(734) 999-3880 highlandtreeservices.com
1300 W Joy Rd, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105
Equipment and Capabilities: Stump Grinder
Emergency and Storm: 24 Hour Emergency Response, Quick Response
Tree Services: Works Near Structures, Large Trees, Dead Tree Experience, Stump Removal, Lot Clearing
Specialty Expertise: Conifer Specialist, Fruit Tree Specialist, Works Near Power Lines
Customer Experience: Free Estimates, Affordable, Cleanup Included
Credentials and Trust: Long Established
Highland Tree Services is Ann Arbor, MI's most experienced tree service company, providing top-rated, professional tree care in Washtenaw and Livingston counties. As a BBB A+ accredited, TCIA, and ISA Michigan member, we specialize in tree removal, tree pruning, stump grinding, land clearing, and 24/7 emergency tree services. Our expert team uses specialized equipment for fast, high-quality service with an awesome cleanup. With 30+ years of experience, we offer competitive pricing, workmanship guarantees, and free estimates. We proudly provide tree services to Ann Arbor, Dexter, South Lyon, Ypsilanti, Pinckney, Chelsea, Saline, Brighton, Whitmore Lake, Northfield Scio, and Webster Townships, Whitmore Lake, Brighton, and more. Call us now!
4.9 from 54 reviews
Based on reviews representing only 2% of total ratings
Highland Tree Services in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is best suited for property owners who contend with serious tree issues in tight or high-stakes environments. The company excels on single-family lots with mature or hazardous specimens, but also handles HOA-maintained greenspace and multi-tree projects with ease. Clients who want a thoughtful, plan-driven approach will find this team especially valuable: they perform thorough assessments, discuss options, and tailor work to fit realistic budgets, without pressuring unnecessary work. Urgency ranges from fast, storm-related responses to carefully phased pruning and removals. In short, Highland is the right pick for properties where size, location, or proximity to structures demands an experienced hand and deliberate planning, rather than a cookie-cutter, low-cost solution.
Safety and cleanup standards are non-negotiable with Highland, and the reviews repeatedly confirm this discipline. Crews show up with a calm but precise demeanor, focusing on protecting home exteriors, gardens, and neighboring landscaping while the work unfolds. Several anecdotes highlight near-house removals, work around power lines, and complex removals in cramped spaces, all accomplished without collateral damage. Cleanup is consistently described as meticulous; yards are left spotless, turf undisturbed, and debris hauled away or neatly stacked. The company’s practice of moving sensitive branches away from valuable plantings, and even cutting branches to a client’s exact request, demonstrates a level of care that turns potential property disruption into a minimal aftertaste. For property managers and homeowners who insist on a clean, safe site after completion, Highland delivers.
From first contact to project completion, Highland emphasizes a process that is both consultative and transparent. The owner, Charlie, is consistently portrayed as the linchpin of a disciplined crew: he provides clear scope from the outset, offers a fair, itemized quote, and coordinates a crew that communicates well on-site. The reviews repeatedly praise practical planning: if a branch or tree requires a unique approach, the team maps out the steps, discusses potential constraints, and negotiates a solution that respects the property’s goals and budget. Notably, Highland often shares progress details and photos during projects, a practice that reassures customers and reduces surprises. This level of engagement is ideal for homeowners who want to understand exactly what is happening at every stage and want options that align with real-world constraints.
Complexity is where Highland often distinguishes itself. The company routinely handles large, dangerous, or logistically tricky removals, trees near houses, near sidewalks, behind sheds, or obstructing utility lines. Several reviews spotlight high-precision removals of old cottonwoods, oaks, or elms where space is constrained or the tree’s position demands climbing rather than heavy lifts to minimize ground impact. The team’s capability to coordinate with utility work, such as arranging for utility line adjustments or DTE operations to protect the trees and lines, signals a mature, safety-forward approach that can prevent costly damage or injuries. When obstacles pile up, obstructions, prized landscaping, or fragile soil, Highland’s crew persists without sacrificing safety or quality, which is crucial for complex, long-duration projects.
Value is another cornerstone of Highland’s appeal. Clients consistently report fair pricing for substantial work, including multi-tree removals, stump grinding, and extensive pruning. The balance between price and performance comes through in several notes: even when not the absolute cheapest quote, Highland wins on speed, efficiency, and the thoroughness of both work and cleanup. Their flexibility around wood disposal, logs versus chips, and willingness to adapt the scope to stay within budget demonstrate a practical, customer-centered mindset. The ability to add-on tasks (like additional brush removal or stump grinding) at a reasonable rate further reinforces the sense that Highland treats pricing as a negotiated, honest conversation rather than a rigid quote. For owners who want real value and dependable performance, this combination is rare.
The bottom-line recommendation is clear: Highland Tree Services is the go-to choice for discerning homeowners who demand safety, precision, and accountability in tree work. The company suits large, complex removals near structures or utilities, thorough pruning of venerable specimens, and urgent storm-related response, delivered with a clean site and dependable communication. Those seeking a fast, bargain-basement option should temper expectations, but for everyone else, HOA managers, real-estate caretakers, and homeowners prioritizing risk mitigation and dependable cleanup, this outfit consistently earns its reputation. When engaging Highland, request a detailed safety plan, a transparent scope, and a plan for site protection and cleanup that matches the project’s complexity. This approach ensures the job is not only done well but left looking as if it never happened.
