(727) 397-8629 elcheapotree.com
Equipment and Capabilities: Crane, Bucket Truck, Aerial Lift, Stump Grinder
Specialty Expertise: Palm Specialist, Works Near Power Lines
Emergency and Storm: 24 Hour Emergency Response, Quick Response
Tree Services: Works Near Structures, Large Trees, Tree Assessments
Credentials and Trust: Long Established, Family Owned, Licensed
Customer Experience: Affordable, Cleanup Included
Quality Work at a cheaper price! El Cheapo Tree Service got it’s start in 1992 with “One chain saw and an old Chevy truck.” Since then, the family-run business has grown to include a fleet of grapple and bucket trucks, a crane, mini sky lifts and various other machinery that allows us to be remarkably efficient- setting us apart from the rest.
5.0 from 909 reviews
Based on reviews representing only 1% of total ratings
El Cheapo Tree Service in Pinellas Park, Florida, excels for property owners with sizable, high-stakes tree needs, the kind that demand an arborist’s eye, heavy equipment, and disciplined crew coordination. The service line is especially well suited to residential lots with mature oaks and palms that overhang roofs, driveways, or power lines, as well as tight spaces in townhome or condo settings where crane or bucket work is essential. Budget-conscious buyers who want serious capability without paying for flashy marketing will find this company a practical fit. Urgency cases, pre-hurricane season pruning, emergency removals after a storm, or inspections that hinge on rapid clearance, are handled with commendable speed and clarity, though demand can push scheduling a bit forward. In short: this is the choice for large, technically demanding jobs done right, not for limited-budget cosmetic trims.
Safety and cleanup standards are where El Cheapo earns its reputation as a dependable, workmanlike operator. The team routinely deploys cranes, bucket lifts, and ground crews that communicate like a well-oiled machine, maintaining strict attention to hazards near houses, utilities, and landscaping. Arborist oversight matters: Ed DePaul, a certified arborist with decades of Florida experience, personally guides complex cuts, often using precise visualization tools to plan branches removal without compromising tree health. The result is cuts that prioritize structure and safety, not just aesthetics. Cleanup is a non-negotiable: debris is hauled, driveways and streets are swept, and even sensitive tasks, marking sprinkler heads to avoid irrigation damage or blowing dust off rooftops, demonstrate a professional discipline rarely matched in the market.
Reliability and process are hallmarks of a company that has earned a loyal following through consistent, no-surprises performance. Estimates arrive promptly, sometimes via online contracts, and Ed frequently follows through with hands-on oversight on the job site. The foreman, often Victor, coordinates a spotless operation, keeping customers informed from quote to completion. Projects, whether removing a diseased oak, pruning a canopy to reduce hurricane risk, or executing a crane-assisted removal in a tight space, unfold with a sense of choreography: workers arrive equipped to handle the job, explain the plan as cuts are made, and leave a yard that looks as though nothing ever happened. Repeat clients praise the way Ed monitors safety, maintains open lines of communication, and ensures every detail, down to avoiding damage to irrigation lines or neighboring property, is managed.
Value is not merely price, but the total package of expertise, equipment, and long-term tree health. Across hundreds of reviews, El Cheapo consistently delivers competitive pricing for first-rate service, with many customers reporting pricing that is fair or lower than rivals while never sacrificing quality. Not every quote is the cheapest, but the consensus is that the value is exceptional: crane-enabled removals in confined spaces, precise pruning that improves health and wind resistance, stump grinding to ground level, and meticulous cleanup that makes the site seem as if nothing happened. The owner’s willingness to explain decisions and provide ongoing guidance, often recommending against unnecessary work to protect tree health, adds tangible value, especially for long-standing landscapes where future maintenance matters as much as the current job.
The range of job types the company handles demonstrates its suitability for demanding tasks. Large live oaks, heavy palms near structures, and trees tangled with fences or power lines are routine; condo associations and commercial properties have relied on El Cheapo for multi-tree removals, coordinated permitting, and HOA-friendly scheduling. Emergency responses after storms are a standout, with readers recounting rapid quotes, quick mobilization, and safe, efficient work that minimizes collateral damage. The equipment lineup, cranes, remote stump grinders, high-reach rigs, and front-end loaders, enables solutions that smaller crews simply cannot pull off without compromising safety or timelines. Even in tight urban lots, the team’s planning and execution, guided by an arborist’s expertise, produces results that look almost effortless, a testament to experience and teamwork.
