Anyone who has watched a crew size up a dead pine in their backyard knows the estimate isn’t just about height and trunk width. Insects change the equation, and termites are one of the questions we get asked most often on site visits in the Truckee Meadows.
Does the Price Go Up if There Are Termites in a Tree for Cutting Service in Reno?
Yes, in most cases a termite-infested tree costs more to remove than a healthy one of the same size, but not because of the termites directly. The price increase comes from what termites do to the wood. Termite activity weakens internal wood fiber, which makes a tree less predictable when it falls and changes how a crew has to approach the cut. A trunk that’s been hollowed out or riddled with galleries can shift, crack, or drop large sections without warning during a cut, so crews often slow down, use different rigging, or bring in additional equipment to control the fall piece by piece instead of felling it in one motion. That extra time, extra caution, and sometimes extra crew members are what raise the price, not a flat “termite surcharge.” A tree with heavy termite damage near a house, fence, or power line will almost always cost more than the same species and size in an open yard with no structures nearby.
Why Termite Damage Changes How We Work?
We’ve pulled up to jobs in older Reno neighborhoods like Old Southwest or parts of Sparks near the Truckee River corridor where a cottonwood or elm looked fine from the street but had a hollow core once we got a chainsaw into it. Termites, along with carpenter ants and wood-boring beetles, tend to target trees that are already stressed, drought-damaged, or have old storm wounds. Once wood goes soft or hollow, the whole removal plan changes. Instead of a straightforward directional fell, we may need to section the tree from the top down, using ropes and a bucket truck or climbing gear to remove pieces in a controlled sequence. That’s slower work, and it usually calls for a bigger crew standing by for rigging and cleanup.
Stump removal can also take longer when termites have been active, since the root structure underneath is often compromised too, and a soft, crumbly stump behaves differently under a grinder than solid wood. If you’re already planning to have a stump ground down after removal, mention any termite signs you’ve noticed so the crew can plan for it ahead of time. You can see examples of past removals and stump work in our gallery.
Signs Worth Having Inspected
We’re not going to tell you a tree with termites is automatically dying or must come down, because that’s not always true. Plenty of trees carry some insect activity for years without becoming an immediate hazard. What we do recommend is having a professional look at certain signs: sawdust-like material (called frass) at the base of the trunk, small mud tubes running up the bark, sections of bark that sound hollow when tapped, or visible sagging in large limbs. The University of Nevada Cooperative Extension publishes guidance on identifying wood-destroying insects common to Northern Nevada, and it’s a good starting point if you want to understand what you’re looking at before calling anyone out.
If termites are confirmed, it’s also worth knowing that termite treatment itself is regulated separately from tree removal. Applying pesticides for compensation requires licensing through the Nevada Department of Agriculture, so a landscaping or tree crew handling the removal is not the same entity that would treat an active termite colony on your property.
What Actually Drives the Estimate?
Size, species, location relative to structures, and accessibility still matter more than termites alone. A 60-foot Siberian elm hanging over a driveway in a tight Reno lot is going to cost more to remove than the same tree standing in an open field, termites or not. Termite damage is one more variable layered on top of those factors, and it usually pushes the estimate up because of added labor and equipment, not because of the insects themselves. Every situation is different, which is why we walk the property, look at the trunk and canopy, and give a specific number rather than a ballpark over the phone.
If your tree work is anywhere near power lines, don’t attempt any cutting yourself. Contact NV Energy to handle clearance around utility lines before any private crew gets involved.
Permits and Property Lines in Reno
If the tree in question sits on your own private property, the City of Reno does not require a permit for pruning or removal. That rule changes if the tree is in the public right-of-way, like a street tree between the sidewalk and curb, or on other city property. In that case, Reno Municipal Code Chapter 8.32 requires a written permit from the city urban forester, and the city typically won’t approve removal unless the tree is dead, diseased, or a safety hazard, with a Certified Arborist required to do the work. If you’re unsure whether your tree qualifies as a street tree, the City of Reno’s urban forestry program can tell you where your property line falls relative to city right-of-way.
Why Experience Matters Here?
Diagnosing termite damage from the outside takes a trained eye, and a wrong guess in either direction costs you. Underestimate the damage and a crew shows up unprepared for a hollow trunk. Overestimate it and you pay for precautions you didn’t need. Our team has spent years working on properties throughout Reno and Sparks, and that background is why we walk every tree in person before quoting a number. You can read client reviews from homeowners and property managers who’ve had similar removals done and know what to expect from the process.
Tree work is also just one part of keeping a Reno property in shape. If you’re already dealing with a damaged tree, it’s often a good time to look at broader yard maintenance too, whether that’s residential landscaping upkeep, seasonal debris cleanup through our spring and fall cleanup services, or checking that your irrigation system isn’t overwatering roots near a stressed tree, which can invite the kind of decay that attracts termites in the first place.
Get a Straight Answer on Your Tree
If you’ve spotted frass, hollow-sounding bark, or a tree that just doesn’t look right, don’t guess at what it’ll cost to remove. American Lawn and Landscaping LLC will walk the property, look at the trunk and root area, and give you a straight number based on what we actually find, not a generic estimate. We serve homeowners and businesses throughout Reno and Northern Nevada. Call (775) 618-6801 or contact us to schedule a look, and stop by our Reno office location page for directions and hours.
