Frequently Asked Questions

Most professional tree removals in Central Virginia fall between $1,500 and $3,500, while very large, hazardous, or difficult-to-access trees can cost significantly more. 

Several factors influence the cost of tree removal, including: 

• Tree size and height – Larger and older trees take more time, equipment, and expertise.
  
  

• Tree location – Trees close to houses, power lines, or other structures require advanced rigging and safety measures.
  
  

• Accessibility – When equipment like our 92-foot spider lift can be used, removals are safer and more efficient.
  
  

• Cleanup & disposal – Removing logs, branches, and chips adds to the overall cost.
  
  

Because every tree and property is unique, prices can vary widely—but investing in professional removal ensures safety, protects your property, and gets the job done right. Call or Text Grubb Tree and Excavation at (434)-529-7307 for a personalized quote! You can also email us at: grubbtreeservice@gmail.com.

The best time to prune trees in Charlottesville and Central Virginia is fall, when temperatures are mild and trees are entering dormancy. Fall pruning reduces stress, improves safety, and helps protect against pests and disease.

Why Fall Works Best:

• Dormancy: Trees grow more slowly, and pruning wounds close efficiently. 

• Pest & Disease Control: Cooler weather means insects and fungi are less active. 

• Better Visibility: Without leaves, it’s easier to see the tree’s structure. 

• Safer Conditions: Mild temperatures make pruning safer for crews.
  
  

What to Prune:

• Dead or diseased branches 

• Crossing or rubbing branches 

• Overextended limbs that could break in storms 

• Young trees to guide proper growth
  
  

Why Avoid Spring & Summer: Major pruning during active growth stresses the tree, diverts energy from leaves and flowers, and increases the risk of pests and fungal issues. Light maintenance pruning is okay during these seasons.

Homeowner’s insurance may cover tree removal, but it depends on how and where the tree fell. In most cases, if a storm-damaged tree falls on your home, garage, fence, or another insured structure, your insurance will typically cover both the damage and the cost of removing the tree from the affected area. However, if a tree falls in your yard without damaging a structure, insurance usually does not pay for cleanup.

In Charlottesville and Central Virginia, where storms with high winds, ice, or saturated soils can bring down large trees, it’s important to review your specific policy. Some policies have limits on tree removal coverage (for example, up to $500–$1,000 per tree), and certain exclusions may apply if the tree was dead, diseased, or poorly maintained before the storm. 

As a homeowner, the best step is to:

• Document storm damage immediately with photos. 

• Contact your insurance company to confirm coverage. 

• Work with a licensed, insured tree service to handle the removal safely and provide the necessary documentation for your claim. 

At Grubb Tree, we regularly assist Charlottesville-area homeowners after storms by providing safe removal, detailed invoices, and support for insurance claims.  

The number of acres that can be forestry mulched in a single day depends on several factors, including vegetation density, terrain, slope, and site goals. Using our CAT 299D3 with a forestry mulcher attachment, we can handle thick Virginia underbrush efficiently, but production varies depending on conditions.

Typical Production Rates:

• Light brush & small saplings (2” and under): ~3–5 acres per day on mostly flat terrain 

•  Moderate brush & small trees (2–6” diameter): ~1–3 acres per day 

• Dense hardwood underbrush, steep slopes, or rocky terrain: ½–1 acre per day
  
  

Other factors affecting output:

• Terrain: Hills, uneven ground, or rocky soils slow progress 

• Soil conditions: Wet clay or muddy areas reduce speed 

• End goals: Clearing for trails, hunting access, pasture, or development requires different levels of finish
  
  

For example: if the goal is simply to knock down thick underbrush for hunting access, we can move faster. But if the site needs a clean finish for pasture or future construction, it requires more detailed work and slows production.

Forestry mulching with the CAT 299D3 shreds brush and small trees into mulch on-site, leaving a natural ground cover that helps prevent erosion and improve soil health. Unlike traditional clearing with bulldozers, there’s no need for hauling debris, burning, or heavy root disturbance.

On average in Central Virginia, landowners can expect 1–3 acres per day, depending on site conditions and project goals. 

Yes, we have worked with insurance companies many times. We can provide you with an estimate and a COI (Certificate of Insurance) to give to your insurance company. 

Yes. Grubb Tree & Excavation carries a Certificate of Insurance (COI) with a general liability policy. This coverage is in place to protect our clients, their property, and everyone involved on the job site.

Tree work and excavation involve heavy equipment, elevated work, and inherent risk. Hiring a company that is properly insured is critical. If an uninsured or underinsured contractor causes damage or injury, the liability can fall on the property owner.

Working with an insured professional means:

• Your property is protected in the event of accidental damage  

• The contractor is operating responsibly and professionally    

• You avoid potential legal and financial risk 

We’re always happy to provide proof of insurance upon request and encourage homeowners to ask any contractor for documentation before work begins.

Photosynthesis 

Leaves are nature's food factories. Plants take water from the ground through their roots. They take a gas called carbon dioxide from the air. Plants use sunlight to turn water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and glucose. Oxygen is a gas in the air that we need to breathe. Glucose is a kind of sugar.

Plants use glucose as food for energy and as a building block for growing.

The way plants turn water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and sugar is called photosynthesis. That means "putting together with light." A chemical called chlorophyll helps make photosynthesis happen. Chlorophyll is what gives plants their green color.

Autumn Preparations for Winter 

As summer ends and autumn comes, the days get shorter and shorter. This is how the trees "know" to begin getting ready for winter.

During winter, there is not enough light or water for photosynthesis. The trees will rest, and live off the food they stored during the summer. They begin to shut down their food-making factories. The green chlorophyll disappears from the leaves.

As the bright green fades away, we begin to see yellow and orange colors. Small amounts of these colors have been in the leaves all along. We just can't see them in the summer, because they are covered up by the green chlorophyll.

The bright reds and purples we see in leaves are made mostly in the fall. In some trees, like maples, glucose is trapped in the leaves after photosynthesis stops. Sunlight and the cool nights of autumn cause the leaves turn this glucose into a red color.

The brown color of trees like oaks is made from wastes left in the leaves.

It is the combination of all these things that make the beautiful fall foliage colors we enjoy each year.