Questions & Answers
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions Logan and Hocking Hills homeowners ask us most — answered the same way we answer them standing in your yard.
It depends on the tree's height and diameter, what's underneath it, and how hard it is to reach — a dead ash beside an open driveway is a very different job from an oak leaning over a cabin on a steep gravel drive. We don't price sight-unseen: every job gets a written estimate after we've looked at the tree in person. And if budget is the holdup, ask about financing — Special Financing Available.
Every estimate is in writing, with no obligation. We come out, look at the tree, what's under it, and how we'd reach it, then hand you a firm written price. That visit matters in this terrain: a removal on a flat in-town lot in Logan is a different job than the same tree on a ridge outside Rockbridge. Call (740) 216-8262 or use the estimate form.
Yes — Reliable Tree Service LLC is bonded and fully insured, and we're glad to show proof before any work begins. Tree work is one of the most dangerous trades there is, and the cheapest bid in the county is usually a crew with no coverage — which quietly puts the risk on the homeowner. Whoever you hire, ask for proof of insurance before a saw ever starts.
Yes. We offer 24/7 support and emergency tree removal — the phone is answered around the clock, every day of the week. We've handled 300 emergency responses in a county where winter ice and storm winds regularly put trees on roofs, drives, and lines. If a tree is on a structure or blocking your way, call (740) 216-8262 at any hour. If a power line is involved, keep clear and call your utility first — then call us for the tree.
Treat it as one if the lean is new, the soil at the base is cracked or mounded, or the tree is aimed at your house, cabin, driveway, or anywhere people gather. A new lean means the root plate has moved, and those trees rarely re-anchor themselves. Keep everyone out from under it and call — with 24/7 support and emergency tree removal, you don't have to wait until Monday to find out.
Usually only when the tree has already fallen on a covered structure — preventive removal of a standing tree is typically out of pocket. When a claim does apply, we make the paperwork easier: we work with major insurance providers, and our written estimates document the job for your adjuster. Removing a known hazard tree is almost always cheaper than a deductible plus the repairs.
Grinding chews the stump into chips several inches below grade and backfills the hole — most stumps are done in under an hour, and you can seed grass right over the spot. Full removal digs out the entire root ball, costs several times more, and tears up the yard, so it's usually only worth it when you're building or replanting exactly there. For most Logan yards, grinding is the right call.
Sometimes a tree that looks rough — a thinning crown, a dead limb or two — can be helped with pruning, and sometimes a tree that looks fine is hollow at the base. That's what a tree health assessment is for: we look at the species, the structure, the site, and what the tree could hit, then tell you honestly whether trimming, monitoring, or removal makes sense. We'd rather save a good tree than sell a removal.
If they're near anything you care about, yes — and sooner is safer. Hocking County is under emerald ash borer quarantine, and most of the white and green ash here are already standing dead. Dead ash turns brittle fast: limbs and whole tops let go without warning, and the trees get more dangerous to work on the longer they stand. Ash along driveways, yards, and cabin lots should come down before winter ice tests them.
We're based in Logan and cover all of Hocking County and the Hocking Hills, including South Bloomingville, Gibisonville, and Rockbridge. We also work the surrounding counties: Lancaster and Sugar Grove in Fairfield County, Athens and Nelsonville in Athens County, New Plymouth in Vinton County, and New Straitsville in Perry County. If you're near that footprint and don't see your town, call — chances are we can help.
Late fall through winter for most species — the tree is dormant, the structure is easy to read without leaves, and cuts seal cleanly heading into spring. That said, hazards don't wait on the calendar: a limb over your roof or a storm-cracked leader should be handled when you find it. We trim year-round, and booking dormant-season pruning ahead is a smart move before ice season arrives.
We get in touch to set a time, then walk the property with you — looking at the tree, what's underneath it, and how we'll access it, steep drives and tight in-town lots included. You get a written estimate with the price in plain terms, and financing options explained if that's useful. Once you approve, we schedule the work, do it safely, and leave the site clean — debris hauled and yard raked.