Free quote
Free quote
Houston County
Tree removal, pruning and storm work in Crockett and Houston County — Piney Woods pine, old town oaks, forest-edge homesites. 24/7 emergencies.
Crockett is one of the oldest towns in Texas, and it sits where the Piney Woods meet the post oak country to the west. East of town the Davy Crockett National Forest takes over, with loblolly and shortleaf pine, sweetgum and a mix of oaks running all the way to the Neches. West of town the land opens into pasture and post oak. Most of the tree work in Houston County falls into one of those two worlds, and a lot of properties sit right on the line between them.
Call (936) 648-2843 for anything in Crockett, Grapeland, Lovelady, Kennard or anywhere else in Houston County. Storm calls are answered 24/7.
A town as old as Crockett has trees as old as its houses. The streets around the square and the older neighborhoods carry big water oaks, post oaks, pecans and pines that were planted or spared generations ago and have been growing over the roofs ever since.
Age brings the same problems everywhere, but they show up hard here. Water oaks hollow out from the inside while the canopy stays green. Old pines thin at the top and drop limbs. Pecans shed long, heavy wood. And decades of utility trimming, storm breaks and old topping cuts leave decay pockets that nobody has looked at in years. The routine work is deadwood removal, clearance over roofs and drives, and a plain assessment of which trees are sound and which are waiting for a reason to fail.
On tight lots, removals come down in sections on ropes. There is rarely a clear direction to drop a tall tree in an old neighborhood, and there is always something underneath that you would rather not have it land on.
East of Crockett, a homesite is often a clearing in a pine stand. Trees grown close together grow tall and thin, with small crowns high up and roots that never had to hold a tree standing on its own. Open up the stand for a house and a drive, and the trees on the new edge are suddenly exposed to wind they were never built for.
That is the most common reason a healthy-looking pine goes over in the first big storm after a lot is cleared. Thinning the edge selectively, taking the tall, thin, leaning stems near the house, and leaving the sturdier trees is the version that lasts. So is planning the clearing with the wind and the trees in mind before the equipment shows up.
Pine stands also bring pine beetles in drought years and lightning strikes in summer. A single pine that browns out from the top down needs to come out before whatever killed it moves to the trees around it.
West and south of town, Houston County is cattle and hay country. The tree work there is fence lines, pasture edges, and the big oaks around old homesteads. Yaupon, sweetgum and eastern red cedar creep into pasture that is not kept open, and Chinese tallow and privet move along the creeks. Selective clearing, treating the invasives so they do not resprout, and keeping the good post oaks is how that land stays usable.
Tropical systems are weaker by the time they reach Houston County, but they still bring wind and days of rain onto soil that holds water. Spring storm lines bring straight-line wind, hail and the occasional tornado warning. And every so often a winter ice storm reaches this far south, which is hard on pines in particular: ice loads the crown until limbs and tops snap.
After any of those, the first calls are trees on houses, trees across the only drive, and hangers over places where people walk. We answer the phone 24/7 for exactly that.
The soils around Crockett range from sandy loam to red clay, and much of it has a heavy clay layer not far down. Water perches on that layer after a wet stretch, which leaves trees standing in saturated ground right when the wind picks up. It is also why some low corners of a property never seem to dry. Drainage work and the right native plantings can turn those spots from a problem into part of the landscape.
Services
Reviews
I can’t say enough great things about this company! They were incredibly friendly, professional, and truly a breath of fresh air to work with. They safely removed a dead tree from my property and even went above and beyond by neatly stacking the wood for me to use as firewood this year. Their prices were very fair, and the quality of their work exceeded my expectations. The Arborist (billy) helped me identify every tree on my property. If you’re looking for a reliable, honest, educated and skilled tree service, I highly recommend Branching Out Arboreal and Native Plant Specialists — you won’t be disappointed!Victoria Tillman · 8 months ago
Branching Out did an amazing job removing a dangerously dead pine tree from our backyard. The tree was right next to power lines, a transformer pole, fences, and close to our home, so it was a very difficult removal with almost no room for error. The tree was so dead it was basically crumbling while they climbed it, but their crew handled everything safely and professionally without causing any damage at all. What made the job even more difficult was that another healthy tree had actually started growing out of the dead pine, and they were able to carefully remove the pine while saving the healthy tree as well. A few weeks later, another company working nearby actually dropped a tree into power lines and took down a transformer pole — which made us even more grateful we hired Branching Out. These guys clearly know what they’re doing. Highly recommend them for any tree removal or dangerous tree work.Kenzi Standley · 2 months ago
First I want to say Branching Out is a professional company. After talking to Billy he sent me a printed quote for the work we had viewed and discussed . He removed three trees for us. His price was far more reasonable than the three other verbal quotes I had received. Also the other companies came back with lower offers after their bids were rejected. The bids were still not as low as Branching Out. The job was done super well and we enjoyed working with his whole crew, including his associate Tyler who did the stump grinding.Judy Price · a month ago
They did an excellent job cutting down a tall dead pine that was in a tight spot—no one’s favorite thing to do! Great communication, friendly, professional, and courteous. We had a challenge finding someone to service our area, so we are grateful and would highly recommend.everyotherone12 · a year ago
I was trying to save a tree and most companies want to just cut them down. But Kat & Billy went over and beyond to help me save my tree. They had to cut off alot more of the rotton branches than expected. But at least I should be able to keep this tree for were hoping another 5 yrs so I have time to get another one planted and growing before I lose this one. It's my only shade tree. They were very reasonable in thier prices and very knowledgeable. Would definitely use them again and refer them out. Thanks guysKim Taylor · a year ago
Reviews from Google · read them all
Nearby
Questions
Yes. Houston County borders Walker County, and we work every county that touches Walker. Call and describe what you have, from one tree in town to a homesite out in the pines.
Have it looked at soon. A pine that browns out quickly, especially from the top, may have been hit by lightning or by beetles, and either way it is not coming back. Taking it out promptly protects the house and can keep the problem from spreading to the pines next to it.
Often, yes, but selectively. The tall, thin, leaning trees close to the house are the ones to take. The sturdier trees further out are your windbreak, and clearing everything tends to expose whatever is left to wind it cannot handle.
Yes. Ice-loaded pines snap and hang limbs in the canopy, and those hangers are dangerous for days afterward. They come out from a rope, not a ladder.
On pine ground, letting native regeneration come back is often the best plan: loblolly and shortleaf seedlings, with oaks and dogwood coming in underneath, once the privet and tallow are kept out. Around houses and in town, Texas redbud, American beautyberry, southern wax myrtle and native oaks suit the sandy loam and red clay. In low, wet spots, bald cypress and swamp chestnut oak tolerate the water that kills other trees. Whatever goes in, it should be chosen for the soil and the space it will have in thirty years, not for how it looks in the nursery pot, so it does not become the next tree hanging over the roof.
Call (936) 648-2843, day or night for storm damage.
Get in touch
Call and talk to someone who does the work, or send the details and we'll get back to you.
Call (936) 648-2843