Who does tree work
Several kinds of businesses take tree jobs around Moore County. Tree companies take down and prune big trees from the top, working with climbers, lifts and now and then a crane, and most of them also grind stumps and deal with the wood by chipping or hauling it. Some businesses are led by arborists and focus on pruning, tree health and judging whether a tree is likely to fail. Lawn and landscape companies often trim small ornamental trees as part of regular yard care. Some operators only grind stumps, and land clearing outfits work whole lots with heavy machines.
Match the business to the work. Dismantling a 100-foot longleaf beside a two-story house is a different job from lifting the lower limbs of a dogwood by the front walk.
What the job involves
A removal starts with a look at the tree, what sits under it and how much open ground surrounds it. From there the crew decides between felling it whole, dismantling it in sections, or lifting it with a crane. The wood is chipped, cut into rounds or hauled away, and the stump is ground or left. A good trim follows NC State Extension's basics: cuts just outside the branch collar, three cuts on heavy limbs, no topping and no wound paint (checked Nov 9, 2026). See tree removal and tree trimming.
Local questions to settle early
| Issue | What to sort out | Office (checked Nov 9, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Street trees | Whether the tree is in the town's right-of-way | Southern Pines Parks & Grounds, 910-692-4863; Pinehurst Public Services, 910-295-5021 |
| Pinehurst historic district | Whether a front-yard tree needs a certificate of appropriateness | Pinehurst Planning, (910) 295-8659 |
| Woodpecker review | Red Zone or Clear Zone on the federal map; any white-banded pines | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, (919) 856-4520 |
| Burning | Not allowed in Southern Pines or Pinehurst; permit and bans outside town | N.C. Forest Service, Moore County, 910-235-0216 |
| Stump grinding | NC 811 ticket at least three full working days ahead | 811 or 1-800-632-4949 |
| Service wire | Whether the line to the house needs disconnecting first | Duke Energy, Central Electric or Randolph EMC |
Questions to ask the contractor
- What business name, street address and phone number will be on the written agreement?
- How will the tree come down, and where will each piece land?
- How will the roof, gutters, deck, pool screen, fence, irrigation and septic area be protected?
- Will the logs, brush and chips be hauled, chipped or left? If left, where?
- Who will file the NC 811 ticket before grinding, and how deep will the stump go?
- For a trim: which limbs exactly, and will any tree be topped?
- Will climbing spikes be used on a tree I'm keeping?
- Does the service wire need to be disconnected, and who will call the utility?
- If the lot is in the federal Red Zone or a pine is marked, who handles the Fish and Wildlife Service steps?
- If I'm in Pinehurst's historic district, who checks whether village approval is needed?
- Could I speak with a couple of recent customers nearby?
- What's the deposit, and what must be finished before the balance comes due?
What the written agreement should say
The N.C. Department of Justice advises getting a contract before work starts that lists "all the work to be performed, its costs and a completion date" (checked Nov 9, 2026). Applied to a tree job, the paper should identify the contractor by name, street address and phone, and list every tree included by species and location. It should spell out the method, any pruning cuts, whether the stump is ground and how deep, and what happens to logs, brush and chips. It should also give the start date, the total price, any money due up front, and what has to be done before the remaining balance comes due. On a storm job, ask that it describe what's resting on what and how the crew will get it off.
Cautions from the state
The N.C. Department of Justice's disaster guidance for homeowners lists warnings that matter when hiring for tree work (checked Nov 9, 2026):
- Don't pay in advance. Inspect the work before paying. A reasonable down payment may be needed on some jobs, but avoid paying in cash; use a check or a card.
- Be wary of door-to-door offers. The department warns about contractors who go door to door offering services after a disaster, and suggests asking people you trust for recommendations instead.
- Know the price gouging law. After the governor declares a state of emergency, North Carolina's law against excessive pricing applies, and courts can impose civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation.
- Report problems. Call 1-877-5-NO-SCAM or file a complaint at ncdoj.gov.
In a February 18, 2025 release, the department noted it had sued a tree removal company accused of overcharging a Hendersonville couple by $25,500 (checked Nov 9, 2026). The N.C. Department of Insurance adds that you shouldn't make permanent repairs until your insurance company has inspected storm damage, and that photos taken before temporary repairs help a claim (checked Nov 9, 2026).
Where hiring goes wrong
- A vague drop plan. "We'll be careful" isn't a plan. Ask where each piece will land.
- Nothing in writing. Without an agreement, the cleanup and the stump are open to argument.
- Full payment before the work. State officials advise against it.
- A trim that turns into a topping. NC State Extension calls topping an inappropriate pruning practice that leaves trees more likely to drop branches.
- A fire in town. Burning brush isn't allowed in Southern Pines or Pinehurst.
- Skipping the woodpecker check. Federal rules for marked pines and Red Zone lots apply no matter who does the cutting.
When this guide isn't the right fit
Clearing a wooded lot for a new house or a pasture is land clearing, a different job with heavier equipment and its own permit steps. A worry about a neighbor's tree begins with a talk with the neighbor, plus a call to your insurance company once the tree is already down. For a legal dispute, talk to a lawyer; this site doesn't give legal advice.
Hiring questions
Is a landscaping company enough, or do I need a tree company?
For a small ornamental tree someone can prune while standing on the lawn, a landscaper may do. Tall pines, limbs above the roof and anything close to a power line call for a tree company. Ask either one the same questions.
How much of a deposit is reasonable?
Agree on the amount in writing before work begins. The Department of Justice's advice is to avoid paying for work in advance, beyond a reasonable down payment where one is needed, and to avoid cash.
A crew knocked on my door after the storm. Should I hire them?
Take your time. The Department of Justice specifically warns about door-to-door offers after disasters. Get the work, the price and a completion date in writing either way.
If I send a request through this site, who shows up?
One independent contractor who works in Moore County. This referral site hands the request over and does no tree work itself.
This site sends your request to one independent contractor who works in Moore County. It doesn't take on tree jobs.
- N.C. Department of Justice, Disaster page and price gouging release (February 18, 2025). N.C. Department of Insurance release (September 25, 2024). Checked Nov 9, 2026.
- NC State Extension, General Pruning Techniques (AG-780-03, reviewed March 5, 2025). Checked Nov 9, 2026.
- Town of Southern Pines, Trees page; Village of Pinehurst, Planning and Local Historic District pages; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Moore County project review; N.C. Forest Service, Moore County contacts; NC 811 FAQ; Duke Energy, Trees and Safety; North Carolina's Electric Cooperatives, Report an Outage. Checked Nov 9, 2026.