Winchester's beautiful streets have mature oaks and maples on lots where the houses are 20 feet apart. When those big trees need to come down, you need a crew that can work in tight spaces without damaging anything. That's us.
Tree Removal
Hazardous trees, storm damage, dead wood — removed clean. We bring the right equipment, three decades of experience, and a crew that treats your lawn like their own. When we leave, the only proof we were there is the missing tree.
Learn MoreTree Pruning
Healthy trees start with proper pruning. Crown thinning, dead wood removal, structural cuts — all done to ISA standards by an experienced crew.
Learn MoreStump Grinding
We grind stumps 6 to 12 inches below grade so you can plant, pave, or just enjoy a clean yard. Most jobs are done in about an hour.
Learn More30+
Years in Business
24/7
Emergency Response
Winchester demands precision. The lots are tight, the trees are big, the properties are valuable, and the neighbors are close. We've been delivering that precision since 1995.
Every Removal Is a Rigging Job
In most of Winchester, you can't fell a tree. There's a house on one side, a fence on the other, and power lines in front. We rig and lower every piece by rope, with a ground crew managing the landing zone. It takes longer than open-lot work, but it's the only way to do it safely in Winchester's tight residential neighborhoods.
We Protect Your Neighbor's Property Too
When houses are 15 feet apart, your tree removal is your neighbor's problem too. We put down plywood to protect lawns, we pad ropes against fences and gutters, and we make sure nothing — not a branch, not a wood chip — ends up on the wrong property. Winchester homeowners notice these details, and so do their neighbors.
Mystic Lakes & Fells Border Work
Properties along the Mystic Lakes and bordering the Middlesex Fells Reservation require conservation awareness. We handle the permitting for work in wetland buffer zones and coordinate with the town on trees that straddle public and private land. These areas have some of the largest trees in Winchester, and storms hit them hard.
Common jobs in Winchester
Winchester is one of those towns where every street looks like a postcard — mature maples arching over the sidewalks, big oaks in the front yards, stone walls and slate roofs. It's gorgeous, but it creates real challenges when those trees outgrow their space.
The residential lots in Winchester are notably tight for the size of the trees on them. In Wedgemere and the Highlands, you'll find 60 and 70-foot oaks on lots where the houses are 20 feet apart. There's no room to fell a tree conventionally. Every removal is a rigging job — piece by piece, lowered on ropes, with a ground crew managing traffic on the street and protecting the neighbor's fence. This is technical tree work, and it's what we do well.
The Mystic Lakes area and the properties bordering the Middlesex Fells Reservation add conservation complexity. The 100-foot wetland buffer zone affects properties along the lakes, and the Fells border means some properties have trees that look like they're in a forest but are actually in someone's backyard. When those trees come down in a storm, the cleanup is significant.
Winchester takes its street trees seriously. The town has an active tree program and the DPW maintains a good relationship with private tree companies. We've worked with them on multiple occasions when a public shade tree needed to come down. The permitting process is straightforward if you know it — and after working here for decades, we know it. Winchester homeowners expect premium work, and that's what we deliver: clean cuts, clean sites, and no damage to the neighboring property.
Winchester's street trees are dominated by sugar maples (Acer saccharum) and Norway maples (Acer platanoides), with large red oaks (Quercus rubra) and white oaks (Quercus alba) in residential yards throughout town. The Highlands and West Side have significant white pine (Pinus strobus) populations. Along the Mystic Lakes, you'll find red maples (Acer rubrum), silver maples (Acer saccharinum), and willows (Salix spp.) near the water's edge. Properties bordering the Middlesex Fells have a mix of oaks, hickories, and birches typical of the Fells forest composition. Ash trees (Fraxinus americana) have been declining throughout town from emerald ash borer.