For property owners weighing options, the practical takeaway is clear: El Cheapo Tree Service is a decisive choice when safety, reliability, and quality cleanup take precedence over the absolute cheapest bid. The company’s track record shows a pattern of on-time arrivals, direct communication, and work that preserves or enhances trees’ health while protecting structures and landscapes. While storms can shift pricing dynamics, the overwhelming weight of customer experience is that Ed and his crew deliver performance proportional to the investment, efficient, thorough, and respectful of neighbors and property. Clients repeatedly note that the service leaves yards cleaner than before, often with added benefits like mulch spreading or minor adjustments made at no extra cost. This is not a casual grooming outfit; it is a seasoned arborist-led operation that treats tree health as a long-term investment.
In sum, El Cheapo Tree Service is the high-value partner for property owners who need complex, space-constrained, or storm-prep work performed safely and cleanly. It suits homeowners with mature trees near roofs or lines, HOAs seeking reliable community vendors, and clients who prize an arborist’s judgment and hands-on project management over a bargain-basement price. The company’s strengths, expertise in tree health, robust safety practices, powerful equipment, and an exemplary cleanup standard, make it the prudent first call for serious tree work in Pinellas County. If the goal is to minimize risk, maximize tree longevity, and finish with a landscape that looks pristine, Ed and the El Cheapo crew are the definitive choice.
Crane-assisted removal for trees that can't be conventionally climbed or sectioned - ideal for extremely large, hazardous, or tightly situated trees.
Crane-assisted lifting is a core capability, enabling El Cheapo Tree Service to lift and maneuver large trunks and whole trees with precision. Customers consistently emphasize fast, safe, and thorough results when the crane is deployed, with crews arriving fully equipped and leaving sites clean. In challenging setups near roofs, power lines, and tight spaces, the crane and bucket lift are used to access and remove limbs without damaging adjacent structures. Notable examples include hoisting trees over a pool and house or navigating tight setbacks that demand careful crane work rather than felling in one piece. Based in Pinellas Park, Florida, they combine crane access with bucket lifts and stump grinders to deliver efficient removals, pruning, and cleanup across the Tampa Bay area.
Uses an aerial bucket truck for safe, efficient access to tall or hard-to-reach branches. Faster and more stable than climbing for many jobs.
In Pinellas Park, Florida, the bucket truck capability is central to El Cheapo Tree Service’s approach, enabling crews to reach tall trees and perform work near roofs, fences, and power lines from above. Customer feedback patterns consistently highlight the bucket lift paired with a crane as key to safe, efficient removals in tight yards and near structures, with heavy limbs carefully lowered rather than dropped. The equipment allows crane-assisted removals over houses or around utilities, and access to confined spaces where ground access is limited, which reviewers repeatedly note as saving time and reducing property disturbance. Led by Ed DePaul, a certified arborist, the team uses these aerial capabilities under close supervision and follows up with thorough cleanup, reinforcing the positive experiences described by clients across Pinellas Park and neighboring communities.
Uses a towable or tracked aerial lift for high-reach work without the need for a full crane. More versatile in tight spaces while still reaching significant heights.
Aerial lifting capability stands out in Pinellas Park, with a crane and high-reach bucket lifts routinely deployed to reach tall trees in tight spaces. They can maneuver large trunks and palms over roofs, fences, and even around power lines, using crane-assisted removals to access otherwise unreachable branches. The crew coordinates staged cuts and lift operations, then employs stump grinding and thorough cleanup to leave yards neat and clear. In emergencies and storm-prep scenarios, this aerial equipment enables rapid, safe removals and precise work in challenging sites.
Equipped with stump grinding machinery to eliminate leftover stumps after removal. Leaves your yard clean and ready for replanting or landscaping.
Stump grinding is a core capability, routinely bundled with tree removals in Pinellas Park and the surrounding Tampa Bay area. Customer feedback consistently highlights thorough stump grinding—deeply ground stumps that make the site look as if the tree was never there and ready for mulch or replanting. Cleanup after grinding is repeatedly praised as meticulous, with debris cleared and the yard, driveway, and street left spotless. Even in tight spaces or near structures, the team uses the right equipment and coordinated effort to complete stump grinding safely, typically at fair, competitive pricing.
Knows the unique needs of palm trees - trimming, skinning, removal, and health care specific to the species common in your area.
