JB
★★★★★
March 11th, a brief but strong storm came through Goodlettsville and blew over two giant trees in my front yard; one which was being supported by a 3rd tree that was facing and threatening my house. It was an…
Julie Bangs●3 days ago
South Nashville’s expert arborists. From our Green Hills office.
From Belle Meade magnolias to the maples of 12 South, our South Nashville crew keeps the south side canopy healthy and standing. We dispatch from a staffed office on Hillsboro Pike, and we still answer the phone at 2 a.m.
99% recommended
Why South Nashville
Old estate canopy meets a building boom.
The Certified Arborist Tree Service of South Nashville is our dedicated South Nashville crew, working from a staffed office at 4235 Hillsboro Pike #112 in Green Hills and serving south Davidson County and northern Williamson County. Same expert arborists, same standards, and the same insurance on every job.
The south side carries the oldest residential canopy in the metro. Belle Meade and Forest Hills grew up under white oaks and magnolias that are pushing a century, and the teardown boom in Green Hills and 12 South is compacting root zones under trees that took 80 years to grow.
We know the hills. From the Harpeth ridges to the flats along Nolensville Pike, we know which species are failing this season and which streets need a crane instead of a climb.
Why south side trees fail
The risks we watch across South Nashville right now.
Mature canopy fails differently than young trees. On the south side the losses are slow, structural, and often construction driven.
Construction Damage & Root Zones
Teardowns and additions across Green Hills and 12 South cut and compact roots. The tree looks fine for three years, then declines fast.
Bradford Pear Failure
Mature Bradfords across Crieve Hall and Antioch are hitting the structural failure age. Weak branch unions let whole sections drop in a storm.
Emerald Ash Borer
Confirmed across Middle Tennessee. Untreated ash along the Harpeth corridor gets brittle fast and needs a plan before it fails.
Dogwood Borers
Understory dogwoods here are prime targets once drought stress sets in. Early treatment saves them.
Service area
Our South Nashville service area.
Our South Nashville crew covers south Davidson County and into Williamson County, from Brentwood to Franklin.
The Certified Arborist Tree Service of South Nashville 4235 Hillsboro Pike #112Nashville, TN 37215 (629) 236-3636 Open 24 hours
Areas we cover
Click an area to learn more about our work there.
- South Nashville
- Green Hills
- Belle Meade
- Forest Hills
- Oak Hill
- Berry Hill
- Brentwood
- Franklin
- Antioch
- Nolensville
What people are saying
Rated 4.9 stars across 140+ reviews.
Real reviews from real customers, straight from our Google Business Profile. Here's what people say once the crew has packed up and the yard is clean.
JM
★★★★★
From the time I inquired w this company about removing a tree that was strongly impacted from the major strong 80 mph winds on March 3, 2023, they provided us w exceptional service in every way . They were…
Jeanne Mason●3 weeks ago
GH
★★★★★
CATS crew was amazing across the board from Mike & Lisa & Joe to the crew that came to our house. The consultation was easy and informative and made me feel comfortable in choosing them. The price was less…
Guy Hunt●1 month ago
What we do
Tree care across South Nashville, made easy.
Tree Services
Tree Removal
Safe removal of dead, diseased, or hazardous trees, from tight Green Hills lots to large estate takedowns, with proper rigging and full property protection.
Learn more →Tree Services
Tree Trimming & Pruning
Structural pruning to ANSI A300 standards that keeps mature south side canopies healthy, beautiful, and ready for storm season.
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Emergency & Storm Damage
24/7 storm response across south Davidson and Williamson County. Crews dispatch from our Hillsboro Pike office and clear hazards fast, day or night.
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WindReady™ Storm Prep
Strengthen your trees before severe weather hits. Strategic pruning, cabling, and bracing that cuts storm damage risk across the south side.
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Safety & Risk Assessments
TRAQ-qualified written inspection and risk report, accepted by insurance carriers and HOA boards across Davidson and Williamson County.
Learn more →Tree Services
Virtual Consulting & Estimates
Get expert arborist guidance without a site visit. Share photos or video of your trees and receive a written assessment and estimate within 24 hours.
Learn more →Commercial
Multi-Location Management
Simplify tree care across multiple properties with a single, trusted provider. Consistent maintenance and emergency response.
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HOA & Property Management
One point of contact for the whole community: scheduled rounds, board-friendly reports, and uniform standards across every lot.
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Municipal Tree Care
ROW maintenance, public works contracts, and storm response for city forestry teams. We handle permits and traffic plans.
