes. Properties within 200 feet of the Charles River sit in the Riverfront Area under MGL Chapter 131 §40; the brook system — Fuller Brook, Rosemary Brook, Boulder Brook, Waban Brook — adds Riverfront Areas of its own. Tree removal there requires Conservation Commission review: a Request for Determination of Applicability for a single hazardous tree (3–4 weeks), or a Notice of Intent for larger clearing (6–10 weeks). We file the paperwork, attend the meeting, and bring the documentation the Con Com expects to see.
How much does tree removal cost?
Small trees (under 30 feet) typically run $300-$500. Medium trees (30-60 feet) are $500-$1,000. Large trees (60+ feet) start at $1,000 and can go up to $3,000+ depending on access, species, and proximity to structures. We give free estimates — no surprises.
Ready to get
it done?
Call us for a free estimate on tree removal in Wellesley. We answer the phone, show up on time, and clean up when we leave.
24/7 Emergency Available