Frequently Asked Questions

At Big South Land & Tree LLC, we believe customers deserve clear answers before work begins. Below are answers to some of the most common questions we receive about tree removal, pruning, land clearing, stump grinding, storm cleanup, estimates, scheduling, and payment options.

Do you provide free estimates?

Yes. Big South provides free estimates for most residential and commercial tree service projects within our normal service area.

Some specialized services—such as formal tree risk assessments, written arborist reports, consulting, extensive site evaluations, or projects requiring significant travel or plan review—may require a professional assessment fee. Any applicable fee will be discussed before the appointment is scheduled.

Are you licensed and insured?

Big South Land & Tree LLC is fully insured for the services we perform.

Our team includes an ISA Certified Arborist and Tree Risk Assessment Qualified professional provided. We also operate in accordance with applicable industry safety practices and recognized tree-care standards.

Certificates of insurance are attached to every formal quote provided by Big South. Clients can be endorsed as additional insured on our policy when required for commercial projects, municipalities, general contractors, property managers, and homeowners associations.

Do you have a Certified Arborist?

Yes. Big South is owned and operated by an ISA Certified Arborist with Tree Risk Assessment Qualification. (Johnny Sheffield SO-10302A)

This means our recommendations are based on tree species, structure, condition, surrounding targets, site limitations, and long-term tree health—not simply on how quickly a tree can be cut down.

What areas do you serve?

Big South serves residential, commercial, municipal, and contractor clients throughout Northeast Georgia, including areas around:

• Jefferson
• Jackson County
• Athens
• Clarke County
• Gainesville
• Hall County
• Braselton
• Hoschton
• Commerce
• Banks County
• Watkinsville
• Winterville
• Flowery Branch
• Banks County
• Northeast Georgia

Projects outside our normal service area may be accepted depending on the scope of work.

What services do you offer?

Big South provides a wide range of tree, land, and property services, including:

• Tree removal
• Crane-assisted tree removal
• Tree pruning
• 24/7/365 Emergency Response
• Tree risk assessments
• Emergency and storm-damage response
• Homeowner’s Insurance Documenting and Billing
• Stump grinding
• Stumping and grubbing
• Forestry mulching
• Land clearing
• Brush removal
• Debris hauling
• Grading and site preparation
• Driveway and construction entrance work
• Culvert installation
• Demolition and cleanup services

Availability may vary based on project location, access, permitting requirements, and equipment needs.

How much does tree removal cost?

Tree removal pricing depends on several factors, including:

• Tree size
• Tree species
• Tree condition
• Proximity to structures
• Access for equipment
• Terrain and slope
• Utility lines
• Crane requirements
• Debris volume
• Stump removal
• Disposal requirements

A small tree in an open area may be relatively simple. A large, compromised tree over a house, fence, septic system, road, or utility line may require specialized equipment and significantly more planning.

The only reliable way to price a tree removal is to inspect the site.

Can you give me a price from a photo?

We encourage sending us photos. Photos are helpful for understanding the general scope of work, but they rarely show everything needed for an accurate quote.

Tree height, lean, trunk condition, equipment access, terrain, overhead hazards, underground utilities, debris volume, surrounding property and distance to the dump all affect the final price.

We may be able to provide a preliminary range from photos, but final pricing generally requires an on-site evaluation.

Do you offer emergency tree service?

Yes. Big South responds to storm-damaged, fallen, split, uprooted, and hazardous trees when scheduling and conditions allow.

Emergency work may include:

• Trees on homes or buildings
• Trees blocking driveways or roads
• Broken limbs over structures
• Trees resting on utility or communication lines
• Immediate hazard mitigation
• Storm debris removal

Emergency pricing may differ from standard scheduled work due to after-hours response, hazardous conditions, limited access, crane requirements, or the need to mobilize equipment immediately.

What should I do if a tree falls on my house?

First, make sure everyone is safe and stay away from damaged electrical lines, unstable limbs, and compromised areas of the structure.

Contact emergency services or the utility provider when necessary. Then contact your insurance carrier and Big South.

We can document the damage, stabilize or remove the tree when conditions allow, and provide an itemized invoice for the work performed.

Big South does not act as a public adjuster and cannot interpret insurance coverage or negotiate the claim on your behalf.

Will insurance pay for tree removal?

Insurance coverage varies by carrier, policy, cause of loss, and whether a covered structure or access point was damaged or blocked.

Insurance may cover certain emergency tree-removal costs when a tree damages a covered structure. It may not cover removal of a standing tree simply because it is dead, leaning, or considered dangerous.

Your insurance carrier or adjuster must determine coverage.

Do you handle insurance claims?

We frequently perform tree and storm-damage work associated with insurance claims.

