Christy K.Google review
★★★★★
K&M came out same day and took down some very large and potentially hazardous pines that were leaning towards my house.
Dangerous & Dead Tree Removal in Birmingham, AL
Leaning toward the house. Cracked at the fork. Dead for two summers. Get it down on your schedule instead of the next storm's, with a free on-site estimate from the company with Dangerous Tree Removal lettered on its trucks.
- Licensed and insured
- Owner-operated
- 4.7 stars, 85 reviews
A dead or failing tree rarely gives up on a calm day. It goes in the next thunderstorm, after a week of rain softens the ground, or when a tropical system comes up from the Gulf. Most of the trees that come down on Birmingham houses showed warning signs long before they fell.
K&M takes down dangerous, dead, diseased, and high risk trees across Birmingham and Shelby County, and has for over 30 years. Dangerous Tree Removal is lettered right on the side of the K&M trucks. Owner Kenny Malone personally oversees every job and prefers to see the tree in person before he gives a price.
What's included
- Free evaluation and on-site estimate, with a look at what the tree could hit
- Removal of dead, dying, diseased, leaning, and storm-damaged trees
- Trees close to houses, fences, driveways, and power lines
- Bucket truck and crane services when the tree is too unsound to climb
- Debris removal and a thorough cleanup
- 24 hour storm service when a tree is already failing
How the job goes
- Call or send a photoTell us what the tree is doing and what is underneath it. If it is actively failing, say so.
- Free on-site estimateKenny looks at the tree in person and gives you the price before any work starts.
- RemovalWith a structure underneath, the tree comes down in sections. Bucket truck or crane services come in when climbing is not safe.
- CleanupDebris hauled off and the yard cleaned up, with stump grinding if you added it.
Why people call K&M for this
The reviews tell the story. Christy K. wrote that K&M came out the same day and took down very large and potentially hazardous pines that were leaning toward her house. Jason M. lost a tree in the middle of the night and said K&M was the only company to respond.
Taking a dangerous tree down before it fails is almost always safer and cheaper than an emergency removal after it lands on the roof. Not every scary-looking tree has to go, either. Some just need dead limbs trimmed out, and the same free estimate covers that.
Warning signs of a dangerous tree
A new or worsening lean. A tree that has always grown at an angle is not necessarily a problem. A lean that is new, or that got worse after heavy rain or a storm, can mean the roots have shifted.
Soil cracking or lifting at the base. Raised or cracked ground on the side opposite the lean is one of the most serious signs, because it means the root plate is moving.
Cracks, splits, and cavities. Deep cracks in the trunk, splits where two big stems meet, and hollow spots all mean the wood that holds the tree up is failing.
Mushrooms or fungus at the base. Fungal growth on the trunk or roots usually points to decay inside that has been building for a while.
Dead or hanging limbs. Large dead branches, a thin or bare canopy in summer, and broken limbs still hung up in the tree can all come down without warning.
Location matters as much as condition. The same defect is a much bigger problem on a tree 15 feet from a bedroom than on one in the back corner of a big lot.
What dead tree removal costs
Dangerous and dead trees usually cost more to take down than healthy ones, because dead wood cannot be trusted to hold a climber or rigging, so the work often needs a bucket truck or crane and more time. Published guides put a typical medium tree removal in Birmingham at roughly $521 to $709 (Homeyou), and hazard trees near a house run above that. See the tree removal cost guide, or call for a free on-site estimate.
Dead trees, neighbors, and insurance
If a tree is dead or dangerous, the owner of the property where it stands is generally responsible for it. If a neighbor's tree worries you, a written notice with photos creates a record that they were told. If it falls on your house, your own homeowners insurance usually handles the claim first. Insurance work and claims are welcome here, and we accept all insurance. These are general answers, not legal advice. For a specific dispute, talk to an attorney or your insurer.
Serving Birmingham and the surrounding cities
K&M is based in Columbiana and removes dangerous trees across Birmingham, Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Homewood, Mountain Brook, Pelham, Alabaster, Helena, and Chelsea, plus Inverness, Irondale, and the rest of Central Alabama.
