Tree Service in Lake City, AR
Tree service in Lake City, AR from Jonesboro Master Tree Service covers removals, trimming, stump grinding and the storm cleanup this end of the county has had far too much of lately. I look at every tree in person and write the price on the spot. You decide with the number in your hand, not after.
Lake City is 16 miles east of downtown Jonesboro, on the west bank of the St. Francis River, and it shares the county seat with Jonesboro. A town of 2,326 people, and it's been hit hard: an EF4 passed just north-west in December 2021, then an EF3 tore through the west side in April 2025. So a lot of our work here is emergency tree removal. Farther east on Buffalo Island, we also cover Bay and Monette.
Storm damage?
24/7 crews during severe weather
Lake City Trees and the St. Francis River
Lake City grew up on the river, and the trees tell you that. Down near the water it's bald cypress and bottomland oaks that like wet feet. Up in town, yards carry big water oak and pecan trees put in decades ago. Sweetgum seeds in on its own along fences and ditches.
River-bottom dirt is deep and rich, and it stays wet long after a rain. Wet soil doesn't grip roots the way dry ground does. So a storm that would only snap a few limbs up on the ridge can lay whole trees over here.
Big Old Yard Trees
Many Lake City homes have one huge shade tree that was there before the house. Those trees are worth saving when they are sound. Dead limbs, cracked forks and hollow spots are the warning signs we look for.
Trees Damaged by Recent Tornadoes
After the 2021 and 2025 storms, plenty of trees in and around Lake City stayed standing but got hurt. Twisted tops. Bark stripped off one side. Cracks that open and close when the wind blows. I've stood in a lot of yards out here where the owner thought the tree made it, and it did, for now. A tree that took a hit two years ago can still come down this spring.
Storm Cleanup in Lake City
Storm cleanup in Lake City starts with the dangerous work. Trees on roofs. Limbs hung up over driveways. Trunks bent under tension that can whip when they're cut. A trained crew handles those first, then we cut up and haul the rest, chip the brush and rake the yard.
We take photos before we cut so you have them for the insurance claim. If a tree is tangled in power lines, the utility has to clear the line before anyone touches the tree.
We ran about 140 storm calls in the last 12 months, and a good chunk were east of Jonesboro. Worst ones first, always: a tree in a bedroom beats a limb across the back yard.
Does homeowners insurance cover tree removal in Lake City?
Homeowners insurance usually covers tree removal when the tree falls on a covered structure, like your house, garage or fence, according to HomeGuide's 2026 guide. Payouts often run $500 to $1,000 per tree. Trees that fall in the yard without hitting anything, or healthy trees you want removed, are usually not covered.
| Situation | Usually covered? | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tree falls on the house or garage | Yes, often $500 to $1,000 per tree | HomeGuide, 2026 |
| Tree falls in the open yard | Usually not | HomeGuide, 2026 |
| Removing a healthy tree to be safe | No | HomeGuide, 2026 |
| Emergency removal surcharge | 2 to 3 times normal rate | HomeGuide, 2026 |
Every policy is different, and your adjuster makes the call, not us. We hand you a written invoice and the photos to help it along.
Getting Ready for the Next Storm
Most trees that fail in a storm gave a warning first. A dead limb, a crack, a lean that got worse. I'd rather catch it on a Tuesday walk-through than at 2 a.m. Late fall or winter, with the leaves off, is the cheapest time to find those, and trimming or removing one problem tree costs a lot less than a tree through the roof.
Trimming Big River-Bottom Trees
Rich, wet soil grows trees fast, and fast trees get heavy. A water oak in a Lake City yard can put on a lot of wood in twenty years, much of it in long limbs reaching out over the roof. Deadwooding takes out the dead and broken branches first. Then crown thinning removes some inner limbs so wind can pass through the tree instead of pushing on it like a sail.
We cut back to a side branch or the trunk, never leaving stubs, and we never top trees. A topped tree grows back as a bunch of weak sprouts that break in the next storm.
Honestly, a lot of what we do in Lake City is just taking weight off big old trees before ice season. Ice on a wide water oak is like hanging a full five-gallon bucket off the end of every limb. Shorter limbs, less bucket.
Power Lines and Lake City Trees
Out east, power comes from Craighead Electric Cooperative and Entergy Arkansas, depending on the road. Utility crews clear the main lines on the poles. The service drop, which is the wire from the pole to your house, is usually up to you to keep clear of limbs.
If a tree is lying on a line, stay well back and call the utility. Once they make it safe, we can remove the tree and clean up the mess.
Stump Grinding After Storm Removals
Storms leave stumps behind, and sometimes whole root plates standing on edge like a dinner plate in a dish rack. We cut the root plate down, set it back where we can and grind what's left below the surface. The grindings fill the hole. A little dirt on top and grass comes back.
Tree Services We Offer in Lake City
The jobs Lake City homeowners call us for, roughly in order. One of the reviews we're proudest of came from Lake City: a 39-year-old sweetgum down and cleaned up in about 3 hours.
Storm Damage Cleanup
Limbs off roofs and drives, broken tops brought down, hung-up branches cut free and brush chipped. Dangerous trees first.
Tree Removal
Dead, damaged and leaning trees come down in sections near the house, or whole where there's room. Logs hauled off or left for firewood. Your pick.
Tree Trimming
Healthy shade trees get deadwooding and limbs cut back off the roof. We thin heavy crowns so wind passes through. See tree trimming.
Stump Grinding
Stumps ground below the soil line so the yard can be mowed and replanted. We ground around 600 last year across the county.
Hazard Tree Checks
We walk the yard with you and point at the trees most likely to fail in the next storm. Each one gets a written price to fix it. You pick what to do now and what can wait.
Leaning Tree Removal
When a tree has started leaning after a storm, the roots already moved. It won't straighten back up. We take those down before the next round of weather finishes the job.
Tree Service in Lake City: FAQ
Can you come out to Lake City for a free quote?
Yes. Lake City is about 25 minutes east of Jonesboro, and the quote visit is free. We look at the tree with you, explain how we would handle it and write down the price before we leave. Storm damage on a house moves to the front of the schedule.
My tree survived the tornado. Is it still safe?
Maybe. Trees that took a hit can look fine and still be cracked inside or twisted at the base. Signs to watch are new cracks, bark peeling off in strips, dead branches in summer and a lean that is getting worse. We can check it and tell you honestly.
Do you remove trees close to the river bank?
Yes, as long as we can reach them safely. Bank trees usually lean toward the water and sit in soft ground. We plan the cut so the tree goes where we want it, and we keep the heavy trucks back. Fair warning: some bank trees are better left standing to hold the soil.
How long does storm cleanup take?
A yard with a few broken limbs takes a few hours. A big tree on the house can take most of a day, because the weight has to come off slowly. After a major storm, non-emergency cleanup can wait a few days. We work the dangerous calls first. Always.
Is it better to trim or remove a damaged tree?
If the trunk and main roots are sound, trimming out the broken parts usually saves the tree. If the trunk is split, the roots have lifted or more than half the crown is gone, removal is often the safer choice. We tell you which one we would pick and why.
Why do so many trees in Lake City fall over with the roots attached?
Wet ground is the usual reason. River-bottom soil near the St. Francis stays soaked after heavy rain, and soaked soil cannot hold roots as tightly. When a storm pushes on the crown, the whole root plate tips up out of the ground. Trees on the river side of town are most at risk.
Tree Looking Worse Every Storm? Get a Written Price.
Tell us what the tree is doing and where it stands. We come out, look at it with you and write the price down before we leave.
Or call (870) 393-5731