The palm_specialist capability is at the core of El Cheapo Tree Service, with regular palm removal, trimming, and shaping performed when palms are tall or near roofs, fences, or power lines. They bring crane or bucket lift capabilities to reach tall palms and coordinate access in tight spaces, often working around utilities and structures. Feedback patterns show they can handle very large palms—up to about 60 feet tall—using careful crane operations, delivering precise pruning and healthy canopy balance. Cleanups are thorough and safety-focused, with teams protecting irrigation heads, landscaping, and surrounding property, and blowing debris away so the area looks as if they were never there. In Pinellas Park and nearby communities such as Largo, Seminole, and Clearwater, customers praise Ed DePaul and his crew for professional, fair pricing and reliable palm-focused service.
Trained and equipped to work near energized power lines. This specialized work requires specific qualifications - not every company should attempt it.
Crane-assisted removal and bucket-lift work near power lines are defining capabilities for El Cheapo Tree Service. Led by ISA-certified arborist Ed DePaul, they often coordinate with Duke Energy to secure access and ensure safety when lines are involved. Their fleet includes cranes, high-reach bucket lifts, and stump grinders, allowing safe removal of tall trees and limbs close to lines or over structures. Customers repeatedly highlight fast response, precise cuts that protect homes and utilities, and meticulous cleanup that leaves yards and streets spotless. Operating across Pinellas Park and nearby areas, they excel at handling tight spaces and proximity to power infrastructure.
Available around the clock for dangerous situations - a tree on your roof, a limb blocking your driveway, or a trunk threatening to fall. Day or night.
Emergency response is a core capability, with rapid mobilization in Pinellas Park and nearby communities when storms or hazardous tree situations arise. Customers repeatedly note how El Cheapo responds quickly to emergency calls, sometimes arriving within hours with a full team and the equipment roster—cranes, bucket trucks, aerial lifts, and stump grinders—to safely reach over roofs, power lines, and other structures. In urgent scenarios, they assess and decide on the safest course, often coordinating with utilities or property managers to secure power lines and access; Ed DePaul, a licensed arborist, is on site to guide the work and explain the plan. Post-job cleanup is thorough and immediate, with debris removed and the site left tidy.
Fast to answer calls and quick to schedule. Whether it's routine work or an urgent situation, these businesses don't leave you waiting.
Prompt response defines their service in Pinellas Park, Florida, with Ed personally answering calls and moving quickly to assess and quote jobs. Customers consistently note rapid replies, on-site assessments and estimates often provided the same day or within 24 hours, and scheduling arranged promptly. When emergencies arise, such as hurricane-related damage in the area, the crew mobilizes quickly with cranes, bucket trucks, aerial lifts, and stump grinders to complete dangerous removals in hours. Throughout the job, Ed and foremen provide updates via calls, texts, and even photos or videos, and they coordinate with utilities and property managers to keep work moving smoothly. This pattern of fast, professional service and thorough cleanup underpins strong satisfaction and repeat business across Pinellas Park and the broader Tampa Bay area.
Skilled at working in tight spaces where trees sit close to homes, fences, garages, or power lines. Precision removal without damage to surrounding structures.
Crane-assisted removals and high-reach bucket work are routinely used to address trees that overhang roofs, press against power lines, or sit between structures, enabling controlled cuts without contacting buildings. Ed DePaul, a certified arborist who oversees near-structure jobs, ensures safe clearances around homes and utilities and coordinates access with homeowners, property managers, and utility crews when needed. Crews balance safety, tree health, and structural preservation by precise pruning and staged removals in tight spaces, often using a crane to lift trunks in pieces to avoid damage. The feedback repeatedly highlights meticulous cleanup and leaving driveways, sidewalks, and yards looking neat and free of debris.
Experienced handling oversized trees - tall, wide, or heavily branched. Removing or trimming a large tree requires specialized skill and equipment, and these pros have both.
Large-tree work is a core strength, supported by a fleet that includes cranes, bucket trucks, aerial lifts, and stump grinding, enabling safe removal and pruning of towering oaks, palms, and other mature trees in tight spaces. Ed DePaul, ISA Certified Arborist, personally oversees complex cuts and uses crane-assisted lifts to maneuver limbs over roofs and around power lines, preserving the property and reducing risk. Clients consistently note fast response, coordinated access in confined yards, and meticulous cleanup that leaves the site spotless. They regularly handle large trees near structures or utilities in Pinellas Park, including removals that require lifting trunks over houses and adjacent features with careful planning and safety. Overall, this large-tree capability combines specialized equipment, experienced arborists, and careful site management to deliver safe, efficient, and thorough results for the Tampa Bay area.
