Tree Service in Mobile, AL

Tree Service in Mobile starts with a question most homeowners never think to ask: whose tree is it, and which of the city's rules apply to it? The City of Mobile treats every tree in the public right-of-way as a city tree. On private lots, the answer depends on whether the parcel is developed, whether it sits inside a historic district, and what species and trunk size the tree is. We sort that out on the first visit so you are not surprised by a stop-work notice or a fine halfway through a job.

Three situations we see most

A developed home lot outside the historic districts. For a tree that is not in the right-of-way, the city's permit page says no permit is needed. This covers most houses in west Mobile and the newer subdivisions.

A home inside a historic district. Oakleigh Garden, Old Dauphin Way, De Tonti Square, Ashland Place, Midtown and the city's other designated districts carry a lower threshold. A Heritage Tree of 8 inches in diameter at breast height (DBH) or larger needs a permit there. The city's My Place map will tell you whether your address is inside a district.

A tree between the sidewalk and the street. That is usually right-of-way. Any pruning, moving or removal needs a permit from the Mobile Tree Commission, and the city's FAQ says the work must be done by a certified, licensed and bonded arborist under Section 65-9 of the city code. You can also report a problem with a city tree to Mobile 311.

What counts as a Heritage Tree

The city's list covers hickory, longleaf pine, magnolia, oak (water oak excluded), river birch, sweetgum, sycamore and yellow poplar at 18 inches DBH or more. That list includes the big live oaks and Southern magnolias that shade so many Mobile yards. Water oak is specifically excluded, and it is the tree we most often recommend taking down. It grows fast, its wood is weak, and LSU AgCenter notes the trunks often rot by the time the tree is about 50 years old.

Storm history you can see in the canopy

Hurricane Frederic passed over the heart of the city on September 12, 1979; the airport recorded a 97 mph gust. On Christmas Day 2012, an EF-2 tornado ran from southwest of downtown across midtown toward Prichard. Zeta brought a 91 mph gust at Mobile Regional Airport in October 2020, only weeks after Sally. Many of the oaks standing today have old wounds from those storms. A tree that lost a leader in 1979 or 2020 can look healthy for years while decay works behind the scar. When we look at a big tree, we check the old wounds first.

Rain, soil and roots

A 2007 study cited on Wikipedia ranked Mobile as the wettest city in the contiguous 48 states, averaging 66.3 inches a year. Constant moisture is good for growth but hard on roots. Saturated ground lets a heavy crown lever itself over, and shallow-rooted trees in low parts of town are the first to go when a slow tropical system sits overhead. We look at where water stands on your lot before deciding how much weight to take out of a crown.

Cleanup that fits the city's pickup rules

The city's trash rules say debris from a paid tree service is the contractor's to haul, not a curbside pickup item. Our quotes include hauling unless you ask us to leave firewood or chips. For your own small yard work, piles are limited to about 2 cubic yards, and limbs over 12 inches thick or 6 feet long are not collected. Call (251) 355-2051 or ask for a visit online. Get a free estimate