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, with clients noting that Highland Tree Services ground and removed stumps as part of complete removals. They’ve tackled projects that included grinding multiple stumps alongside large trees, ensuring the yard is left clean and ready for the next phase of landscaping. Even in tight or challenging spots—such as stumps near houses, behind sheds, or near power lines—the team executes grinding with care and precision. Clients appreciate the straightforward process from estimate to on-site work, with fair pricing and clear planning for stump work within larger jobs. Across the Ann Arbor area and surrounding Washtenaw and Livingston counties, homeowners report prompt, professional service and thorough cleanup after stump grinding.
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.
24/7 emergency tree services are available across Washtenaw and Livingston counties, with Highland Tree Services often arriving the same day after a call in urgent situations. Customers report rapid assessments and decisive action when storms cause large trees to fall or threaten houses, yards, or nearby power lines. Crews use specialized equipment and work safely near structures, delivering thorough cleanup that leaves the property tidy. They also coordinate with utility providers to manage wires and reduce risk, and pricing is described as fair with clear, courteous communication.
Fast to answer calls and quick to schedule. Whether it's routine work or an urgent situation, these businesses don't leave you waiting.
Rapid-response is a core strength of Highland Tree Services. Customers consistently note fast on-site assessments and quotes, with crews often starting work the same day or within hours of contact. They handle urgent situations around homes in Ann Arbor and Washtenaw and Livingston counties, including work near structures and even near power lines, delivering prompt removal of hazards after wind events or fallen trees. Repeated feedback highlights same-day or rapid responses to storm damage, efficient execution, and thorough cleanup that leaves yards tidy. Their service area covers Ann Arbor, Dexter, Ypsilanti, Pinckney, Chelsea, Saline, and surrounding townships, with a strong emphasis on timely, safe, and courteous service.
Skilled at working in tight spaces where trees sit close to homes, fences, garages, or power lines. Precision removal without damage to surrounding structures.
In the Ann Arbor area, the team demonstrates strong near-structure capability, handling removals and limb work that are close to houses, decks, and roofs with careful planning. Clients consistently report successful work near power lines and other utilities, with crews managing branches in tight spaces and removing large trees that threaten a home or yard. When space is tight or soil is soft, they often prioritise climbing over heavy equipment to avoid lawn damage, and they tailor the approach to protect surrounding landscaping and gardens. Across projects, customers praise transparent communication from estimate through completion, fair pricing, and meticulous cleanup that leaves yards looking almost untouched.
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.
Handling large trees is a clear strength, with crews removing towering oaks, cottonwoods, and other big trees even in tight yards or precarious spots near homes and landscapes. Customers repeatedly highlight safe, near-structure removals—trees taken down close to houses, gardens, and power lines—thanks to thorough planning and an experienced team. Complex, obstructed jobs are not a barrier, as evidenced by successful removals around sheds and other obstacles, followed by meticulous cleanup. Response tends to be prompt, with quick assessments and efficient work after storms when a large tree threatens property. To minimize lawn disruption and soil disturbance, the crew is willing to climb large trees rather than relying solely on heavy equipment, showing flexibility to protect surrounding trees and landscaping.
Specialists in the safe removal of dead, dying, or diseased trees. Dead trees are unpredictable - experience and caution matter.
Dead and dying trees are removed with urgency and care, prioritizing safety for homes and landscaping. When a tree died near a house, Highland responded quickly and removed it professionally, with no damage to surrounding trees or gardens. They’ve handled multiple dead-tree removals in HOA common areas, coordinating timing and safety while staying within budget. Even difficult cases near power lines or other structures are tackled expertly, with clean, thorough work and minimal disruption to the property. Cleanup is consistently meticulous—debris is cleared, logs are managed, and the yard is left looking neat and safe.
Full stump extraction, root and all - not just grinding. Ideal when you need the area completely cleared for construction, landscaping, or replanting.
Stump removal and stump grinding are consistently delivered as part of Highland Tree Services' offerings, often bundled with tree removal projects. One project involved removing a large locust tree and grinding two stumps, followed by a thorough cleanup. They also proactively identify older stumps and logs from previous work and take care of them as a reasonable add-on. Customers repeatedly note careful, respectful work that minimizes lawn disruption and leaves the yard clean and tidy. Across a range of jobs, from complex removals to routine stump grinding, the crew communicates clearly, stays within budget, and delivers reliable stump removal performance.
Full-scale land clearing for new construction, overgrown acreage, or development prep. Trees, brush, and stumps - all of it gone.
Lot clearing is a core strength, with Highland Tree Services handling large, complex removals and full land-clearing jobs in Washtenaw and Livingston counties, from the initial assessment to final cleanup. Customers consistently report safe, near-structure work and near-power-line removals, with careful handling that avoids damage to gardens and surrounding trees and leaves yards immaculate. They routinely tackle HOA common-area projects and multi-tree removals in tricky spots, including old cottonwoods and trees near obstacles, delivering on planned goals while managing budget and scheduling. Cleanup is thorough, with debris removed and logs stacked or hauled per preference, and crew communication focused on scope, timing, and fair pricing.
