Every cutting job, handled safely – from a single hazardous limb to a full tree takedown. Smith Works brings the right equipment, the right crew, and a professional arborist to every job site.
"Tree cutting" is what people search when they have a tree problem that needs a saw. It's the hands-on, action-oriented side of tree care – the umbrella that covers everything from targeted limb removal to bringing down an 80-foot oak blocking a building project.
At Smith Works, our professional arborist leads every job: assessing risk, planning the cut, and overseeing the crew through cleanup. Whether your concern is property protection, tree health, storm damage, or lot clearing, we match the method and equipment to your specific situation – and leave the site clean when we're done.
Tree cutting is distinct from aesthetic trimming (which focuses on shape and canopy health) and from whole-tree removal alone. It's the full range of hands-on cutting work, planned or urgent, handled safely from assessment through debris haul-away.
Tree problems come in many forms. Here are the situations our Nashville crews respond to most often.
A tree leaning toward your house, a major scaffold branch with a deep crack, or a trunk showing decay is an active safety risk. Our arborist will assess whether cutting can make the tree safe or whether full removal is the right call.
Dead trees lose structural integrity fast. Bark separates, wood becomes brittle, and root anchoring weakens. A dead tree standing near a structure is a ticking hazard – cutting it on your schedule is always safer than waiting for a storm to make that decision for you.
Diseases like oak wilt, thousand cankers disease, and fire blight spread tree to tree through root grafts and insects. Cutting and removing diseased wood promptly – following professional arborist guidance – can protect the healthy trees around it.
After a severe storm, a fallen tree on a fence, driveway, or structure needs immediate attention. We handle emergency storm damage cleanup across Middle Tennessee – safely cutting, chipping, and hauling so you can get back to normal quickly.
Branches growing into or over utility lines create outage risk and create fire conditions in a storm. Cutting back these limbs – using a bucket truck for safe access – keeps lines clear and reduces liability for the property owner.
Overhanging limbs cause roof damage, block gutters, and create moisture problems over time. Some HOA requirements and permit situations call for specific clearance work. We assess, plan, and cut to protect your structure and satisfy any requirements – with a written estimate and documentation of all work completed.
Safe tree cutting isn't one-size-fits-all. Our professional arborist performs a tree risk assessment before every job and selects the method – and the equipment – matched to your specific tree, site, and property conditions.
For accessible trees with clear drop zones, skilled climbers using proper rigging techniques can safely cut and lower sections. Our crew follows ANSI A300 standards on every climb.
Our bucket truck provides stable, elevated access for large limb removal, power line clearance work, and any situation where climbing alone isn't the safest approach. It allows precise positioning without putting crew on an unstable trunk.
Crane-assisted tree removal is the safest approach when a tree is too large, too close to a structure, or in a location where sections can't be safely dropped. The crane controls each section from cut to ground – protecting your roof, fence, and landscape throughout.
When there's no room to fell a tree in one piece – fences on three sides, a car in the driveway, a pool in the backyard – we dismantle the tree from the top down in sections, rigging and lowering each piece under full control.
Every cutting job produces brush and small wood that needs to go somewhere. Our chipper processes branches on site, and the resulting wood chips can be hauled away or left behind for mulch – your call. Large wood sections can be set aside for firewood if you'd like.
We don't consider the job done until the site is clean. Debris haul-away, raking, and blowing are all included. We can add stump grinding to leave the ground level and ready for grass seed, sod, or replanting – just ask when you book your free estimate.
From your first call to a clean property – here's what to expect when you hire Smith Works.
Our professional arborist visits your property, evaluates the tree's condition and structural integrity, and identifies any property protection concerns. You receive a written estimate with upfront pricing before we touch anything.
Before any crew arrives with a chainsaw, we plan: sectional dismantling, crane service, bucket truck, or a straight fell. Drop zones are mapped, property protection measures are set, and a permit is pulled if required by Metro Nashville.
The crew executes the plan under arborist supervision – using rigging, controlled lowering, and barrier protection for your roof, fencing, and landscaping. Every section of wood comes down where we planned it, on our terms.
After the cutting is done, we chip the brush, haul away debris, and rake the area clean. Firewood sections can be left on site on request. Add stump grinding to leave the ground level and ready for whatever comes next.
Storm knocked a tree onto your roof, fence, or driveway? We offer 24/7 emergency response and same-day service across Nashville and Middle Tennessee. Call now and our crew will be en route.
Call Now: 615-782-9966Tree cutting is often one part of a larger property care plan. Smith Works handles the full scope.
When a tree needs to come down entirely – hazardous, dead, or clearing space for a project – we handle the full removal with the right equipment for every situation.
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Ongoing crown care – deadwooding, thinning, raising, and shaping – keeps your trees healthy, structurally sound, and looking their best through every season.
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After a tree comes down, the stump doesn't have to stay. We grind stumps flush to grade, leaving the area clean and ready for whatever comes next.
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Storm damage doesn't wait for business hours. Our 24/7 emergency response team handles fallen trees, dangerous limbs, and urgent hazards across Middle Tennessee.
Learn MoreCommon questions Nashville homeowners and property owners ask about tree cutting services.
Tree trimming is a targeted, health- and aesthetics-focused service: a professional arborist selectively removes dead, crossing, or poorly positioned branches to improve structure, light, and airflow. Tree cutting is the broader, action-oriented category that covers any job involving a saw – from removing a single hazardous limb to felling an entire tree. Think of trimming as part of ongoing tree maintenance, and cutting as the hands-on response when something needs to come down, be reduced, or be cleared.
Metro Nashville requires a Notification of Tree Removal permit for trees on private property meeting certain size thresholds under the city's Urban Forestry regulations. For trees that have already partially failed or pose an immediate hazard, an Emergency Tree Authorization may apply. Whether your specific tree requires a standard permit or qualifies for an emergency authorization depends on its size and condition. Smith Works advises on permit requirements before any cutting begins and can help document hazard conditions.
Yes – this is exactly the type of job we specialize in. Trees leaning toward structures require careful planning before the first cut. Our professional arborists assess the lean, root system, and structural integrity to determine whether sectional dismantling from the top down, crane-assisted removal, or a bucket truck approach is safest. We use rigging and proper lowering techniques to control every section of wood, protecting your roof, fence, and surrounding landscaping throughout the job.
Tree cutting cost depends on several factors: tree size and height, proximity to structures or power lines, the equipment required (bucket truck, crane, or climbers), site access, debris volume, and whether stump grinding is included. A single limb removal may run a few hundred dollars, while a large crane-assisted tree removal can be significantly more. Smith Works provides free written estimates with upfront pricing – you know the full cost before any work begins.
Yes. Full site cleanup – wood chipping, debris haul-away, and raking – is included with every tree cutting job. We leave your property clean. If you'd like wood sections kept for firewood or wood chips left on site for mulch, just let us know before we start and we'll set them aside.
From the neighborhoods of Nashville to the communities across Middle Tennessee, our crews are on the road daily – from Centennial Park to Percy Warner Park, from Green Hills to East Nashville, near Vanderbilt and Belmont campuses, and throughout the Shelby Park and Radnor Lake corridors.
Whether it's a single hazardous limb or a full lot clearing project, Smith Works brings the right crew, the right equipment, and a professional arborist to every job site in Nashville and Middle Tennessee.
"I have used Smith Works for both tree removal and as arborists. For removal they dropped trees in tight places with precision and as arborists gave another 100 years to our 100 year old oak by cleaning it out, removing debris and allowing it to breathe. In both scenarios they protected gardens, fences, etc and did a great job of cleaning up. Excellent folks."
Nashville Resident