Tree Removal
Dead, leaning or too-big trees brought down piece by piece and hauled away.
Tree trimming & pruning
Tree Trimming in Decatur, IL
Decatur Elite Tree Service does tree trimming in Decatur, IL for big shade trees, young trees and everything in between. We take out dead and crossing branches, lift limbs off roofs and driveways, and thin heavy crowns so wind passes through instead of pushing the tree over.
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A Haircut, Not a Buzz Cut
Good pruning is mostly about what you leave behind. We cut back to a side branch or the trunk's branch collar so the wound seals, and we take no more than about a quarter of the leaves in one visit. That's the ANSI A300 standard, and it's why a well-trimmed maple looks like nobody touched it.
Decatur Elite Tree Service also provides tree pruning, crown thinning and limb removal to Decatur and nearby Illinois towns, including Mount Zion, Forsyth, Maroa, Warrensburg and Argenta. Topping isn't on the menu. If you ask us, chopping a tree flat makes it weaker and uglier, and it grows back as a broom of weak sprouts.
Contact UsTypes of Tree Trimming We Do
Your trim will usually mix a few of these. The written price spells out which ones.
Crown Thinning
We take selected branches out all through the crown so light and wind get through. Great for dense silver maples and lindens.
Crown Raising
Low limbs come off so you can mow, walk and park underneath, and so trucks and buses clear the street.
Crown Reduction
We shorten long limbs back to a side branch. The tree gets smaller, and nobody tops it.
Deadwooding
Dead branches come out before they land on the roof, the car or somebody's head.
Tree Trimming Costs in Decatur
- Small or young tree, under 25 ft: $250 to $400
- Mature shade tree, 30 to 60 ft: $450 to $900
- Large maple or oak over the house: $800 to $1,200
- Single limb over the roof or line: $150 to $450
- Winter trims over $400: 10% off December to February
One price per tree, in writing, cleanup counted in.
What Every Trim Includes
- Cuts made to the branch collar, no stubs
- No climbing spikes on trees you keep
- Rope-lowered limbs over roofs and flower beds
- Brush chipped and hauled, or chips left for you
- Ameren called first if the service line is involved
- Before and after photos texted if you're out
How Much Does Tree Trimming Cost in Decatur, IL?
Tree trimming in Decatur usually costs $250 to $1,200 per tree in 2026. A young tree or an ornamental runs $250 to $400. A mature shade tree takes $450 to $900, and a big silver maple hanging over the house can reach $1,200 when someone has to climb it with ropes.
| Tree | Typical job | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Crabapple or redbud | Shape and clear | $250 to $350 |
| Silver maple, front yard | Thin and raise | $500 to $900 |
| Pin oak over the roof | Deadwood and clear the roof | $600 to $1,100 |
| Spruce or pine | Lift the bottom, remove dead | $250 to $500 |
| Three trees, same yard | Mixed trims | $900 to $2,000 |
Several trees on one visit cost less each, because the trucks and the crew are already set up. Last winter we did 11 houses on one block of Johns Hill in two days, and every neighbor saved on the setup.
When Is the Best Time to Trim Trees in Decatur?
Late fall to the end of February works for most trees. With the leaves down we can see the whole frame, and the tree has no reason to shove out a batch of soft sprouts before the cuts close. The ground is frozen too, so the bucket truck rolls across the yard without leaving ruts.
No Oak Cuts April Through July
Oak wilt spreads through fresh cuts on oaks in spring and early summer, carried by little sap beetles. University of Illinois Extension advises leaving oaks alone from April through July. We schedule pin oaks and bur oaks for the dormant season unless a limb is broken and hanging.
Maples, Birches and Bleeding Sap
Maples drip sap when you cut them in late winter. It looks awful, but it doesn't hurt the tree. If it bugs you, we'll do your maples in early summer once the leaves are full.
Trimming Near Power Lines and Roofs
Ameren Illinois keeps the main lines on the poles cleared on its own schedule. The drop from the pole to your house is your side of things, and that's often right where a silver maple grew up around the wire. We book Ameren to unhook it for a few hours, clear the limbs, and the lights are back on by dinner. We do that about 40 times a year.
Over a roof we like six to ten feet of air. A limb lying on the shingles scrubs the grit off them every time the wind blows, and it's a ready-made ramp for squirrels headed to your attic.
Why We Never Top a Tree
Topping is when somebody saws the main stems off flat to make a tall tree shorter. People buy it as a safety fix. It's the reverse. Each stub sprouts a clump of fast, loosely attached shoots, and the next big wind rips them off. If the height has to come down, crown reduction does it without wrecking the tree.
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 Trimming FAQs
How often should trees be trimmed?
For a grown shade tree here, every three to five years is about right. Young trees do better with a light shaping trim every two or three years while they fill out. Fast growers like a silver maple next to the house may need us sooner, mainly to keep it off the roof and the service line.
Will trimming hurt my tree?
No, not when it follows ANSI A300. We cut just outside the branch collar so the wound closes over, we leave at least three quarters of the green, and climbing spikes never touch a tree that's staying. The stuff that hurts trees is topping, or stripping out every inner branch so it looks like a lion's tail.
Can you trim a tree over my neighbor's house?
Usually, yes, as long as your neighbor is fine with us reaching over their side. Illinois lets you cut back branches hanging over your property line, just not so hard that the tree dies. If it helps, we'll knock on their door with you during the walk-around and explain the plan.
Do you haul away the branches?
Yes. Chipping and hauling the brush is part of every trim. Want the chips for the garden or the flower beds? Point at a spot and we'll dump a pile there for free. The bigger limbs can be bucked into firewood lengths if you burn.
Our Other Tree Services
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