Tree Service in Gateway, FL

Tree Service in Gateway is a community-of-owners job. Census QuickFacts shows 84.9% of Gateway homes are owner-occupied, with a median value of $453,900, and the community grew from 2,943 people in 2000 to 10,376 in 2020. It sits north of Southwest Florida International Airport at about 20 feet of elevation, a little higher than most of Lee County. Fort Myers Tree Service Pros gets a lot of the same questions from Gateway homeowners, mostly about removals, stumps and what to plant next, so this page walks through them in order.

1. Is removal the right call?

Not every unwanted tree needs to come out. A tree that's crowding the house can often be pruned to clear it. A palm with a few brown fronds may just need trimming or fertilizer. We recommend removal when a tree is dead or dying, structurally unsound, damaging a foundation or pavement, or simply the wrong tree for the spot. When we're unsure, we say so.

2. Approvals

If your home is in a neighborhood with an association, expect to file a request before a tree is taken down or replaced. Get that approval in writing. On the county side, Gateway is unincorporated, and Lee County's guide says removing five or fewer trees a year from a single-family lot with an existing home doesn't need a permit.

3. The removal

On an open lot, a tree can sometimes be felled in one piece. In most Gateway backyards, with fences, pool cages and lanais close by, the tree is climbed or reached by lift and taken down in sections, lowering heavy pieces by rope. Palms are usually topped first, then the trunk is cut down in rounds.

4. The stump

Stump grinding chews the stump into chips below the surface so you can plant or sod over the spot. Before grinding we check for irrigation lines, low-voltage lighting and anything buried near the base. Tell us what you know about your yard; it saves time. The leftover chips can be spread as mulch or hauled away.

5. Cleanup and hauling

Lee County's weekly yard waste pickup is meant for homeowner trimmings in bundles no longer than 6 feet and no heavier than 50 pounds. Tree company debris is the company's responsibility, so hauling is part of our estimate and nothing is left at the curb.

6. Replanting

If you're replacing a tree, UF/IFAS research on hurricane-damaged trees gives useful guidance. Species with the highest wind resistance include live oak, southern magnolia, gumbo limbo, cocoplum, dahoon holly and cabbage palm. Royal palm, coconut palm and mahogany rank medium-high. Queen palm and Washington palm rank among the lowest. Plant where the tree will have plenty of root space at full size, away from the slab and driveway.

What else we do in Gateway

• Palm trimming and seed pod removal
• Structural pruning on young shade trees
• Raising canopies over sidewalks and streets
• Storm damage cleanup

Call (239) 236-3651 or send the form for a free written estimate. Get a free estimate