After years of working with homeowners across Boynton Beach and the surrounding Palm Beach County area, our team at Alpine Tree and Land has seen the same costly mistakes repeated over and over. Tree removal looks straightforward from the outside — cut it down, haul it away, done. But the reality is far more complicated, and a single misstep can mean damage to your property, injury, or a fine from the city. Here's what we see go wrong most often, and what you should know before making any decisions about a tree on your property.
This is the big one. Every season, we get called out to properties where a homeowner — or a well-meaning friend with a chainsaw — started a job they couldn't safely finish. A tree that looks dead or leaning may still weigh thousands of pounds, and the direction it falls is not always predictable, especially in South Florida where root systems are often compromised by our sandy soil and seasonal storms. Large tree removal requires rigging, proper cutting technique, and an understanding of how tension and weight shift as a tree comes down. What looks like a manageable afternoon project can turn into a crushed fence, a damaged roof, or a serious injury. If the tree is over 20 feet tall, near a structure, or showing signs of disease, please call a professional.
Many Boynton Beach homeowners don't realize that removing certain trees — particularly those above a specific diameter — may require a permit from the city. Florida has strong tree protection ordinances, and local municipalities often have their own additional rules layered on top of state guidelines. We've seen homeowners face fines and even be required to replant trees because they removed them without proper authorization. Before any tree comes down on your property, it's worth a quick call to the City of Boynton Beach's Building and Development department, or simply ask us — we handle permit questions regularly and can point you in the right direction.
In South Florida, it's easy to find someone willing to remove a tree cheaply. But cheap can get very expensive very fast. If an unlicensed worker is injured on your property, you could be held liable. If an uninsured crew damages your home, your neighbor's property, or a utility line, you're on the hook. Always verify that any tree service you hire carries both general liability insurance and workers' compensation. Don't be shy about asking for certificates — a legitimate company will hand them over without hesitation. Our crew is fully insured, and we believe that's the absolute baseline for anyone doing this kind of work.
A lot of homeowners treat the stump as an afterthought, figuring they'll deal with it later or just let it rot. In Boynton Beach's warm, humid climate, that leftover stump becomes a magnet for pests — particularly termites and carpenter ants — which can then make their way toward your home. Rotting stumps also harbor fungal diseases that can spread to healthy nearby trees. Stump grinding is a relatively quick process that eliminates these risks and cleans up your yard for good. It's almost always worth doing at the same time as the removal.
Tree work done right protects your property, your family, and the long-term health of your landscape. If you're dealing with a hazardous tree, planning a removal, or just have questions about what's going on with a tree in your yard, give Alpine Tree and Land a call at (561) 255-5687 — we're happy to take a look and give you an honest assessment.