Recent jobs
What customers say
4.7 stars from 85 Google reviews. Read more reviews.
Jason M.Google review
★★★★★
Incredible experience. Lost a tree in the middle of the night and they were the only company to respond!
Sadie C.Google review
★★★★★
K&M was quick to respond when a tree fell on our house on a Sunday evening and did an impressively thorough job cleaning up.
Valerie A.Google review
★★★★★
K&M has handled several tree removal jobs for me, the most memorable of which was on a Sunday, when a huge oak tree fell.
Luke H.Google review
★★★★★
Had a tree covered in vines with power lines running through it. Trimmed and took it down perfectly.
Michael C.Google review
★★★★★
Very responsive and did great work! Some other tree companies were trying to take advantage of our insurance and these guys gave a very fair price.
Dangerous and dead tree questions
Usually more than a healthy tree of the same size, because dead wood is brittle and the job often needs a bucket truck or crane. Published guides put a medium tree removal in Birmingham at roughly $521 to $709 (Homeyou), and dead trees near a house run above that. The estimate is free.
Look for a new or worsening lean, soil cracking or lifting at the base, deep cracks or splits, mushrooms or fungus on the trunk, large dead or hanging limbs, and a thin or bare canopy in summer. Any one of those near your house is worth a free look.
It gets more brittle every year. It drops limbs first, then the top, and eventually fails at the trunk or roots, often in a storm. If a dead tree you knew about falls on your house, your insurer may question the claim, and if it falls on a neighbor you could be held responsible.
Generally the owner of the property where the trunk stands. Trees in the city right of way are usually the city's. This is general information, not legal advice.
Usually your own homeowners insurance handles damage to your house, even if it was the neighbor's tree. The neighbor may be responsible if they knew, or should have known, the tree was dead or dangerous and did nothing. This is general information, not legal advice.
Not directly in most cases, but you can put them on notice. Send a written notice with photos describing the problem, keep a copy, and let your insurer know. If the tree later falls on your property, that record matters. For a specific dispute, talk to an attorney.
Talk to them first, then send a written notice with photos if nothing changes. You can trim branches that hang over your side of the property line, as long as you do not harm the tree itself. If it threatens a power line, call the utility.
In general, owners are responsible for the trees on their land, neighbors can trim branches that cross the property line without killing the tree, and cutting a tree on someone else's property without permission can bring real penalties. This is general information, not legal advice. For your situation, talk to an attorney.
It is when branches or roots from a tree on one property cross the property line onto another. In general, the neighbor can trim what crosses onto their side, at their own expense, without damaging the health of the tree.
If the whole tree is on your property, it is generally your decision, but check your city and HOA rules first. If the trunk sits on the property line, it may belong to both of you, so get agreement in writing before anyone cuts.
Usually not to remove a standing dead tree before it falls. That is considered maintenance. Insurance generally steps in when a tree falls on a covered structure. Insurance work and claims are welcome here, and we accept all insurance.
Yes. Dead branches can come off any time of year and it is good for the tree. Big dead limbs high in the canopy or over the house are a job for a crew with the right equipment.
On a private residential lot, usually yes, but check your city and HOA rules. A dead tree is more dangerous to cut than a healthy one, because brittle wood can break and fall in directions you do not expect. Near a house, fence, or power line, it is not a DIY job.
There is no general program in Alabama for free tree removal. Utilities remove trees that threaten their lines, and some counties run debris programs after a declared disaster. If a tree is touching a power line, call the utility first.
Late fall and winter are usually the cheapest. For a dangerous tree, though, the cheapest time is before it falls. An emergency removal off a roof costs far more than a planned one.
Next to the house, yes. That is the work Dangerous Tree Removal on the trucks is about, with bucket truck and crane services when the job needs them. If the tree is in the main power lines, Alabama Power has to be involved first.
Dangerous & Dead Tree Removal across Birmingham and Shelby County
K&M works across these towns. Tap yours for local details.
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