Tampa's expert arborists. For all of Hillsborough County.

Tampa Bay throws hurricanes, the nation's highest lightning frequency, and afternoon thunderstorms at trees planted in sandy, fast draining soil that gives roots little to hold onto. An expert arborist reads which live oaks and sabal palms are still sound and which are one storm from the roofline, then builds a plan around it, day or night.

Get An Estimate (844) 835-8733

Why Tampa

Why Tampa trees need a real arborist.

The Certified Arborist Tree Service works Hillsborough County the way the local ground demands: full insurance, a documented plan for every tree, and a crew that has cut through Tampa's specific mix of palm disease and storm risk before.

The sandy soil under most Tampa lots drains fast and holds little fertility, so trees that look full in the canopy can carry a root system that never anchored well. Add hurricane season and the daily lightning that Tampa Bay is famous for, and windthrow becomes the region's most common failure mode.

Add lethal bronzing moving through sabal and queen palms, ganoderma butt rot working the base of older live oaks, and laurel wilt hitting anything in the laurel family, and it is clear why a walkthrough from a crew that only removes what already fell short changes the outcome, versus one from an arborist who catches the decline first.

Schedule a Tampa site walk Call (844) 835-8733

Why Tampa trees fail

The risks we watch in Tampa right now.

When a tree fails here, the cause is usually one of a few problems we check on every Tampa site visit.

Lethal Bronzing (Palms)

This phytoplasma disease is moving through Tampa's sabal and queen palms, killing the canopy from the top down with no cure once symptoms show. Early removal keeps it from spreading to neighboring palms.

Ganoderma Butt Rot

This fungus rots the base and root structure of live oaks and other Tampa shade trees from the inside, often with no visible warning beyond a conk at the trunk base. By the time it shows, structural failure risk is already high.

Laurel Wilt

Spread by an invasive ambrosia beetle, this disease moves fast through laurel family trees and can kill a mature tree within weeks of the first wilted leaves. We watch for the telltale reddish brown staining under the bark.

Hurricane Windthrow on Sandy Soil

Hillsborough County's sandy, fast draining ground gives roots a shallow anchor, so hurricane season winds topple trees that looked healthy above ground. We check root flare and lean before storm season, not after.

Service area

Our Tampa service area.

Serving Tampa and the surrounding communities.

Areas we cover

Click an area to learn more about our work there.

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.

★★★★★

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

★★★★★

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

★★★★★

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

Read all 140+ reviews on Google

What we do

A geotagged inventory of every tree on the property: species, age, condition, and recommended work, refreshed annually.

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Trees we know

The Tampa species list, and what we watch for.

Local soil, local weather, local pests. Each species here fails in its own way, and we plan around all of them.

Live Oak

Tampa's most common shade tree carries huge lateral limbs that need structural pruning long before a hurricane tests them, and its base is a favorite target for ganoderma butt rot.

Crape Myrtle

Widely planted for its bloom, it is usually low risk here but suffers when over pruned into the topped shape locally called crape murder, which weakens future limb structure.

Sabal Palm

Florida's state tree tolerates the sandy soil well but is now one of the primary hosts for lethal bronzing spreading through Central Florida.

Queen Palm

A popular ornamental palm that is more cold sensitive than the native sabal and is also vulnerable to the same lethal bronzing pathogen moving through the region.

Drake Elm

A fast growing shade option that handles Tampa's heat well but needs regular structural pruning to avoid the weak limb unions that fail first in hurricane winds.

Laurel Oak

Fast growing and short lived by design, it is the species most exposed to laurel wilt and to internal decay once it passes maturity, which is why we track its age on every property.

Local expertise

Why an Expert Arborist Matters in Tampa

Central Florida grows demanding trees on demanding ground. A crew with a chainsaw treats the tree that already failed; an arborist reads the live oak with early ganoderma at its base, the sabal palm going bronze in the crown, or the laurel oak past its short natural lifespan, before any of them come down on a roof.

Every estimate is walked by an experienced arborist. Cuts follow ANSI A300, risk assessments are TRAQ qualified, and you get a plan and a current Certificate of Insurance before work begins, whether the job is routine pruning or hurricane season storm response.

Across Tampa

Every community in our coverage list, from Carrollwood to Town 'n' Country, has its own page covering the species, soil, and storm exposure we plan around there.

Tampa 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 Tampa?

Local rules vary by jurisdiction, lot, and whether the tree is protected. We confirm the requirements for your exact Tampa address and handle any permit or arborist report needed before work begins.

How fast can an arborist get to my property?

Most estimate visits happen within 24 hours, and storm emergencies get a crew on site the same day. We answer the phone around the clock.

Why do so many Tampa palms look like they are dying from the top down?

That pattern is the classic sign of lethal bronzing, a disease with no cure once the canopy starts to brown. We assess it fast because it can spread to nearby palms.

Does Tampa's sandy soil really make trees more likely to fall?

Yes. Sandy, fast draining soil gives roots a shallower anchor than clay or loam, so when hurricane season winds arrive, trees with otherwise healthy canopies can still go over. We check root flare and lean as part of every assessment.

What standards do your arborists follow?

Every job runs to ANSI A300 standards and risk assessments are TRAQ qualified. An expert arborist conducts every estimate.

Are you insured?

Yes. We carry full general liability and workers' compensation on every crew and can email a current Certificate of Insurance before work begins.

Take back your trees today