Tree Service in Collegedale, TN

Tree Service in Collegedale often comes back to one subject: storms. The city lies in the valley of Wolftever Creek, where the creek cuts through White Oak Mountain at Collegedale Gap, and that line of ridges has been in the path of serious weather. On April 27, 2011, the long-track EF4 tornado that hit Ringgold crossed into Hamilton County and leveled homes in nearby Apison. On the night of April 12, 2020, the EF3 tornado that started near Chickamauga Battlefield moved through East Brainerd and into Collegedale and Ooltewah before lifting near White Oak Mountain.

Both storms left a mark on the tree cover in this part of the county. Trees that survived may have hidden damage: cracked unions, twisted trunks, loosened roots or broken tops that have since been hidden by new leaves. Those defects do not always show for years.

Signs a storm-survivor tree needs a closer look

• New growth sprouting thickly from one side of the trunk or from old breaks
• A seam or crack running down the trunk, or bark peeling around an old wound
• Dead branches high in the crown while lower limbs look fine
• Mushrooms or soft wood at the base, a sign of root or butt rot
• A lean that was not there before, especially toward the house

A young, growing city

Collegedale was founded in 1916 as the home of what is now Southern Adventist University, and incorporated in 1968. It has grown quickly since, to 11,109 residents at the 2020 Census. Census figures also show only about 44% of homes are owner-occupied and roughly 70% of residents were in the same house a year earlier, which reflects the student and rental population. Newer subdivisions mean many younger trees, and young trees are the cheapest ones to shape well. A little structural pruning in the first ten to fifteen years prevents a lot of storm breakage later.

Along the greenway and creek

The Wolftever Creek Greenway runs through the city, and many homes back onto the creek corridor or wooded strips. Trees along the water lean toward the light over the creek, and soft, wet banks give roots less hold. We check lean, root exposure and bank erosion before recommending pruning or removal near the creek.

Services we provide here

Tree removal, pruning for structure and clearance, stump grinding, storm cleanup, and assessments for trees that came through the 2011 or 2020 storms with damage. For landlords and property managers, we can schedule work around tenants and send the written estimate to the owner.

Book an estimate

Call (423) 206-3918 or fill out the form. Let us know if the tree was damaged in a past storm; it helps us plan the visit. Every estimate is written and free. Get a free estimate