Deep knowledge of pines, firs, spruces, cedars, and other conifers - including their growth habits, diseases, and the timing of proper trimming.
Conifer care is a core strength, with clients in the Ann Arbor area noting thorough assessments of arborvitae and other conifers and clear, tailored plans before work begins. They prune and shape conifers with precision—whether trimming arborvitae for health and aesthetics, or removing dead limbs from tall pines near homes—while protecting surrounding trees and gardens. They can execute conifer removals in challenging spots, including near structures or power lines, with careful planning and safety and a meticulous cleanup. They even repurpose conifers, as when cedar from a client property was milled and crafted into a custom sign, showing sophisticated cedar and conifer specialization. Overall, feedback highlights fair pricing, responsive communication, and reliable, efficient work that preserves or enhances the conifer landscape.
Experienced with the pruning, shaping, and care of fruit-bearing trees. The right cuts at the right time keep trees productive and healthy season after season.
Fruit-tree care is a demonstrated capability, with crabapple pruning and trimming of fruit-bearing ornamentals regularly requested and delivered. Customers describe the work as precise and careful, with crews shaping and removing limbs while keeping the yard clean and undisturbed. They plan and execute from estimate to final walkthrough, adapting to requests (like stacking cut branches or including extra cleanup) and maintaining clear, courteous communication throughout. In the Ann Arbor area and surrounding Washtenaw and Livingston counties—serving Dexter, Saline, Ypsilanti, Chelsea, Pinckney, and nearby townships— Highland Tree Services provides reliable, safety-conscious fruit-tree pruning near structures and power lines, using specialized equipment to minimize disturbance and protect the landscape.
Trained and equipped to work near energized power lines. This specialized work requires specific qualifications - not every company should attempt it.
Power-line proximity work is a core capability, with crews handling removals and limb work near electrical lines through careful planning and a safety-first approach. Clients consistently report work near power lines is completed without incidents, using efficient equipment and maintaining minimal disruption to the yard. There are explicit instances of coordinating with utilities to manage lines, including advising DTE to take down wires running through the trees to prevent damage and having them reinstalled after completion. Cleanup is thorough and the surrounding landscape is respected, even when lines and structures are involved. Overall, the pattern shows reliable near-line capabilities, strong communication, and careful execution in the Ann Arbor area and Washtenaw and Livingston counties.
No charge for coming out to assess the job and give you a price. Know what you're getting into before committing.
Free estimates are a cornerstone of Highland Tree Services, with customers receiving an upfront assessment followed by a detailed, itemized quote that outlines scope, timing, and cost. The experience is consistently described as straightforward and transparent from the first visit to the final walk-through, with clear explanations of options and budget and no pressure to do unnecessary work. Pricing in the quotes is repeatedly labeled fair or competitive, and clients value the honest, consultative approach that helps them stay within budget. For residents of Ann Arbor and the surrounding Washtenaw and Livingston counties, these free estimates kick off efficient, high-quality removals, pruning, stump grinding, and emergency services, with emphasis on safety and thorough cleanup.
Competitive pricing without cutting corners. These arborists offer fair rates and transparent quotes, making professional tree care accessible for most budgets.
Affordable pricing is a clear pattern in client feedback, with frequent notes of fair, competitive rates for everything from pruning to large tree removals. Clients appreciate transparent quotes and budget-conscious planning that lets them stay within their means, often with triage to focus on safety and essential work. Even complex jobs near houses or power lines are handled cost-effectively by a skilled team, with thorough cleanup cited as part of the strong value. Serving Ann Arbor and the surrounding Washtenaw and Livingston counties, they offer free estimates and flexible options that emphasize affordability without sacrificing quality.
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 core part of their service, with crews removing all debris and leaving the yard spotless after every job. Clients repeatedly note that the site is immaculate—logs are stacked, branches hauled away, and the lawn looks as if no work had occurred. Even when removals happen near structures or power lines, the cleanup remains thorough, polite, and considerate of surrounding trees and gardens. They offer flexible cleanup options, including handling pre-existing debris for a reasonable fee and, in at least one case, spreading soil and grass seed to restore the lawn after work.
A business with years - often decades - in the community. Local reputation and deep experience speak for themselves.
With over 30 years in the industry, Highland Tree Services demonstrates a long-established capability to perform complex removals, pruning, stump grinding, and land clearing across Washtenaw and Livingston counties, including work near structures and power lines. Customer experiences consistently highlight timely, professional crews, careful planning and communication from the initial estimate through completion, and thorough cleanup that leaves properties looking tidy. They respond quickly in emergencies, handling wind-storm scenarios and delicate removals near homes and utilities with safety and efficiency. The combination of experienced leadership, such as foreman Charlie, and a track record of fair pricing and flexible options across Ann Arbor and surrounding townships reinforces their reputation as a trusted, long-standing tree care partner.