Big South can:

• Photograph and document site conditions
• Provide an itemized estimate or invoice
• Separate emergency mitigation from additional work
• Communicate factual information about the work performed
• Provide insurance documentation when requested

We do not determine coverage, act as an adjuster, or guarantee reimbursement.

Do you remove trees near power lines?

Trees near power lines require careful evaluation.

In some cases, the utility company must first disconnect, de-energize, remove, or protect the lines. Big South will not perform work that creates an unacceptable electrical hazard.

Communication lines, service drops, primary electrical conductors, transformers, and other utility infrastructure may require different procedures.

Each situation is evaluated individually.

Will you remove a healthy tree?

Yes, provided the tree can be removed safely and the removal complies with applicable laws, neighborhood restrictions, permits, easements, and property ownership requirements.

Customers remove healthy trees for many reasons, including:

• Construction
• Property improvements
• Excessive shade
• Root conflicts
• Views
• Pool installation
• Septic work
• Storm concerns
• Landscape redesign
• Proximity to structures

When preservation is a practical option, we may recommend pruning or another alternative.

Do you top trees?

Big South will NOT top trees. Big South generally does not recommend indiscriminate tree topping.

Topping can create weak regrowth, large decay columns, poor structure, increased maintenance, and future hazards.

When clearance or height reduction is needed, we evaluate whether selective reduction pruning, structural pruning, removal, or another method is more appropriate.

How much can be pruned from a tree?

The general rule of thumb is to not remove any more than 1/3 of tree canopy during one growing season. The amount of live canopy that can be safely removed depends on:

• Tree species
• Age
• Health
• Existing defects
• Pruning history
• Time of year
• Site conditions
• The reason for pruning

Removing too much canopy at one time can stress the tree and create long-term problems.

Big South considers the tree’s biology and structure before determining an appropriate pruning scope.

Can you prune trees away from my house?

Yes. We regularly prune trees to improve clearance from:

• Roofs
• Siding
• Gutters
• Driveways
• Parking areas
• Fences
• Signs
• Streetlights
• Poultry houses
• Commercial buildings
• Other structures

The amount of clearance depends on tree species, branch structure, tree health, and the location of suitable pruning points.

Will pruning stop limbs from growing back?

No. Trees continue to grow after pruning.

Proper pruning can create temporary clearance, improve branch structure, reduce selected end weight, and redirect growth. However, routine maintenance may still be necessary.

Fast-growing species generally require pruning more frequently than slower-growing species.

Do you grind stumps?

Yes. Stump grinding can be included with tree removal or performed as a separate service. Big South also unearths stumps with heavy equipment and hauls them away for disposal to fulfill building and construction requirements.

Standard stump grinding generally includes grinding the main stump and visible surface roots within the agreed work area. Grinding depth and cleanup will be specified in the estimate.

Deep root removal, excavation, complete grubbing, or preparation for foundations, paving, utilities, or construction may require additional equipment and pricing.

What happens to the stump grindings?

Unless otherwise stated in the quote, it is industry standard that stump grindings are typically left on-site near the stump.

The material can often be used to fill the grinding area after excess debris is removed. Hauling stump grindings away can usually be added for an additional charge.

Will stump grinding remove every root?

No. Stump grinding removes the stump and selected visible surface roots (root chasing) within the agreed area. It does not remove the entire underground root system.

Complete root removal generally requires excavation or grubbing with heavy equipment.

Do you call before digging?

When work may disturb the ground, underground utility location requirements must be addressed before excavation, stump removal, grading, trenching, or similar operations.

Public utility locating services generally mark participating public utilities. They may not locate private lines such as:

• Irrigation systems
• Invisible dog fences
• Private electrical lines
• Septic components
• Propane lines
• Landscape lighting
• Well lines
• Private water lines

The property owner is responsible for identifying and marking private utilities and underground improvements.

Will heavy equipment damage my yard?

Big South takes reasonable precautions to reduce unnecessary property disturbance. However, tree removal, land clearing, stump work, hauling, and equipment access can affect turf, soil, landscaping, driveways, and soft ground.

Ground protection mats may be used when practical, but they cannot eliminate all risk.

Weather, soil moisture, slope, equipment weight, access limitations, and the scope of work all influence the amount of disturbance.

Do you repair lawn damage?

Unless specifically included in the quote, routine tree-service pricing does not include full lawn restoration, irrigation repair, landscaping replacement, sod installation, or repair of unmarked underground systems.

Rough grading, seed, straw, topsoil, or additional restoration services may be added when appropriate.

What happens to the logs and debris?

Debris handling depends on the proposal.

Possible options include:

• Chipping brush
• Hauling chips
• Leaving chips on-site
• Removing logs
• Leaving firewood-length logs
• Staging logs for later pickup
• Hauling debris with grapple trucks
• Dispersing chips in surrounding wooded areas

The quote will state what is included.

