Land clearing in Houston, TX from Sticks Tree Service Inc. is the tree and brush side of getting a lot ready: overgrown infill lots, wooded back lots, fence lines and building sites cleared of trees, brush and stumps. Trey Lamar’s crews work from the office at 14120 Cypress North Houston Rd in Cypress and take clearing work on the northwest and west side of Houston, west of I-45. Call 281-373-1472 to have someone walk the lot.
What does Houston lot clearing usually involve?
Inside the city the jobs are smaller and tighter than out on the prairie, and the neighbors are closer:
- Infill lots. A vacant lot between two houses, grown up with tallow, hackberry, privet and vines, cleared so a builder can start.
- Teardown sites. Old trees around a house about to be demolished, with the ones the new plan keeps protected and the rest removed before the demolition crew arrives.
- Back lots and drainage edges. Overgrowth along a back fence, a ditch or a bayou easement taken back to a usable line.
- Commercial pads. Trees and brush cleared from a small commercial site ahead of the dirt work.
- Fence lines between neighbors. Volunteer trees and vines cut out of an old fence so it can be replaced.
What rules apply to clearing a Houston lot?
Inside the city, the Houston Permitting Center requires a permit to remove trees on city property, including rights of way, and for trees on a setback. The city planning department’s Chapter 33 page also covers tree and shrub standards and a protected trees list for development; a builder or engineer on the project will know whether the job falls under it. Outside the city limits, in unincorporated Harris County and in separate cities such as Jersey Village, other rules apply. Deed restrictions matter everywhere in a city without zoning. Mark underground lines before any stumps are ground.
Clearing near neighbors: how is it done safely?
- Mark the line. The survey and the fence tell the crew where the lot ends. Limbs from a neighbor’s tree that hang over the line are discussed with the owner before anything is cut.
- Brush first. Vines and small stems are cut and chipped to open up access and see the larger trees clearly.
- Section the big trees. Trees beside a house, a garage or a fence are climbed and lowered in pieces rather than felled.
- Keep the street open. The truck and chipper are set up so the street stays passable, and the street is blown clean at the end of each day.
- Stumps. Ground below grade. See stump removal in Houston.
Which trees are worth keeping on a building lot?
Large, healthy live oaks and other native oaks add value to a finished house, and some development rules count them. If a tree is going to stay, protect it before work starts: fence off the root zone, keep trucks and material piles out of it, and do not change the grade around the trunk. Most damage to a kept tree on a building site happens to the roots, not the branches. If you are not sure a tree is worth saving, an arborist look before clearing is cheap compared with removing a dead oak from a new yard two years later.
Who does the grading?
Sticks Tree Service handles the trees, the brush, the wood and the stumps. Dirt work such as grading and pad preparation is a separate trade. Out on larger tracts west of the city, Trey also runs STS Land Management, based in Hempstead, which lists clearing and grading and hydro axing among its services. On city lots the builder’s site contractor usually handles the grade.
Where does Sticks Tree Service clear land in the Houston area?
Northwest and west Houston, west of I-45, and the communities around Cypress. Bigger acreage work out US 290 is covered on land clearing in Cypress. Other Houston services are on tree service in Houston, including tree removal in Houston for single trees.
What goes into the quote?
- Lot size and how thick the growth is
- Number and size of large trees, and what is around them
- Trees to keep, and the protection they need
- Permit time for trees on city property or a setback
- Haul volume, or chips left on site
- Stumps to grind
- Street access and parking for the truck and chipper
Sources
- Houston Permitting Center: Tree Removal/Tree Trimming permit
- City of Houston Planning: Tree and Shrub ordinance (Chapter 33)
- STS Land Management
- Texas 811
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to clear a lot in Houston?
Trees on city property, including the right of way, and trees on a setback need a city permit. Development projects may also fall under the Chapter 33 tree and shrub rules; your builder or engineer can confirm.
Can the crew clear a lot that sits between two houses?
Yes. Brush is cut first, and large trees near the neighbors' houses and fences are climbed and lowered in sections.
What about a neighbor tree hanging over the lot?
Limbs that cross the line are discussed with the owner before anything is cut. Talking with the neighbor first avoids a dispute later.
How do I protect a tree I want to keep during construction?
Fence off the root zone, keep trucks and piles of material out of it, and leave the grade around the trunk alone. Most construction damage happens to the roots.
Does Sticks Tree Service do the grading after clearing?
No. Sticks handles trees, brush, wood and stumps. On city lots the builder's site contractor usually does the grade; on larger tracts west of the city, Trey's land company STS Land Management lists clearing and grading.
Can a teardown lot be cleared before demolition?
Yes. Trees the new plan removes can come out first, and the keepers can be protected before the demolition crew arrives.
Does Sticks Tree Service clear lots east of I-45?
No. Clearing work is taken on the northwest and west side of Houston and out US 290.
Sticks Tree Service Inc, 14120 Cypress North Houston Rd, Cypress, TX 77429. Phone 281-373-1472.