Learn more →Commercial
Fortune-500 Grounds
Corporate campuses, hospital systems, and headquarters landscapes. Quarterly walks, annual risk reports, COIs on file.
Learn more →Commercial
Commercial Emergency Response
Under 2-hour dispatch to any property in our service area. Liability coverage and safety plans on file with your operations team.
Learn more →Commercial
Property Tree Inventory
A geotagged inventory of every tree on the property: species, age, condition, and recommended work, refreshed annually.
Learn more →Trees we know
The South Nashville species list, and what we watch for.
The south side grows on limestone hills and old estate soil. The species mix is different from the north side, and so are the failure modes.
Southern Magnolia
Belle Meade and Green Hills estates are full of mature specimens. Dense canopies split in ice; selective reduction keeps them intact.
Hackberry
The most common volunteer tree in south Davidson County. Fast, brittle, and the first to drop limbs in a summer storm.
Eastern Redcedar
Native to the limestone slopes along the Harpeth. Tough, but leaning trunks and root plates fail in saturated spring soil.
Shumard Oak
A Williamson County favorite in newer landscapes. Strong tree; watch for bacterial leaf scorch as they mature.
Flowering Dogwood
Understory staple across Forest Hills and Oak Hill. Borers target drought stressed trunks; mulch and water are the defense.
White Ash
Emerald ash borer is now confirmed across Middle Tennessee. Untreated ash near a house needs a removal or treatment plan.
Local expertise
Why an Expert Arborist Matters on the South Side
The south side canopy is the most valuable in the metro, in every sense. A mature white oak in Belle Meade or Forest Hills is a six-figure asset that took a century to grow, and it stands over some of the most expensive rooflines in Tennessee. Work at that scale leaves no room for guesswork: the wrong cut, the wrong rigging call, or a missed cavity turns an heirloom into a liability.
Every estimate is walked by an experienced arborist. Cuts follow ANSI A300 standards, assessments are TRAQ qualified and delivered in writing, and estate removals are rigged and reviewed before a saw fires up. Belle Meade, Forest Hills, and Oak Hill each run their own tree ordinances, and we handle those approvals as part of the job.
It also matters for paperwork. HOAs in Brentwood and Franklin want documentation before a removal is approved, and insurers want proof a failed tree was professionally assessed. We put both in writing on every job.
The Canopy South of the River
Green Hills and Belle Meade hold the metro’s oldest estate canopy: century white oaks, southern magnolias, and sugar maples planted when the streetcar lines went in. The teardown boom is the threat here, compacting root zones that took 80 years to build.
Forest Hills and Oak Hill are wooded hillsides with houses in them, satellite cities with their own tree ordinances and steep lots where a removal is often a crane conversation. Berry Hill and Antioch round out the Davidson County side.
South into Williamson County, Brentwood’s one-acre lots and Franklin’s historic districts carry the next generation of estate trees, with Nolensville growing fastest of all. Each community in our coverage list has its own page with the species, risks, and rules we work with there.
South Nashville FAQ
Local questions, local answers.
Don't see your question? Call us. Every call is answered by a human arborist, day or night.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in South Nashville?
Inside Metro Nashville, most removals on private residential property do not require a permit. The satellite cities are different: Belle Meade, Forest Hills, and Oak Hill each run their own tree ordinances, and removals there often need approval first. We confirm the rules for your exact address and file any permit that is required, with the fee itemized on your estimate.
How fast can you get a crew to Brentwood or Franklin?
Most estimate visits across south Davidson and Williamson County happen within 24 hours. Emergencies get a crew on site in about two hours from our Green Hills office, day or night. We dispatch our own trucks, not a call center.
What is the biggest tree risk in South Nashville right now?
Construction damage. The teardown and rebuild boom in Green Hills, 12 South, and Berry Hill is compacting root zones under trees that took 80 years to grow. The decline shows up two or three summers later, when the tree is much harder to save. If equipment has been under your canopy, get an assessment early.
What training do your arborists have?
Our arborists are experienced tree care professionals who follow ANSI A300 industry standards on every job, and risk assessments are TRAQ-qualified. Complex removals near structures are reviewed before any work begins, and you get a written plan before a saw fires up.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. We carry $2M general liability plus workers' comp on every crew member, and we email a current Certificate of Insurance before work begins. Belle Meade and Forest Hills HOAs and many property managers require it on file.
Take back your trees today
One expert arborist. Every tree on your property.
Free estimate. Twenty-four-hour response. No contracts. No commitments.
Or call (629) 236-3636, answered 24/7 by a human.