When logs are staged for separate pickup, they may remain on-site temporarily until the hauling truck is available.

Can I keep the wood chips?

Usually, yes.

Wood chips may be left in a designated area when requested and when access allows. Customers should understand that fresh chips can be bulky and may contain leaves, twigs, bark, and mixed wood material.

Do you sell firewood?

Firewood availability varies. Tree-service wood is not always cut, split, seasoned, or suitable for immediate burning.

Any firewood arrangement should be discussed before the project begins.

Do you remove all debris?

Only the debris specifically included in the written scope of work will be removed.

Existing brush piles, storm debris, logs, construction waste, trash, unrelated vegetation, and material outside the quoted work area are not automatically included.

Customers should review the proposal carefully before approval.

Do you provide land clearing?

Yes. Big South performs residential, commercial, municipal, agricultural, and construction-related land clearing.

Services may include:

• Tree removal
• Brush clearing
• Forestry mulching
• Stump removal
• Grubbing
• Debris hauling
• Burning preparation where permitted
• Rough grading
• Site development
• Access road preparation
• Construction entrances
• Culvert installation
• Structure demolition and hauling

Land-clearing prices depend heavily on location, acreage, vegetation density, tree size, terrain, disposal requirements, environmental restrictions, and the desired finished condition.

What is the difference between forestry mulching and land clearing?

Forestry mulching uses specialized equipment to grind brush, saplings, and certain trees into mulch that remains on-site.

Traditional land clearing may involve removing trees, extracting stumps, hauling debris, grading, and preparing the site for construction or another use.

Forestry mulching is often ideal for:

• Overgrown property
• Trails
• Hunting land
• Fence lines
• Underbrush reduction
• Property maintenance
• Improving access

It is not always suitable when the goal is a completely grubbed, construction-ready site.

Do you remove all stumps during land clearing?

Only when stump removal or grubbing is included in the proposal.

Some clearing projects remove above-ground vegetation while leaving stumps and roots in place. Construction-related clearing often requires stumps to be removed.

The intended use of the property determines the appropriate method.

Do I need a permit?

Permit requirements vary by municipality, county, subdivision, project type, zoning, stream-buffer restrictions, and property conditions.

The property owner is generally responsible for confirming any tree-removal restrictions, homeowners association requirements, easements, covenants, or local regulations unless the proposal specifically states that Big South will obtain a permit.

For certain demolition, driveway, culvert, grading, or land-disturbance projects, Big South may assist with or obtain permits as stated in the contract.

Do you work in stream buffers or protected areas?

Work near streams, wetlands, protected buffers, floodplains, easements, or environmentally sensitive areas may be restricted.

Big South will perform only the work permitted by the applicable plans, permits, agencies, and site restrictions.

Additional erosion-control measures, hand work, limited equipment access, or specialized procedures may be required.

Do you work for commercial clients and contractors?

Yes. Big South works with:

• General contractors
• Property managers
• Developers
• Municipalities
• Homeowners associations
• Insurance professionals
• Restoration contractors
• Utility contractors
• Agricultural operations
• Commercial property owners

We can provide project-specific proposals, certificates of insurance, subcontractor documentation, site plans, safety documentation, and scheduled production work when required.

Can you work as a subcontractor?

Yes. Big South performs subcontracted tree removal, clearing, vegetation management, hauling, grading, and related site work.

All subcontracted work must be governed by a written scope, agreed pricing, payment terms, insurance requirements, and project schedule.

How quickly can you schedule the work?

Scheduling depends on:

• Current workload
• Project size
• Weather
• Emergency calls
• Utility coordination
• Permits
• Equipment availability
• Ground conditions
• Crane availability
• Customer approval and deposit requirements

Smaller jobs may be scheduled sooner. Large projects may require multiple mobilizations or coordination with other contractors.

Estimated scheduling windows are not guaranteed completion dates unless specifically stated in writing.

What happens if it rains?

Rain can affect equipment access, soil conditions, safety, cleanup quality, crane setup, hauling, and the risk of property damage.

Big South may postpone or reschedule work when conditions are unsafe or likely to cause unreasonable damage.

Weather delays do not constitute abandonment of the project.

Do I need to be home during the work?

Not always.

Many projects can be completed while the customer is away, provided:

• The work area is accessible
• Vehicles are moved
• Gates are unlocked
• Pets are secured
• Utilities are marked
• The scope is clearly approved
• Payment arrangements are complete

Any special instructions should be provided before the crew arrives.

What should I do before the crew arrives?

