Fort Worth is one of the most tree-diverse cities in DFW. From the established neighborhoods of the Near Southside and Fairmount to the newer developments in far north Fort Worth, the city's residential tree canopy spans everything from century-old pecans to recently planted live oaks.

That diversity means Fort Worth homeowners face a wide range of tree trimming needs — and a wide range of potential mistakes. Here's what you need to know.

Live oak — Fort Worth's most common shade tree. Live oaks are relatively low-maintenance once established, but they benefit from crown cleaning every 3–5 years and structural pruning when young. Never prune live oaks between February and June — oak wilt risk is significant throughout Tarrant County.

Pecan — Texas's state tree is abundant in Fort Worth, particularly in older neighborhoods. Pecans need periodic thinning to maintain a strong structure and reduce the risk of limb failure. Prune in late winter (January–February) while fully dormant.

Cedar elm — Native and tough, but prone to mistletoe and can develop large, unbalanced canopies. Cedar elms in Fort Worth's older neighborhoods often need significant crown reduction when they've grown too large for their space.

Post oak and Shumard oak — Common in Fort Worth's western neighborhoods near the Cross Timbers. Post oaks are slow-growing and sensitive to soil disturbance; Shumard oaks are fast-growing and susceptible to oak wilt.

Crape myrtle — Ubiquitous in Fort Worth landscapes. Crape myrtles should be pruned in late February or early March — and should never be "topped" (a practice called crape murder that weakens the tree and creates ugly knobs).

Bradford pear — Common in 1990s–2000s Fort Worth developments. These trees are structurally weak and prone to catastrophic splitting. Many Fort Worth homeowners are proactively removing Bradford pears before they fail.

• Small trees (under 20 feet): $100–$300
• Medium trees (20–40 feet): $300–$700
• Large trees (40–60 feet): $700–$1,500
• Very large trees (60+ feet): $1,500–$3,000+

Fort Worth's older neighborhoods have a high proportion of very large trees — 70-foot pecans and 60-foot live oaks are common in established areas. A full property trim for a Fort Worth home with 4–6 mature trees typically runs $1,500–$4,000.

Topping trees. Topping — cutting the main trunk or major branches back to stubs — is one of the most harmful things you can do to a tree. It creates large wounds that invite disease, produces weak regrowth, and ultimately shortens the tree's life. Any company that recommends topping your trees is not following industry standards.

Pruning oaks in spring. As noted above, pruning live oaks or red oaks between February and June creates a direct pathway for oak wilt infection. This is the most common and most costly mistake Fort Worth homeowners make.

Hiring uninsured crews. Fort Worth has a significant number of unlicensed, uninsured tree services operating out of pickup trucks. An uninsured crew working on your property creates serious liability if someone is injured or your property is damaged.

Skipping structural pruning on young trees. The best time to address structural problems in a tree is when it's young. A $200 structural pruning on a 10-year-old tree can prevent a $2,000 removal on a 30-year-old one.

Tree Crew has served Fort Worth and the surrounding Tarrant County area for 27 years. We're fully licensed and insured, and we provide free written estimates on every job.

Call (972) 999-3627 or contact us online to schedule your free estimate.