Backcountry Tree Service Greer, SC
Stump Grinding, Tree Removal, Trimming & 24/7 Emergency Service
Backcountry Tree Service Greer handles tree service in Greer, SC, for homeowners on both sides of the county line that runs through town. We grind stumps, take down trees, trim and prune, clear overgrown lots, and answer the phone 24/7 when a storm drops a tree. Every job ends with the clean-up done and the debris hauled away, and the estimate is free.
Licensed and Insured Tree Service in Greer
Every crew working under the Backcountry Tree Service Greer name is licensed and insured. That matters because tree work is dangerous, and if a limb lands on your roof or a worker gets hurt on your property, the insurance covers it rather than you.
Fill in the form and we’ll get back to you to arrange a free estimate, or call (864) 334-7887 any time.
Stump Grinding in Greer
Grinding is the quickest way to be rid of an old stump. The grinder chews the stump and its root flare into chips, typically 8 to 12 inches below the surface, so you can reseed or plant over the spot.
Stumps left in the ground can send up new shoots, and as the old roots rot, mushrooms often pop up in the lawn around them. Once the stump is ground, we rake the chips out of the hole. Fill it with topsoil rather than wood chips, and top it up as it settles. Grinding goes below the soil line, so we have buried lines near a stump marked through SC 811 first; South Carolina’s 811 law requires notice three to twelve full working days before digging with mechanized equipment.
Read more about stump grinding in Greer.
Tree Removal
When a tree is dead, leaning toward the house or split by a storm, removal is the safe answer. We take it down in sections where there’s no room to drop it whole, which is often the case where the house or a power line is within reach.
Bradford pears are a common reason for removal in yards around town. Clemson Extension notes their narrow branch angles make them split in half, especially in ice and storms, with severe splitting especially in trees older than about 15 years. Loblolly pine is the other tree we see often, since much of the Piedmont around Greer sits on red-clay soils such as Cecil, which in wooded areas commonly support loblolly pine. A tall pine close to the house is worth a look before storm season. After the tree is down, we cut the wood, chip the brush and clean the yard, and we can grind the stump the same visit.
See what’s involved in tree removal in Greer.
Tree Trimming
Good trimming takes out dead and crossing branches and lifts limbs off the roof without stripping the tree. Topping isn’t trimming: Clemson Extension’s advice is never to “hat-rack” a landscape tree by cutting all of its branches back to an arbitrary length.
Timing matters in the Upstate. Clemson’s guidance for South Carolina is to prune most trees not grown for showy flowers in late winter or early spring, to prune spring-flowering trees such as dogwood and redbud after they bloom, and to wait until the leaves have matured before pruning maples. Clemson also advises against pruning in the 10 weeks before your area’s first hard frost. Trees overhanging the roof or driveway get trimmed whenever they become a problem.
Land & Lot Clearing
Lot clearing takes an overgrown parcel back to workable ground. The trees come down and the brush goes through the chipper, then the stumps are ground out before work starts on a driveway, an addition or a new home. Greer sits next to GSP International Airport and is home to the South Carolina Inland Port, with BMW Plant Spartanburg on Highway 101, and wooded land on the area’s red-clay soils commonly carries loblolly pine with oaks and hickory.
Size matters for the paperwork. Under South Carolina’s stormwater rules, a project that disturbs more than one acre of land, or is part of a larger common plan of development that will, needs NPDES construction stormwater permit coverage from SC DES, so check with your builder or engineer before a large clear. We’ll walk the lot with you and talk through what comes out and what stays.
Read more about land clearing in Greer.
24/7 Emergency Tree Service
If a tree is on your house or across the driveway, call (864) 334-7887 at any hour. We’ll make the area safe and get the weight off the roof first, then come back for the full clean-up.
Greer has seen what Upstate storms can do. When Hurricane Helene came through in September 2024, the National Weather Service recorded a gust of about 68 mph (59 knots) at GSP airport, and trees and power lines fell across the region, causing widespread outages. The December 2005 ice storm left a quarter inch or more of ice in many places across Upstate South Carolina and brought down trees and lines with it. Summer thunderstorms are the more regular threat: they’re common in South Carolina, and strong ones bring high winds.
Get help fast with emergency tree service in Greer.
What Happens on the Day
We’ll arrive at the agreed time, walk the job with you and confirm exactly what’s being cut and where the trucks will park. Lawns and flower beds are protected where the work allows.
- Free estimate first: we look at the tree, explain the work and give you the price before anything starts.
- Lines checked: overhead lines are checked before any climbing or cutting near them, and buried lines are marked before grinding.
- Careful takedown: limbs are roped down in sections when there’s a roof or fence underneath.
- Wood and brush handled: brush goes through the chipper, and logs are cut and hauled away or left stacked if you want the firewood.