Offers professional evaluation of your trees' health, structure, and risk level. Useful before buying property, after storm damage, or when a tree just doesn't look right.
Arborist-led assessment is central to their service, with Ed DePaul, a certified arborist, personally inspecting trees for health, disease, structural risk, and proximity to roofs, fences, and power lines, and recommending whether to prune, preserve, or remove. Clients consistently report thorough evaluations with clear explanations and, when helpful, a formal report or written estimate that outlines risks and next steps. These assessments guide decisions in practical scenarios—from branches overhanging homes and utility lines to hurricane-prep removals and near-structure risk management on residential and commercial properties. Equipment such as cranes, bucket trucks, a stump grinder, and laser-guided planning enable precise, safe work and clear visualization of cuts. Locally, this capability is delivered across Pinellas Park and surrounding communities, with feedback highlighting health-preserving pruning, careful access near structures, and meticulous cleanup.
A business built and run by family, often passed down or grown from the ground up. Personal accountability and pride in every job.
As a family-owned operation, Ed DePaul leads El Cheapo Tree Service with hands-on involvement from the initial assessment through cleanup, a pattern echoed in the many accounts of personal care and oversight on every job. Ed is repeatedly described as a certified arborist who personally inspects trees, explains options, and supervises crews on site to ensure health, safety, and meticulous cleanup. Many clients note long-standing relationships and loyalty, with references to work done for years or across multiple homes, reflecting a family-driven commitment to steady, reliable service. The team’s capabilities are clear in the breadth of equipment and personnel cited—cranes, bucket trucks, aerial lifts, stump grinders—and the coordinated effort needed to tackle large removals near houses and power lines in Pinellas Park and nearby communities. Across reviews, the family-owned ethos shines through in fair pricing, transparent communication, and a consistent focus on customer satisfaction, safety, and leaving properties cleaner than before they arrived.
Holds all required state and local licenses to operate legally as a tree service. A basic but important box to check before hiring.
Licensed oversight is central to their work: Ed DePaul, a certified arborist, personally leads and supervises projects in Pinellas Park and surrounding areas, guiding decisions to protect tree health and neighborhood safety. Customers repeatedly note that the company is licensed and insured, with Ed coordinating city permits as needed and ensuring safety near structures and power lines. The licensed capability is backed by equipment including a crane, bucket trucks, aerial lifts, and a stump grinder, enabling large removals and near-structure work in the local Bay Area community. The feedback also highlights the arborist-guided approach—clear explanations of options, emphasis on tree health, and meticulous site cleanup—often with precise cuts guided by Ed’s expertise.
Competitive pricing without cutting corners. These arborists offer fair rates and transparent quotes, making professional tree care accessible for most budgets.
Affordability is a prominent selling point, with customers frequently noting quotes that beat rivals and pricing described as fair, reasonable, or the best price in town. The low cost is paired with scale: a fleet of grapple and bucket trucks, a crane, mini sky lifts, and a stump grinder enables efficient removal of large trees and palms even when near structures or power lines. Clients report fast response and rapid job completion—often within hours or a day—and meticulous cleanup, which amplifies the value of the affordable service. Ed DePaul, a certified arborist, directly oversees work to ensure the health of trees and safety while keeping prices down. This combination of affordability, equipment, and professional skill is reflected in Pinellas Park’s feedback, describing El Cheapo Tree Service as reliable, value-driven, and long-established.
All debris - branches, logs, and brush - is hauled away as part of the job. No pile left behind for you to deal with.
Cleanup is a defining strength, with customers consistently noting thorough debris removal and neat, orderly sites after every job. Yard cleanup after crane-assisted removals, near-structure trimming, and stump grinding is repeatedly highlighted, with debris cleared from driveways, sidewalks, and even roofs blown clean. Stump grinding is paired with cleanup, leaving the area looking spotless and, in many cases, the street or curb swept of wood chips. Even in tight spaces or near power lines, the crew coordinates cleanup so well that neighbors often remark the yard looks untouched once the work is done. Based in Pinellas Park, the feedback pattern across the region shows a dependable cleanup commitment alongside fast, thorough tree work in the surrounding communities.