Tree Removal in Salem, Oregon

The short version: we take down trees of any size in Salem, including tall firs and protected oaks next to houses, and we handle the stump and the clean-up. The estimate is free and in writing. Call or text (503) 551-5141.

What makes tree removal in Salem different?

Two things: the size of the trees and how close they are to houses. South Salem and West Salem are full of Douglas firs well over 100 feet tall standing a few steps from a roof, and the older neighborhoods have Oregon white oaks that were there before the streets. Those trees come down in pieces. A climber or the bucket truck works from the top, and every section is lowered on a rope.

A customer put it this way: “They are the best in Salem, hands down. We had some really challenging trees to remove, including one that was parallel to the ground and hanging over our house and fence. Got it down with ease.”

Do you need a permit to remove a tree in Salem?

For a significant tree, yes. The city defines that as an Oregon white oak 20 inches or more in diameter, or most other trees 30 inches or more. Street trees and trees near streams have separate rules. The city generally wants an arborist’s report with the application, and we write those. See arborist reports and the City of Salem tree regulations.

One of our customers was told by another company that his tree was about to become protected and had to come out right away. It was not true. We will tell you what the rules actually say.

Ash trees in Salem

Emerald ash borer was found in South Salem in July 2026. A dying ash gets brittle fast, so if yours is declining, it is safer and cheaper to remove it before it is dead. Marion County is under quarantine, so the wood stays inside the quarantine area.

Which trees do we remove most in Salem?

• Douglas fir. The tall ones along back fences in South Salem and on the West Salem hills. Root rot and storm damage are the usual reasons.
• Oregon white oak. Protected at 20 inches and up inside the city. We remove them when they are dead or failing and the city has signed off.
• Bigleaf maple. Fast growing, heavy limbed and prone to decay where old limbs broke off.
• Birch. Killed by bronze birch borer all over town, and brittle once dead.
• Cottonwood and poplar near Mill Creek, Pringle Creek and the river, where the wood is weak and the trees are huge.
• Ornamentals planted too close to the house forty years ago: blue spruce, sequoia, flowering plum.

What about the neighbors, the street and the yard?

City lots are tight, so a Salem removal is partly a logistics job. We look at where the trucks and chipper can park, whether a limb hangs over the neighbor’s side, where the wood can be lowered and what has to be protected: fences, sheds, garden beds, the lawn. One customer wrote that the crew was “thoughtful about access to properties near us”. Another said we were “very careful of our landscaping”. That is the part you notice after we leave.

If a tree stands on a property line or overhangs a neighbor, talk to them before the work is scheduled. It saves everyone trouble.

When is the best time to remove a tree in Salem?

Any time it is dangerous. Otherwise, late summer through fall is the busiest season, because people want problem trees gone before the winter wind. Winter and early spring are often easier to schedule, the ground is the only limit, and leafless trees are quicker to take apart.

How does a removal go?

One of our certified arborists looks at the tree and gives you a written price. The office schedules the day and confirms it with you. The crew takes the tree down, chips the brush, hauls or leaves the wood as you prefer, grinds the stump if you want it gone and rakes up. Read the full tree removal page for details.