- Clean-up included: we rake and blow the yard and take the debris with us, so nothing is left at the curb.
What Affects the Cost of Tree Work
Every tree job is priced on a free estimate, because no two trees are the same. The biggest factors are the tree’s height and trunk width, and how close it stands to the house or power lines. Access matters too: a bucket truck or crane makes a big tree quicker when it can reach it. A backyard pine behind a fence, with no truck access, takes longer than a front-yard tree near the street.
Other things that change the price are whether the stump is ground as well, whether you keep the wood or want it hauled away, and whether it’s planned work or an after-hours emergency. Call (864) 334-7887 and we’ll come out, look at the job and give you a straight price.
Tree Rules and Yard Waste in Greer
Greer straddles a county line, so which side your home is on decides which county office handles any tree questions for land outside the city limits. If you’re in an HOA, check its rules before taking down a large tree.
City of Greer yard waste: as of the city’s March 2025 notice, Greer collects up to one truckload (about eight cubic yards) of neatly stacked tree limbs and bush trimmings at the curb each week. Limbs should be no longer than six feet and no thicker than six inches. Anything bigger goes to the county landfill or is removed by a contractor. Check current rules with Greer Public Services at (864) 848-2184.
That limit is why a full tree removal needs a crew that hauls the wood away. South Carolina has also banned the sale of Bradford pears since October 1, 2024; the ban covers sales only, so pears already in your yard can stay. Clemson’s Bradford Pear Bounty lets owners exchange up to five cut pears for free native replacement trees at its events (pre-registration required), with removal left to the property owner.
Storms, Power Lines and Tree Safety
Trees that come down in storms often bring lines with them, and under certain conditions a limb touching a wire can conduct power. Stay well back and keep children and pets away until the line is dealt with.
Never trim near power lines yourself. Duke Energy advises that an unqualified person should not work within 10 feet of overhead lines below 50,000 volts, and asks customers to contact it before pruning or removing trees near its lines. If Greer CPW supplies your power, it says it is available 24/7 for emergencies and outages at (864) 848-5500.
Signs a tree needs looking at before the next storm include a new lean, cracks where big limbs meet the trunk, dead limbs hanging in the canopy, and mushrooms at the base. On pines, look for browning needles and small popcorn-like blobs of resin on the bark, which can mean pine bark beetles such as the southern pine beetle.
Areas We Serve Around Greer, SC
The shaded area on the map is where our crews work: all of Greer, whichever side of the Greenville and Spartanburg county line you live on, plus the City of Greenville and four neighboring towns.
- Greer
- Taylors
- Duncan
- Lyman
- Wellford
- Greenville
Tree Service FAQs
Answers to the questions homeowners ask us most.
How much does tree removal cost in Greer?
Typical prices around Greer, from published cost guides, run about $200 to $1,100, and more for large trees. It depends on the tree’s size, how close it is to the house or power lines, and how easily equipment can reach it. Whether you add stump grinding or keep the wood changes it too. We give a free estimate on site, so you’ll know the price before any work starts.
When is the best time to trim trees in the Upstate?
For most trees not grown for showy flowers, late winter or early spring, which is what Clemson Extension recommends for South Carolina. Spring-flowering trees such as dogwood and redbud are best pruned after they bloom, and maples once their leaves have matured. Dangerous limbs over the house should come off whenever you spot them. Our month-by-month guide to the best time to trim trees has the full calendar.
Should I remove my Bradford pear?
It’s worth considering. Clemson notes Bradford pears split, especially in ice and storms, and puts their life span at about 15 to 25 years. South Carolina’s ban covers only new sales, so keeping one is legal. If you remove yours, Clemson’s Bradford Pear Bounty can swap up to five cut trees for free native ones.
Will the City of Greer pick up my tree limbs?
Inside city limits, the city’s March 2025 notice says it collects up to about eight cubic yards of stacked limbs and trimmings at the curb each week, with limbs no longer than six feet or thicker than six inches; Greer Public Services can confirm the current rules. Larger debris, such as a whole tree, needs to go to the landfill or be hauled away by a contractor, and our crews take it with them.
How deep do you grind stumps?
Grinders typically go 8 to 12 inches below the surface, which is deep enough to seed or lay sod over the spot. We’ll talk through what you plan to put there, and the hole should be filled with topsoil rather than wood chips, then topped up as it settles.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. Every crew working under our name is licensed and insured, and you’re welcome to see the insurance certificate before work starts. Businesses working inside Greer city limits also need a City of Greer business license, which the city’s Business License Office handles.
Do you work outside Greer?
Yes. Along with Greer itself, we cover Taylors, Duncan, Lyman and Wellford. Call (864) 334-7887 with your address and we’ll confirm.