Customers should:

• Move vehicles from the work area
• Remove fragile decorations and furniture
• Unlock gates
• Secure pets
• Identify septic systems
• Identify irrigation systems
• Mark private utilities
• Inform us of underground tanks or lines
• Provide access to the property
• Notify neighbors when access may affect them

The proposal may contain additional site-specific requirements.

Will you move my personal property?

Customers should move vehicles, trailers, toys, furniture, decorations, planters, grills, and other movable items before work begins.

Big South may assist in moving certain items when practical, but we are not responsible for damage to property left within the active work zone unless caused by negligence.

Can I add more work while the crew is there?

Yes.

Additional work must be approved and priced before it is performed. Crew members are not authorized to provide free work or make major changes to the contract without approval.

Added work may affect the schedule, equipment requirements, debris volume, and final invoice.

Will the crew perform work that is not listed on the quote?

No. The written proposal controls the scope of work.

Verbal discussions, assumptions, or unrelated requests are not included unless added to the proposal or approved as a written change order.

This protects both the customer and Big South from confusion.

Do you require a deposit?

Deposit requirements depend on project size, equipment reservations, material costs, subcontracted services, mobilization requirements, and scheduling.

Any required deposit will be listed in the proposal.

Emergency work, crane work, large clearing projects, demolition, and projects requiring third-party equipment may have different payment terms or requirements.

What payment methods do you accept?

Big South accepts commonly available payment methods as stated on the invoice or proposal.

Payment options may include:

• Check
• Electronic payment
• Bank transfer
• Credit or debit card
• Approved financing

Processing fees or payment conditions may apply to certain methods.

Do you offer financing?

Yes. Financing options are available for qualified customers through a third-party financing provider.

Every approved quote may include an estimated monthly payment and a secure prequalification link when financing is available.

Financing is subject to lender approval, eligibility requirements, terms, and conditions. Big South does not make credit decisions.

When is payment due?

Unless otherwise stated in writing, payment is due according to the terms shown on the proposal, contract, or invoice.

Residential work is generally due upon completion. Larger projects may require deposits, progress payments, scheduled draws, or milestone billing.

Insurance involvement does not automatically delay the customer’s payment obligation unless written terms state otherwise.

Do you negotiate pricing?

Big South prices work based on labor, equipment, risk, insurance, disposal, travel, site conditions, and the resources required to complete the project safely and professionally.

We may be able to adjust the scope of work to meet a budget. For example, customers may choose to:

• Leave logs on-site
• Keep wood chips
• Remove stump grinding
• Divide the project into phases
• Prioritize the most hazardous work
• Use financing

We do not reduce prices by cutting necessary safety measures or performing work improperly.

Why is your quote higher than another company’s?

Tree-service quotes may appear similar while including very different levels of insurance, equipment, cleanup, experience, safety planning, debris removal, and professional oversight.

Before comparing quotes, confirm that each proposal includes the same:

• Trees
• Pruning specifications
• Stump work
• Cleanup
• Hauling
• Equipment
• Insurance coverage
• Property protection
• Payment terms

The cheapest quote is not always the same job.

Is accepting the quote a contract?

Once a proposal is approved, it becomes an agreement between the customer and Big South, subject to the terms included with the proposal.

Customers should review the entire scope, exclusions, payment terms, and project conditions before approval.

Can I cancel after approving the quote?

Cancellation terms depend on the project and the stage of scheduling.

Charges may apply when Big South has already:

• Reserved equipment
• Scheduled a crane
• Mobilized crews
• Obtained permits
• Ordered materials
• Hired subcontractors
• Declined other work
• Begun project preparation

Any applicable cancellation terms will be governed by the approved agreement.

Do you guarantee that a tree will never fail?

No tree-service company can guarantee that a tree or limb will never fail.

Trees are living organisms exposed to weather, decay, insects, soil changes, construction impacts, hidden defects, and other unpredictable forces.

Professional evaluation and pruning can reduce certain risks, but they cannot eliminate all risk.

Do you guarantee grass, landscaping, driveways, or underground systems will not be affected?

Big South takes reasonable precautions, but tree work and heavy equipment involve unavoidable limitations.

We cannot guarantee zero impact to:

• Turf
• Soil
• Landscaping
• Irrigation
• Unmarked utilities
• Septic systems
• Soft asphalt
• Decorative concrete
• Hidden drainage systems
• Unstable driveways

Known fragile or restricted areas must be disclosed before work begins.

Why should I hire Big South?

Big South combines professional tree knowledge, specialized equipment, field experience, and direct ownership involvement.

Our goal is not merely to remove trees. Our goal is to provide the right solution for the property, protect surrounding assets, communicate clearly, and complete the work with power, precision, and execution.

Still Have Questions?

Every property and every tree is different.

Contact Big South Land & Tree LLC to schedule an estimate or discuss your project.

Big South Land & Tree LLC
Power. Precision. Execution.