Your main options
1. Haul it all away
The simplest choice. The crew chips the brush and loads the logs, and your yard is clean when they leave. It's also the most expensive, because hauling and dumping big logs takes time, trucks and disposal fees. Ask whether your quote includes it.
2. Leave the logs, take the brush
A common middle ground. The crew chips the branches and cuts the trunk into rounds you can split, stack or give away. This can cut the price noticeably on a large tree. Neighbors with wood stoves are often happy to come pick up free rounds.
3. Keep the chips
Most crews would rather not haul chips, so many will dump a load in your yard if you ask. Wood chips make good mulch for beds, paths and the base of trees. Keep them pulled back a few inches from trunks and the house foundation.
4. Something bigger
A straight, large trunk from an oak, walnut or cherry can sometimes be milled into lumber by someone with a portable sawmill. It's worth a call if you have a big, clean log and somewhere to let the boards dry. Most yard trees have nails, wire or rot that make milling impractical, though.
City and town brush pickup
If you're doing the cleanup yourself, check what your local government will collect.
- Chattanooga: the city's brush collection takes natural wood like tree limbs and hedge trimmings. The city's limits are 8 feet long, 18 inches in diameter and 4 feet high. Treated wood isn't accepted, and land-clearing debris and contractors' debris aren't collected. Use the city's brush collection page or 311 to find your pickup.
- Signal Mountain runs its own brush and leaf pickup and mulch program. See the town's public works page.
- Other towns and North Georgia: rules vary. Call your city or county before you build a big pile at the curb.
A whole tree is usually more than curbside pickup is designed for, which is why most removal quotes include some hauling.
Firewood tips
- Split it and stack it off the ground, bark side up on top, with the sides open to the air.
- Give it time. Most hardwood needs six months to a year to dry. Oak needs the longest.
- Don't stack it against the house. Woodpiles attract termites and carpenter ants.
- Burn it close to home. Moving firewood long distances spreads tree-killing insects and diseases. Tennessee also has a firewood quarantine for wood brought in from other states.
And the stump?
The stump is usually a separate line on the quote. Grinding it below the grass leaves a pile of chips and soil you can use to fill the hole or spread as mulch. See stump grinding and what it costs.
Tell us what you want to keep
When you request a quote, mention whether you want the wood hauled away, left as rounds, or chips dumped on site. It helps the crew price the job accurately the first time. Call (423) 356-6500 or use the form below.
Common questions
Is haul-away included in a tree removal quote?
Not always. Some quotes include hauling away all the wood and brush, while others leave the logs on site. Ask for it in writing, because haul-away can be a big part of the cost on a large tree.
Will the City of Chattanooga pick up logs?
The city's brush collection takes natural wood from residents up to 8 feet long, 18 inches in diameter and 4 feet high. Bigger logs and land-clearing debris aren't collected. Check the city's brush collection page for the current schedule and how to request pickup.
Can I use the wood chips as mulch?
Yes. Fresh chips from a healthy tree make good mulch for beds and paths. Keep them a few inches away from tree trunks and the house foundation. Skip chips from a tree that died of disease if you'll use them near the same kind of tree.
How long does firewood need to dry?
Split hardwood generally needs six months to a year of drying, stacked off the ground with the top covered. Oak usually takes the longest. Freshly cut wood burns poorly and builds creosote in the chimney.