Stumped by Tree Troubles? We're Here for You! - Get Your FREE Estimates!
Stumped by Tree Troubles? We're Here for You! - Get Your FREE Estimates!
Some trees give you an easy answer. Others sit in the gray area: a few dead branches, a soft spot at the base, a lean you can’t decide about. Arborist services in Harahan are for that second group, when you want someone to look closely at a tree before you spend money trimming it or taking it down.
Big Easy Tree Removal looks at trees across Harahan, from Jefferson Hwy down to the streets near the Mississippi River, in a city that grew up around the Illinois Central railroad. You’ll find the rest of what we do in town on our tree service in Harahan page.
An arborist visit centers on one question: can this tree stay, and if so, what does it need? To get there, the tree gets checked from the roots up.
From there you get a plain recommendation. That might be a pruning plan to take weight off a heavy side, cabling or bracing through our tree support systems work, a watch-and-wait plan, or removal when the tree can’t be kept safely. You get the options and the reasons behind each, in writing, with a free estimate.
Termites get talked about as a house problem. In South Louisiana they can be a tree problem too. LSU AgCenter says that “the Formosan subterranean termite infests the wood of live trees,” and adds that “weakened trees are susceptible to being blown over in high winds.”
That second point is why termite damage deserves attention in a river-edge city like Harahan, where hurricanes are a regular concern. The trouble is that the damage can sit inside the trunk, so a tree may leaf out normally while its core is being eaten. Mud tubes on the bark, winged termites near the trunk, or a hollow sound when the trunk is tapped are worth mentioning when you call.
Not every infested tree has to come down. Depending on how much sound wood is left, a tree may be a candidate for treatment and pruning. Our termite treatments page explains that side of the work. If the trunk is badly hollowed and the tree leans toward the house, removal may be the safer call, and our page on tree removal in Harahan explains how that’s handled.
If you searched for a licensed arborist in Harahan, it helps to know how the state license works. The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) says that “arborist licenses are required if you work on trees for a fee.” Under state law, Revised Statutes 3:3808, the arborist license covers work that includes removing a tree or part of one, and a separate utility arborist license covers work in utility rights-of-way.
Before you hire anyone for paid tree work, it’s reasonable to ask for their LDAF license number and check it on the LDAF arborist page. It’s also fair to ask any contractor for proof of insurance and for the scope in writing. Those are sensible habits for any hire.
Harahan is an incorporated city, so tree questions inside its limits go to the city first. The Harahan code sections we reviewed don’t spell out a yard-tree permit, so call the city’s Regulatory Department at 6437 Jefferson Hwy, (504) 737-6765, before removing a large tree or doing heavy work on one near the street.
Once a decision is made, the stump question comes next, and our page on stump grinding in Harahan covers it. If you live just west of town, see our arborist services in River Ridge, where parish rules apply, or our page for an arborist in Metairie. The main arborist page covers our approach across New Orleans.
You often can’t tell from a quick glance, since Formosan termites can work inside the trunk of a live tree. Clues include mud tubes on the bark, winged termites swarming near the trunk, sawdust-like debris, or a hollow sound when the trunk is tapped. If you notice any of these, have the tree looked at before hurricane season, when a weakened trunk is most likely to be tested.
Sometimes. It depends on how much solid wood surrounds the cavity, whether decay is still spreading, and what the tree would hit if it failed. A tree with a small, old wound and a healthy crown may just need pruning and monitoring. A large hollow on the side facing your house is a different conversation, and removal may be the sensible choice.
Ask for an LDAF arborist license number and check it on the LDAF website, since state rules call for that license on paid tree work. Ask for proof of insurance and a written scope that says what will be cut, what stays, and what gets hauled. And ask whether the job needs anything from the city, then confirm with Harahan’s Regulatory Department.
It can be. A tree that sheds branches this way may have dead wood, crossing limbs or a crown that has grown heavy on one side. Selective pruning can lighten the load and remove weak growth. If the limbs are breaking from decay rather than weight, the visit will show that, and the recommendation will change.
If a tree in your yard has you second-guessing, call 504-732-1166 or request a free estimate and walk-through. We’ll look the tree over from roots to crown and tell you plainly whether it can stay.
A credentialed arborist scopes the work and signs off the plan before a saw leaves the truck.
General liability and workers' compensation in force. Certificates sent before we start.
New Orleans, the Northshore and the coast — through hurricane seasons, not just fair weather.
No call-out fee, no obligation, and a fixed price in writing before any work begins.
Tree down or leaning? Call us first.
Storm and hazard crews dispatch 7 days a week across New Orleans, the Northshore and the coast.
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