Tree Service in
Kirkland, WA
Honest, skilled tree removal, pruning, and emergency tree work for homes and properties throughout Kirkland and the greater Eastside.
Philip Cramer
"We have been happy repeat customers of Haskins Tree Care for many years. Many friends and neighbors are repeat customers too. Definitely recommend."
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Or call us directly at 1-425-677-5573
Rated 4.8 Stars on Google
Trusted by Homeowners Across the Eastside
The Crew Kirkland Calls First
Kirkland sits on the east shore of Lake Washington, and it is part of the territory our crew covers across the greater Eastside from our home base in Carnation. So when you call us you are not getting a national franchise routing a crew through a call center. You are getting an owner-run, Pacific Northwest team that works the Eastside regularly and knows its trees, its neighborhoods, and its rules.
From the waterfront and downtown out to established neighborhoods like Juanita, Houghton, Rose Hill, and Finn Hill, Kirkland is full of mature evergreens and big deciduous trees, many planted decades ago and now towering over homes on close-set and sloping lots. Add wind exposure near the lake and the value Kirkland owners place on their views, and tree work here takes a careful, skilled hand. That is exactly what our crew is built for.
Brock Haskins is on-site for nearly every job, which means owner-level care and accountability from the first walk-through to final cleanup.
The Haskins crew, serving the Snoqualmie Valley and Eastside since 2013
Lake, Slopes, and Mature Trees
County
King County
Setting
An established Eastside city on the east shore of Lake Washington, from waterfront and downtown to wooded hillside neighborhoods
Common Trees
Douglas fir, western red cedar, western hemlock, bigleaf maple, red alder, ornamental cherry
Local Conditions
Mature trees on established and waterfront lots, lake-bluff slopes, wind exposure near the water, view-sensitive pruning, strict city tree rules
Tree Permit Authority
City of Kirkland
Tree Services for Kirkland Homes and Waterfront Lots
Whether it is a towering fir between two homes or storm cleanup on a lakefront lot, our crew handles it. Here is what we offer Kirkland property owners, and why each one matters here specifically.
Tree Trimming & Pruning
Mature trees on close-set Kirkland lots need thinning for light, airflow, and storm resilience, and many owners want careful crown work to open up a lake or territorial view. We thin and shape to standard, never topping, and we handle structural pruning for fruit and ornamental trees.
Stump Grinding
After a tree comes down, the stump does not have to stay. We grind stumps below grade to clear tripping hazards and free up your yard, from a single backyard stump to several at once.
Hazard Tree Removal
A leaning fir on a slope, a storm-cracked limb, or root rot in a tall conifer near the house all call for prompt attention. If you have a leaning, cracked, or storm-damaged tree, we assess and remove it before it causes damage, and we can document the hazard for the city if needed.
Close Quarters Removal
On Kirkland's tight, established, and waterfront lots, big trees often stand right against homes, fences, and power lines, with no room to drop them. Our crew uses technical rigging and precision cutting to bring them down piece by piece without touching your property.
Chipping
We chip and haul all brush, branches, and debris from every job. Our commercial chippers process material on-site, and we can leave the chips for your landscaping or haul them away.
24/7 Emergency Response
Kirkland's storm season runs October through March, when windstorms off the lake bring tall trees down on homes, driveways, and power lines. They do not wait for business hours. Our emergency crew is available around the clock, every day of the year.
Recent Work Near the Lake
A look at recent tree jobs around Kirkland and the Eastside.
Technical crane removal
Snoqualmie Valley
Lowering a heavy section
Snoqualmie Valley
Felling a large conifer
Duvall, WA
Crew at a fresh cut
Duvall, WA
Storm damage on the home
Fall City, WA
Caring for Trees Near the Water
Kirkland's trees face a few specific pressures, and they are worth knowing about as a property owner here.
Big Trees on Established Lots
Much of Kirkland's canopy is mature conifers planted decades ago, now towering over homes on close-set and sloping lots. As those trees age, deadwood, lean, and root issues become real safety concerns, and removing or pruning them safely takes rigging and experience, not just a chainsaw.
Wind Off the Lake
Trees near Lake Washington and on the bluffs above it catch the full force of winter windstorms, especially ones that lost their neighbors to past clearing or construction. Proactive thinning and assessment make a real difference before a storm finds the weak spots.
Cedar Dieback and Maple Decline
Western red cedar dieback and bigleaf maple decline are active forest-health concerns across western Washington, documented by WSU and Washington DNR. Watch for thinning canopies, top dieback, flagging branches, and reduced leaf size, and get an assessment if you see them.
A working knowledge of the Pacific Northwest is part of doing this job right here. Our crew assesses lean, soil conditions, slope, and proximity to structures before any cut. If you have a tree you are unsure about, an honest assessment from an experienced arborist is the cheapest insurance you can buy.
When You Need an Allowance, and When You Need a Permit
Kirkland updated its tree code in 2022 and protects its canopy closely, so it is worth knowing the rules before you cut. Here is the short version for homeowners:
Kirkland regulates any "regulated tree," which is 6 inches or more in diameter, and gives "landmark trees" (26 inches or more) extra protection.
For a lot with no special conditions, you can remove a set number of regulated trees per year by submitting a free Tree Removal Allowance, based on your lot size: 2 trees for lots up to 10,000 square feet, 3 trees for lots from 10,001 to 20,000, and 4 trees for lots 20,001 and larger. Your property also has to keep a minimum number of trees (2, 3, or 4, depending on lot size) to qualify.
A paid Private Tree Removal Permit is required to go beyond that allowance, to remove a landmark tree, or to remove hazard or nuisance trees. Landmark trees can generally be removed at about one per year and require three replacement trees from the city's approved list.
Topping is never allowed, and heavy pruning that removes more than about a quarter of a tree's canopy counts as removal. Pruning trees in a critical area, such as a wetland, stream, or steep slope, needs written city approval first.
Trees along the Lake Washington shoreline and in the Holmes Point area near Finn Hill follow additional, stricter rules, and new construction triggers a separate tree retention plan.
City Permit Contact Kirkland's allowance-versus-permit rules turn on your lot size, your trees, and whether your property has critical areas or shoreline, so it is worth confirming the specifics for your address. The city's tree information is at kirklandwa.gov/trees, and the Planning and Building Department can be reached at 425-587-3600. We are glad to walk you through it and handle the allowance or permit side.
Four Steps from Call to Cleanup
From your first call to final cleanup, we make it easy.
Call or Request a Quote
Give us a call or fill out our online form. Our team will get back to you quickly to discuss your tree situation and schedule a time for an estimate.
Free On-Site Estimate
Brock will come to your property, assess the job in person, and give you an honest, no-pressure quote. You will know exactly what the job costs before we start.
Professional Service
Our crew shows up on time with the right equipment. Brock is on-site for nearly every job, ensuring the work is done safely and to our standards.
Complete Cleanup
When we are done, your property looks better than when we arrived. All debris hauled away, yard raked clean. You do not lift a finger.
Kirkland and Its Neighborhoods
Kirkland is part of our regular Eastside run, and our crews work the surrounding area every week. We provide tree service to Kirkland and its neighborhoods and neighbors, including:
From waterfront homes to hillside lots, no property is too tricky or too tucked away. If you are nearby and not sure whether we cover you, just ask.
Kirkland Questions We Get a Lot
The most common questions we get from Kirkland property owners.
Do you offer free estimates in Kirkland?
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Kirkland?
How fast can you respond to an emergency?
What affects the cost of tree work in Kirkland?
What tree species do you work on?
Have a Tree You're Wondering About?
Call us today or fill out our form for a free, no-obligation estimate.