Tree Removal
Dead, leaning or too-big trees brought down piece by piece and hauled away.
Clinton, Illinois
Tree Removal in Clinton, IL
For tree removal in Clinton, IL, Decatur Elite Tree Service takes down big, dead and storm-damaged trees, by rope, bucket truck or crane, and also trims, grinds stumps and clears brush. The drive up US 51 costs you nothing extra, and we'll tell you honestly if a trim beats a removal.
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Tree Services We Offer in Clinton
Clinton is the far north edge of our area, about 22 miles up US 51. We book Clinton work in blocks, usually a full day at a time, so the whole crew and the right equipment come up together.
- Dead, hollow and leaning trees, see tree removal
- Giant trees over houses with no drop zone, see crane tree removal
- Roof, drive and line clearance, see tree trimming
- Stumps in yards and lake lots, see stump grinding
- Storm damage, day or night, see emergency tree service
- Businesses, churches and rentals, see commercial tree service
Lake Lots Around Clinton Lake
Clinton Lake covers about 4,900 acres, and the state recreation area around it takes up some 9,300 acres of DeWitt County. Wooded lots and cabins near the water often sit on steep banks where a truck simply can't park close.
On those lots our climber does most of the work on ropes, and we winch or carry pieces up to the road. Send a photo of the slope and the drive with the form. On one lake lot last summer we hauled 38 pieces up a 40-foot bank by winch, and the slope looked untouched afterward.
Contact UsHow Much Does Tree Removal Cost in Clinton, IL?
Tree removal in Clinton usually costs $400 to $1,900 in 2026, the same as in Decatur, with no charge for the trip. A large oak or maple over a house runs $1,500 to $3,500. When a crane is the only safe way, expect $2,500 to $6,500. Cleanup and hauling are always included.
| Clinton removal | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Small tree in an open yard | $400 to $700 |
| Dead ash from the bucket truck | $700 to $1,400 |
| Old maple between two houses, roped down | $1,400 to $2,600 |
| Tree on a steep lake lot | $1,200 to $3,000 |
| Crane removal over the roof | $2,500 to $6,500 |
Lake lots and tight lots near the square cost more than open yards for the same size tree. It isn't the tree. It's the carrying. Every piece that can't drop has to be lowered, moved and loaded by hand, like moving furniture up a narrow staircase.
Big Old Trees Near Downtown
Clinton dates to 1835, and the older streets around the square still have homes from the 1800s and early 1900s, like the C.H. Moore House that's now the DeWitt County Museum. The trees on those lots have had a century or more to grow, and plenty now reach over two roofs at once.
On a tree like that we usually go with sectional removal: our climber works from the top down and lowers each piece on a rope through a pulley. If the trunk is too hollow to climb, or the tree leans over the house, a crane parked on the street lifts the sections over the roof instead.
Oaks, Pines and Black Locust
Oaks
Big bur oaks and pin oaks show up in a lot of Clinton yards. We only trim them November through March, while they're dormant, because cuts made in spring and early summer can let oak wilt in. In our experience that one rule saves more oaks than any spray.
Pines and Spruces
Windbreak pines and yard spruces drop their lower branches with age, and some die from needle diseases. We've seen a browned-out spruce next to a house go from ugly to dangerous in one windy spring. Once an evergreen turns brown, it rarely comes back.
Black Locust and Honey Locust
Tough, thorny and quick to spread into fence rows. Locust wood is very hard, which makes it great firewood and rough on chainsaws. Honestly, we sharpen chains twice as often on a locust job.
Types of Tree Service We Offer in Clinton
Crane Removal
For the biggest trees over houses, a crane removal is often one long day instead of two or three days of rigging. It costs more per hour but less in total on the right tree. We've done 4 crane jobs in Clinton so far, all near the old square.
Storm Damage Cleanup
When a storm drops a tree on a Clinton house, we come the same day in most cases, lift the weight off the roof and tarp the hole before the next rain. You get the photos for the insurance claim, usually before we've finished loading the truck.
Trimming and Stump Grinding
Roof and line clearance, deadwooding over driveways, and stumps ground about 8 inches below the grass once JULIE has marked the buried lines. Small jobs like these are easy to tack onto a bigger Clinton visit.
Back toward Decatur, our closest and busiest town is Mount Zion, just southeast of the city.
Storm Claim? We Document It
Photos before we cut, a written description of what fell and what it hit, and an itemized invoice your insurer can read.
Contact UsWinter Trimming List
Get on our December to February list. Dormant trees, frozen ground and 10% off trims over $400.
Contact UsQuestions we hear
Tree Service FAQs for Clinton
Do you charge extra to come to Clinton?
No. Clinton is about 22 miles up US 51, and the prices match Decatur. We keep that fair by booking Clinton jobs on the same days. Storm calls are the exception. If a tree is on your house, we come right away, wherever the rest of the crew happens to be.
Can you remove trees on a steep Clinton Lake lot?
Yes. On a steep bank our climber takes the tree apart in sections on ropes, and we winch or carry the pieces up to the road. Sometimes a crane set up on the road is the smarter call. We look at the slope and the access first, then put the price in writing.
Do I need permission to cut a tree in Clinton?
Usually not for a tree on your own lot. Trees between the sidewalk and the street can belong to the city, so call Clinton city hall first. Lake lots that touch state recreation land can raise boundary questions, so know where your line is before anything gets cut. We'll help you check.
How far ahead should I book a Clinton job?
Most Clinton jobs land on the calendar within one to three weeks of the walk-around. Winter is the quickest time to get in. Anything sitting on a house or threatening one skips the line, and we'll give you an honest date rather than a hopeful one.
Is a crane removal worth the extra cost?
On the right tree, yes. The crane lifts big pieces over the roof, so two or three days of roping can shrink to one. The hourly rate is higher, but the total often comes out close. Honestly, when a trunk is hollow or dead, it's also the safer way.
Our Other Tree Services
Tree Trimming
Deadwood out, limbs off the roof, crowns thinned for the next storm.
Stump Grinding
Stumps chewed out below the grass line, ready for seed.
Emergency Tree Service
Storm calls 24/7: trees lifted off roofs, cars and driveways.
Crane Tree Removal
Giant trees over houses lifted out one piece at a time.
Land Clearing
Brushy lots, fence lines and building sites cleared and hauled.
Commercial Tree Service
Trims, removals and storm work for businesses, HOAs and landlords.
Free walk-around
Got a Tree That's Bothering You?
Leave your name, number and a line about the tree. We call back to set up a walk-around, and the written price follows within 48 hours.
- Written price within 48 hours
- 24/7 storm and emergency calls
- Clean-up included in every price