Tree-Care Questions —
Answered Honestly.

Every removal is priced from a free on-site assessment. Pricing reflects tree size, species, access constraints, and debris-removal scope. Crane-assisted removals on heritage hardwoods sit at the higher end of the range — we tell you on the phone whether your job is likely small, mid, or large before we dispatch.

Every Swift quote is fully itemized — you'll see exactly what each line covers before any work begins. We do not bundle "miscellaneous" line items. Common factors that move pricing up: power-line proximity, fenced rear-yard access, structures within the fall zone, and disposal of large hardwood rounds.

By diameter at ground level, with a per-job minimum. Standalone grinds are priced separately, or the grind can be bundled with a removal at a discounted rate. We quote the exact number on-site, in writing.

Pricing also accounts for grinding depth (we go 8–12 inches below grade by default), root-flare extent, and whether debris is hauled off or backfilled on-site.

Because every Swift quote is a same-day on-site assessment, in writing, with line-item pricing. We do not quote sight-unseen. Charging for that visit would penalize homeowners doing the right thing by comparison-shopping.

Submit before noon and a Swift estimator is at your property the same day. The written quote lands in your inbox within 4 hours of the visit.

No initial dispatch fee. Emergency rates apply only once a crew is actively cutting — and those rates are disclosed on the phone before we dispatch. Active-hazard triage (tree on a structure, blocked driveway) is always priced honestly up front.

Yes if the tree is 12 inches DBH or greater, or if it is a native palm with a 10-foot or longer clear trunk. Port St. Lucie Ch. 154 requires a permit for most residential removals at that threshold.

Swift handles the entire application for you — city forms, municipal fees, arborist documentation when required, and inspection scheduling — included free on qualifying tree-removal jobs. Talk to us about your permit →

FS §163.045 is the 2019 state law that prevents local governments from requiring a permit, fee, or replanting for the pruning, trimming, or removal of a tree on a residential property when a certified arborist documents the tree as a danger to people or property.

The exemption requires an ISA Certified Arborist or licensed landscape architect to provide written documentation. Swift's in-house arborist can issue this documentation as part of the assessment when the tree truly qualifies — but the law does not exempt cosmetic removals, and misuse can carry penalties.

Trees 24 inches DBH (diameter at breast height) or larger in unincorporated St. Lucie County require additional review even when §163.045 applies. The county may require mitigation planting or alternative documentation.

Swift coordinates with the county Planning & Zoning Department directly so you do not have to navigate the form trail yourself.

Significant municipal fines per tree, plus mandatory replanting at a 2:1 or 3:1 ratio. Repeat violations carry escalating penalties.

Some HOAs add a second layer of fine on top of the city penalty. Swift will not remove a permittable tree without documented permission — even if you ask us to.

Full General Liability, Workers' Compensation, and Commercial Auto coverage. Every climber, groundsman, and equipment operator is covered. You carry zero exposure for crew injury or property damage.

Yes — always, free, on request. Email [email protected] or ask your estimator. We send the COI directly from our broker, typically within one business hour. See our full credentials →

Yes — we have an ISA Certified Arborist and we partner with additional certified arborists per job complexity. Heritage hardwood assessments, FS §163.045 documentation, and large-canopy diagnostics all involve the certified arborist directly.

Sometimes — usually only if the tree has already fallen on a covered structure. Routine preventive trimming and removal are generally not covered. Storm-damage removal often is, and Swift can bill the insurance carrier directly with the right documentation.

Our 24/7 emergency line is answered by a human, year-round. Crews are typically on-site within 2–4 hours for active hazards. Storm-event backlogs may extend that window — we will tell you the truth on the phone.

Subscribers of the Hurricane Subscription get priority dispatch ahead of non-subscribers and a separate hotline.

(1) Get everyone out and well clear. (2) Call 911 if anyone is injured or you smell gas. (3) Call your insurance carrier. (4) Call us at (772) 773-6676.

Do not try to remove the tree yourself or send untrained neighbors onto a damaged structure. Document everything with photos before any work — your insurance adjuster will need them.

Yes on qualifying claims — we coordinate with major Florida carriers including Citizens, State Farm, Allstate, and Florida Peninsula. We provide itemized invoices, photo documentation, and adjuster-ready paperwork. Subject to your policy and deductible.

Generally no for immediate hazards, but documentation is still required. FS §163.045 covers most storm-damage removals when an arborist confirms the danger. We pull arborist documentation as part of dispatch so the paper trail is intact for your insurance and the city.

Before June 1. Structural pruning to reduce wind load takes 4–8 weeks of wood-stress recovery time. Trims done in active hurricane season (June–November) actually increase risk because fresh wounds attract fungal infection.

The Swift Hurricane Subscription pre-season trim window runs April through May for exactly this reason. See the subscription →

It increases storm vulnerability and shortens the palm's life. A hurricane cut (also called over-pruning or "9-and-3 cut" taken too far) removes the canopy weight that actually helps a palm flex with wind. Over-trimmed palms snap at the trunk in storms more often than untrimmed ones.

Swift palm trimming follows the textbook arboriculture standard: dead frond removal, fruit-stalk removal, no green frond above the 9-o'clock to 3-o'clock line. Period.

One annual fee covers pre-season trim (May), mid-season inspection (August), and post-season cleanup (December) — plus locked pricing on any storm call-out and priority dispatch ahead of non-subscribers.

Three tiers — Small, Family (most popular), and Estate — sized to lot, canopy density, and access. Cancel any time for a prorated refund of unused services. Full plan details →

Every 12–18 months — dead frond removal only, not green-frond removal. Florida's state tree is built to drop its own dead fronds; over-trimming a sabal weakens the trunk and invites Ganoderma butt rot.

Late winter through early spring (January–March) on the Treasure Coast. Live oaks pushed in this window heal cuts before summer humidity invites oak wilt and decay fungi. Avoid summer pruning except for emergency hazard removal.

Yes — laurel oaks have a 50–70 year lifespan and are notorious for sudden trunk failure after 40 years. If yours is over 35 and within fall distance of structures, get it assessed. We see two or three laurel oak failures a season after Treasure Coast storms.

Within 4 hours of the on-site assessment. Submit a quote request before noon and we are typically on your property the same day with a written, itemized estimate in your inbox by 6 PM.

Approved jobs are typically scheduled on-site within 48 hours. Weather and permit timing can move that — we tell you a real date on the phone, not a marketing date.

Not required for residential jobs once the quote is signed. We send a pre-arrival text 30 minutes out, photograph the property before and after, and the crew lead calls when the job is complete. Many customers schedule us for a workday and come home to a finished property.

No money down on qualifying jobs, soft credit check, monthly payments up to 48 months. Most homeowners get a prequalification decision in under a minute. The soft check does not impact your credit score for prequalification.

See full financing details →

Zero impact for prequalification. Wisetack uses a soft pull to surface your offer. A hard pull only happens if you sign and accept a specific loan offer.

Yes for the Family and Estate tiers via Wisetack. Both convert to manageable monthly equivalents. The Small tier is billed as a one-time annual fee.