Tree removal in Lafayette, Louisiana

How it works

1. Call or send a request

   Tell us your town and what's going on with the tree.

2. We connect you

   Your call goes to an independent tree service that works in Lafayette Parish.

3. They call you back

   They look at the tree in person and quote the work directly.

Who is this for?

Homeowners, landlords and small property managers in Lafayette and the rest of Lafayette Parish: Youngsville and Broussard to the south and east, Carencro to the north, and Scott, Milton and Duson around the edges. If a tree needs to come down, a storm left a mess, a stump is in the way or a big oak has grown over the house, we connect you with a local tree company that can come look at it and give you a written quote.

Does a tree company need a license in Louisiana?

Yes, and that's less common than people expect. Under Louisiana law, the Department of Agriculture and Forestry's Horticulture Commission licenses arborists, and its rule is simple: if you work on trees for a fee, you need an arborist license. That covers removal, pruning, trimming, cabling, fertilizing and cavity work. To get one, a person has to pass the state exam and show proof of general liability insurance, plus workers' compensation where it applies. The LSU AgCenter has pointed out that a license from Texas, Arkansas or Mississippi doesn't let someone do routine tree work here. Ask for the Louisiana license number before anyone climbs.

Why do so many trees come down around Lafayette?

Lafayette sits on the Louisiana prairie terrace, flat ground that gets a lot of rain, a little under 63 inches a year on average at the airport. Saturated soil is where trees lose their grip. The LSU AgCenter lists shallow roots in wet soil, large old trees, very tall trees and trees standing alone as the biggest risk factors for falling in high winds. Add hurricane season and summer thunderstorms, and a tree that looked fine for twenty years can go over in one night. When Hurricane Delta passed through in October 2020, LUS reported about half the city without power, with trees and lines down across the parish.

Which trees are most likely to fail?

Not all yard trees are equal in a storm. The LSU AgCenter, drawing on University of Florida surveys of more than 18,000 trees after Gulf hurricanes, puts live oak, bald cypress, southern magnolia and sweetgum among the most wind-resistant trees. Water oak, laurel oak, pecan, Chinese tallow, Bradford pear and Leyland cypress are on the list with the lowest wind resistance. Those are all common in Lafayette yards. A big water oak or laurel oak over the house is the classic call: fast-growing, often hollow in the middle by the time it's large, and brittle in wind.

Warning signs that a tree may need to come down

• Dead or hanging limbs over the roof, driveway, carport or street
• A new lean, or soil cracking and lifting on one side of the trunk
• Cracks in the trunk, or a split where two main stems meet
• Mushrooms, soft wood or a cavity at the base
• Mud shelter tubes on the bark, a sign of Formosan subterranean termites
• A crown that leafs out thin, or a top that died back after construction nearby

Are termites really a tree problem here?

They can be. LSU AgCenter publication 3092 says Formosan subterranean termites can attack almost any live tree, hollowing it out until it can't support itself and falls. A nest in a yard tree can also hold millions of termites close to your house. Look for mud tubes on the trunk, termites in the soil between the root flares, and swarming from old pruning scars in spring. A tree that's still sound can sometimes be treated by a licensed pest control operator or arborist. One that's badly hollowed is usually a removal. More on hazardous tree removal.

What should I do after a storm?

If a tree or limb is touching a power line, stay back and call your utility. Louisiana law bars unauthorized work within 10 feet of an overhead high-voltage line, and the utility needs advance notice for planned work near one. If a tree is on the house, get people out of those rooms, photograph the damage before anything moves, and call your insurance company. Then call for a tree service. Watch for door knockers after big storms: the LSU AgCenter warns against hiring unlicensed crews who show up soliciting work. More on storm damage tree removal.

Remove it or trim it?

Plenty of problem trees don't need to go. A healthy live oak with a few limbs over the roof is usually a pruning job, not a removal, and the LSU AgCenter rates live oak among the trees most likely to survive a hurricane. A water oak that's hollow at the base, a pecan with a split trunk or a pine leaning toward the house is a different story. A licensed arborist can tell you which you have. More on tree trimming.

What about the stump?

A removal quote doesn't always include the stump, so ask. Grinding takes the stump down below the soil so you can level and reseed. Because the grinder goes into the ground, a careful company will get underground lines marked through Louisiana 811 first. More on stump grinding.

Are you a tree service?

No. Lafayette Tree Removal is a referral service. We connect you with an independent tree company that works near your address, and that company quotes, performs and stands behind the work. Read our tips for hiring a tree service and the Lafayette tree removal guide before you hire anyone.

Areas we cover

• Lafayette
• Youngsville
• Broussard
• Carencro

Planning ahead? Read our Lafayette tree removal guide.