Tree Service in Preston Hollow: Protecting the Oaks Your Street Is Known For
Preston Hollow is one of the few Dallas neighborhoods where the trees came first. Post oaks, live oaks, pecans, and cedar elms that have stood for 60, 80, sometimes 100 years.
That maturity is what makes them risky. Old trees hide decay behind healthy bark. A limb that survived thirty summers can fail in one October storm.
A Better Arborist® has cared for Dallas County trees since 2010, with crews carrying more than 50 years of combined experience. We work throughout Preston Hollow, from the estate lots off Strait Lane to the tighter blocks near Royal Lane and Preston Road.
Why Do Preston Hollow Trees Fail More Often Than People Expect?
Three things work against trees here, and most homeowners only learn about them after something breaks.
The soil fights the roots. Much of Preston Hollow sits on alkaline, chalky ground. Red oaks and pin oaks often cannot extract iron from it. You see yellow leaves with dark green veins. That is iron chlorosis, and it weakens a tree for years until a storm finishes the job.
The canopies are too heavy. Large lots let trees grow wide, unpruned crowns that catch wind like a sail. Trees not thinned in a decade are the ones that split at the union.
Oak wilt moves underground. The disease has killed millions of trees across 76 Texas counties, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service, spreading through grafted roots at about 75 feet per year. One infected oak on your block puts yours at risk.
None of this announces itself. That is why we start every Preston Hollow job with an inspection, not a quote.
What tree services do we offer in Preston Hollow?
Tree removal in
Preston Hollow
Crane service
We specialize in large, difficult removals most companies will not attempt. Trees leaning over rooflines. Trees wedged between a guest house and a fence. Trees with no drop zone.
For the tightest properties, our crane service lifts sections out over the house instead of dropping them.
Tree trimming in
Preston Hollow, Dallas
Pruned to species
Topping a tree or stripping its interior canopy does not make it safer. It makes it weaker. We prune to species, because a live oak needs different treatment than a pecan.
Our trimming work covers:
- Deadwood removal before limbs drop
- Crown thinning so wind passes through the canopy
- Clearance off roofs, chimneys, driveways, and pool decks
- Structural pruning on young trees
- Right-of-way clearance to meet Dallas requirements
Stump grinding in
Preston Hollow
Ground below grade
A leftover stump attracts termites and feeds decay. We grind below grade so you can sod, plant, or pour over the spot.
Storm damage and emergency response
On site fastWhen a tree lands on a roof, you need someone on site fast. We handle downed trees and storm damage for Preston Hollow homeowners.
Tree health services
Treat before removingWe diagnose oak wilt, hypoxylon canker, and chlorosis, then treat instead of removing when the tree can be saved. We also offer deep root fertilization, cabling and bolting for split trunks, and proper tree planting with the root flare exposed.
Do You Need a Permit to Remove a Tree in Preston Hollow?
Under the City of Dallas Article X ordinance, single-family lots smaller than two acres are generally exempt from tree preservation rules. Most Preston Hollow homes qualify.
Plenty do not. You may need a permit if your lot is two acres or larger, common in Old Preston Hollow, if you are pulling a demolition permit, or if the property sits in a planned development district.
Parkway trees are city property. The strip between sidewalk and street belongs to Dallas, and removal needs city arborist approval even though you maintain it.
Dallas also requires 8 feet of clearance over sidewalks and 15 feet over streets. We tell you which category your property falls into before we cut. Confirm current rules with the City of Dallas.
When Should You Prune Oak Trees in Preston Hollow?
Do not prune oaks between February 1 and June 30. Sap-feeding beetles are most active then, carrying oak wilt spores straight into fresh cuts. The Texas A&M Forest Service is direct about this.
Best window in Dallas: November through January, while trees are dormant.
Paint every oak wound immediately, year-round. Any paint works. This applies to storm breaks and mower damage too.
The exception is a limb that is an immediate hazard. Cut it, then seal it right away.
How Did the 2019 Tornado Change Tree Risk Here?
On October 20, 2019, an EF-3 tornado with 140 mph winds cut a 15-mile path through North Dallas and hit Preston Road and Royal Lane directly.
Homes were rebuilt. The canopy was not. Trees with dense, unthinned crowns failed at far higher rates than pruned ones, and decay hidden at old wounds became the break point.
You cannot storm-proof a tree. You can improve its odds with proper thinning and an honest look at trees already compromised.
Why Do Preston Hollow Homeowners Call Us?
- We know trees, not just chainsaws. Unlike competitors who merely chop off limbs, we treat each species according to what it needs.
- 50+ years of combined crew experience. No Preston Hollow job has been too difficult.
- We save trees when saving is right. Our email is WeSaveTrees@yahoo.com. Diagnosis and treatment come before removal.
- Fully insured, with proof handed over before we climb.
- We leave your property clean. Neat, thorough, professional.
Where in Preston Hollow Do We Work?
Old Preston Hollow and Strait Lane, Preston Hollow North, the Preston Road and Royal Lane corridor, Walnut Hill Lane, Hillcrest Road, Midway Road, Inwood Road, and Northwest Highway. Zip codes 75225, 75229, and 75230.
We also serve Dallas, Highland Park, University Park, Farmers Branch, Bluffview, and Devonshire.
Preston Hollow Tree Service Questions, Answered
How much does tree removal cost in Preston Hollow?
My oak has yellow leaves with green veins. Is it dying?
Can you remove a tree right next to my house or pool?
How do I know if my tree has oak wilt?
How often should mature trees be pruned?
Are you insured?
Get Your Free Preston Hollow Tree Quote
One limb over the driveway or a 70-year-old oak you hope to save, we will look at it and give you a straight answer.
We Climb High to Make You Happy!
Dallas County: (972) 333-7444 | Tarrant County: (817) 442-0700 | Toll Free: 1-866-455-8733 WeSaveTrees@yahoo.com
We Climb High to Make You Happy!
More Than 50 Years' Combined Experience
Insured, Friendly, and Professional Tree Service at Affordable Prices
Dallas County
Tarrant County
(817) 442-0700
Toll Free
1-866-455-8733
1-866-455-8733
Fax
972-393-5579
WeSaveTrees@yahoo.com
Website
www.ABetterArborist.com
