How to Choose a Tree Company in Lubbock
Updated 2026-10 · Lubbock, TX
Start with what Texas does not require
Texas has no state licence for tree trimming or removal. There is no state board, no licence number to look up, and no exam. That surprises people, and it is why the checks below matter more here than they would for a licensed trade.
ISA arborist certification is a genuine credential, earned by exam and kept up with continuing education, and it is worth something. It is also voluntary, and plenty of competent local companies do not hold it. Neither its presence nor its absence tells you whether the company is insured.
We are not a tree company ourselves. This is the checklist we would want someone to use on any company, including one we point you to.
Insurance is the real check
Tree work is dangerous, and a tree that lands on your house, your neighbour's car or a crew member is expensive. Ask for a certificate of general liability insurance, issued to the company by its insurer, not a photo of a card. Ideally ask for workers' compensation or an equivalent policy for the crew as well.
If a worker is hurt on your property and the company has no coverage, the question of who pays can land on your homeowner's policy. That is the single best reason to ask.
The one licence that does apply
Applying any pesticide to trees for hire in Texas, including injections and stump treatments, requires a licence from the Texas Department of Agriculture. If a company is offering to spray, inject or treat a tree, ask for the licence number. A company that only prunes and removes does not need one.
Read the estimate
- In writing, with the company name and a phone number you can call back
- What comes down, and to what stump height
- Whether all wood and brush is hauled away
- Whether stump grinding is included, and how deep
- Who pays for damage to fences, sprinklers or lawn
- A start date, and when payment is due
Signs to walk away
- Full payment demanded before work starts
- An offer to "top" a tree to make it safe
- Climbing spikes used to prune a tree that is being kept, which wounds it with every step
- No written estimate, or a price that changes once the crew is in the yard
- Door-to-door after a storm with a truck from out of state and a "today only" price
None of these is about price. A cheap local company that answers its phone next month is a better bet than an expensive one you cannot find.
Want an estimate from a local company without making five phone calls? Call or send the details, and one local tree company will come out and put the price in writing.
Where to go next
Common questions
Should I get more than one estimate?
For a large removal, it is reasonable. Compare what is included, not just the total. Two estimates that differ by a thousand dollars often differ in hauling, stump grinding or insurance.
Is an ISA certified arborist always better?
Certification shows training and knowledge, which matters most for diagnosis and pruning decisions. For a straightforward removal, insurance, equipment and a clean written estimate matter as much.