Willow oaks
The classic Richmond street and yard tree. They get huge, shed heavy limbs in storms and lift sidewalks and walls with their roots.
Tree Service · Richmond, VA
Tree Service in Richmond for Tight City Yards and Big Old Oaks
Removals, trimming and stump grinding from the Fan and Church Hill to Northside, Westover Hills and Forest Hill. Planned around alleys, fences and close neighbors.
- Talk directly with the owner
- Written price before work
- Brush chipped and hauled
Or call (804) 253-5876
Who does tree removal and trimming in Richmond, VA?
MG Tree Service is a Richmond-based tree company that removes, trims and grinds stumps for homeowners across the city, including the Fan, Museum District, Church Hill, Northside, Westover Hills, Woodland Heights and Forest Hill. Jobs on small city lots are done in sections with rope when there is no room to drop a tree, and the brush is chipped and hauled away.
Richmond, VA
What Tree Work Looks Like Inside the City
Richmond is an old city with a lot of very big trees on very small lots. In the Fan and the Museum District, a backyard can be a narrow strip between a brick rowhouse and an alley, with a willow oak or a tulip poplar that is now taller than the house. On Church Hill and in Union Hill, yards slope toward the street and trees grow out of retaining walls. South of the James, in Westover Hills, Woodland Heights and Forest Hill, lots are bigger but the trees are older, and many of them lean over two or three properties.
That shapes how a city job gets done. There is rarely room to fell a tree in one piece, so it comes down from the top in sections. Heavy wood is lowered on rope instead of dropped, gates and alleys decide what equipment can reach the backyard, and the chipper often sits in the alley or at the curb. Parking, neighbors and fences are part of the plan from the first visit.
We are based in Richmond, so city jobs are close to home for us. A quick text with a photo is usually enough to start the conversation, and Marcos comes out to look before giving you a written price.
From one of our jobs in the Richmond area.
Local trees
The Trees We Work On Most in Richmond
Richmond has one of the most mature tree canopies in Virginia. These are the species that generate most of our city calls.
Tulip poplars
Tall and fast-growing, with brittle wood. Big poplars near houses are a common removal or reduction request after a storm.
Callery and Bradford pears
Once planted everywhere, now known for splitting apart at the trunk. Many are reaching the age where they fail.
Silver and red maples
Fast growers that often end up too close to the house, with weak crotches and roots near foundations.
What we do here
Common Tree Jobs in Richmond
- 01Backyard removals with alley accessTrees between a house, a fence and an alley taken down in sections and lowered on rope.Tree Removal in Richmond
- 02Roof and porch clearanceLimbs cut back from rooflines, porches and gutters on older homes with big trees close by.Tree Trimming & Pruning in Richmond
- 03Old stumps in small yardsLeftover stumps ground down so a small city yard can be used again.Stump Grinding in Richmond
- 04Storm cleanupBroken limbs and split trees after summer thunderstorms and the remnants of tropical storms.Tree Removal in Richmond
Good to know
Street Trees, Historic Districts and Permits in Richmond
Trees between the sidewalk and the street in Richmond usually belong to the city, not the homeowner. If the tree you are worried about is in that strip, the City of Richmond handles it, and the quickest way to report it is RVA 311. Trees on your own lot are your responsibility, and that is the work we do.
If your home is in a city Old and Historic District, such as parts of Church Hill or the Fan, it is worth checking with the city before major changes to the property. For a normal tree on private residential land, a permit is usually not required, but asking first is cheap and avoids surprises.
Close neighbors matter too. When a tree hangs over the property line, we talk through the plan with you so the work stays on your side and the neighbor knows what is happening.
Where in town
Richmond Neighborhoods We Work In
We work across the city, north and south of the James River.
In a part of Richmond not listed here? Call or text and ask. If we can get the equipment to the tree, we can usually help.
The Fan
Museum District
Church Hill
Union Hill
Northside
Bellevue
Ginter Park
Westover Hills
Woodland Heights
Forest Hill
Near West End
Windsor Farms
Tree Service Questions From Richmond Homeowners
If it grows in the strip between the sidewalk and the street, it is most likely a city street tree, and the City of Richmond handles it through RVA 311. Trees on your lot are yours to maintain.
Yes. Narrow backyards are common in Richmond. The tree comes down in sections, pieces are lowered with rope and carried or chipped from the alley side.
For a normal tree on private residential property, usually not. If you live in a historic district or the tree is near the street, check with the city first. We are happy to plan the job around whatever they tell you.
Richmond is our home base, so we can usually look at storm damage quickly. Call or text a photo and we will tell you what we can do and when.
From the blog
Tree Care Guides for Richmond Homeowners
Costs, timing and what to look for before you hire.
The Best Time of Year to Trim Trees in Virginia
Dormant season is the sweet spot for most trees in Central Virginia, but there are important exceptions. Here is the calendar.
Read the guide
Big Old Shade Trees in Chester, VA: Keep, Prune or Remove?
An old shade tree is hard to replace. Here is how to tell whether yours needs pruning, monitoring or removal.
Read the guide
Clearing a Backyard in Chesterfield County: A Step-by-Step Plan
Turning an overgrown backyard into usable ground goes faster and costs less with a plan. Here is one built for Chesterfield lots.
Read the guideNeed a Tree Handled in Richmond?
Text a photo of the tree, stump or lot and we will set a time to look at it.
Free estimate
Get a Free Estimate in Richmond
Tell us about the tree, the stump or the lot. Send photos if you have them. Marcos gets back to you with a time to come out and look.