Watch for Oak Wilt Symptoms
Winchester's dense oak population makes it susceptible to oak wilt (Ceratocystis fagacearum), which has been moving into New England. Symptoms include rapid leaf browning from the edges inward, premature leaf drop, and dark streaking under the bark. Red oaks decline quickly — often within a single season. White oaks can resist longer. If you notice sudden browning on your oaks in June or July, don't prune — oak wilt spreads through fresh wounds during the growing season. Call us for an assessment first.
Winchester, MA
Winchester, MA
Winchester, MA
Winchester, MA
Winchester, MA
We regularly work near Winchester Town Common, Mystic Lakes, Middlesex Fells Reservation and throughout Winchester.
Winchester requires Tree Warden approval for removal of public shade trees under MGL Chapter 87. The town DPW manages the public tree program and coordinates with private tree companies. Work within 100 feet of the Mystic Lakes or associated wetlands requires Conservation Commission review. Contact the Winchester DPW for public tree inquiries.
Permit requirements change. Always confirm with your local municipality before starting tree work. We can help you navigate the permitting process — call us at (978) 375-2272.
Every piece comes down by rope. On most Winchester properties, there's no room to fell a tree — the houses are too close, the fences are too near, and the power lines are overhead. We climb or use a bucket truck, section the tree from the top down, and lower every piece with rigging to a ground crew. It's slower than conventional felling but it's the only safe method on lots where the clearance is 12-20 feet between structures. We've been doing this in Winchester for decades.
Not if we do our job right — and we always do. We lay plywood on adjacent lawns, pad our ropes where they contact fences or gutters, and manage every piece so nothing goes where it shouldn't. After the job, we clean up both properties if needed. In a town like Winchester where houses are close together, protecting the neighboring property is just as important as protecting yours.
Yes. Properties within 100 feet of the Mystic Lakes, the Aberjona River, or associated wetlands require Conservation Commission review under MGL Chapter 131, Section 40. You'll need either a Request for Determination of Applicability or a Notice of Intent depending on the scope of work. We handle the filing and attend the hearing. Hazardous trees near the lakes usually get approved, but the commission may require erosion controls or replanting.
Winchester jobs tend to be at the higher end of the range because of the technical rigging required on tight lots. A large tree removal with full rigging typically runs $1,500 to $4,000 depending on size, species, and access. A straightforward removal on a larger lot with better access could be $800 to $2,000. Stump grinding is additional, usually $150 to $400. We quote one price after seeing the tree — that's what you pay.
Yes. Properties along the Fells border often have trees that straddle the property line or that lean from the reservation onto private property. For trees on your property, we handle them directly. For trees on Fells land that threaten your property, you'll need to coordinate with the DCR (Department of Conservation and Recreation). We can assess the situation, document the hazard, and help you make the case. We've worked along the Fells border in Winchester multiple times.
We do, often in coordination with the Winchester DPW. Street trees — the ones between the sidewalk and the road — are technically town trees under the Tree Warden's jurisdiction. The DPW manages the public tree program and sometimes contracts with private companies like us for pruning and removal. If a street tree is hanging over your house or dropping limbs on your car, contact the DPW first. If you want it done faster, call us and we'll coordinate with the town.
Remove them as soon as possible. Dead ash trees from emerald ash borer become dangerously brittle within 1-2 years — the wood dries out and limbs can snap in a moderate breeze. On Winchester's tight lots, a falling ash limb can easily reach your neighbor's house, car, or fence. We've removed dozens of dead ash trees in Winchester and we prioritize them because the failure risk is high and unpredictable. Call us for a free assessment.
Winter is actually ideal for most removals and pruning in Winchester. The ground is frozen, which means less lawn damage from equipment. Deciduous trees are bare, so we can see the full branch structure and identify problems that leaves would hide. Frozen ground also means better access on tight lots where soft soil would create ruts. We work year-round, but if you've been putting off a removal, January through March is a great time to do it.
Need tree work in Winchester? Call Keith directly. Free estimates, honest pricing, and a crew that shows up on time. We've been at this for 30+ years.
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