Bucket Truck and Crane Tree Services in Southern NH and Northern MA
The equipment that lets us take the trees others won’t. When a tree is too big, too tall, or too close to your house to climb, we lift it out in sections instead of dropping it. We look at every one of these jobs in person before we quote it.
What should you know about crane and bucket tree work?
Maple Leaf Tree Service LLC is a family run tree company based in Hampstead, New Hampshire that handles crane-assisted and bucket truck tree removal across southern NH and northern MA, roughly 30 miles out. A crane carries the weight of each section and lifts it up and away, so nothing has to drop onto a roof, a fence, or a lawn. A bucket truck lifts the crew to height so nobody has to climb a dead or weakened tree. We walk every job in person before we quote it. The estimate is free.
- What it is used for
- Very large trees, hazardous leaners, dead or rotted trees that are unsafe to climb, trees tight to a house or hanging over a roof, and high limbs that need reach from above.
- Crane or bucket truck
- The crane bears the load and lifts sections out over obstacles. The bucket truck carries the crew up for pruning, deadwooding, and takedowns where there is drive access. Big jobs often use both.
- How the job is planned
- Section weight worked out against crane reach, setup on firm ground with protection under the outriggers, a landing zone chosen clear of the house and septic, each piece strapped before it is cut.
- What it costs
- Priced per job after a site visit. Size and species, crane setup and reach, what sits underneath the tree, and whether the wood stays or gets hauled are what move the number.
- Service area
- Hampstead, Atkinson, Plaistow, Derry, Londonderry, Salem, Windham, Sandown, and Kingston NH, plus Haverhill, Methuen, and Andover MA.
- Getting started
- Free on-site estimate. Call (978) 725-0125 or request a quote on this page. Storm and emergency work gets top priority.
When is a crane or bucket truck needed?
Some trees are too big, too tall, or too dangerous to take down by climbing. That is when a crane or bucket truck earns its keep. A crane lifts heavy sections of the tree straight up and out, so wood never has to drop onto your roof, fence, or lawn. A bucket truck lifts our crew up to high limbs safely, without risky climbs on a dead or weak tree.
Together they let us handle large and hazardous removals with control instead of guesswork. If a tree is leaning over your house, standing dead, or simply too large to climb, this is the equipment that gets it done safely. It is where the saying comes from: when other tree service companies can’t cut it, call Maple Leaf Tree Service.
Most of the work still runs through our standard tree removal service. The crane comes out for the ones that would be reckless to climb.
What jobs is this built for?
- Very large trees that are too big to take down safely by climbing
- Hazardous leaners that could fall the wrong way
- Trees tight to a house, garage, or fence, or hanging over a roof
- High limbs and tops that need safe reach from above
- Dead or weak trees that are not safe to climb
- Back yard trees with no way to drive equipment in
- Storm work where a tree is already down on a roof or a car
How do we plan a crane removal safely?
Before anything gets cut, the job gets planned on the ground. We work out three things: roughly what each section will weigh, where the crane has to sit to reach the tree, and where those sections are going to land once they come off.
Weight is the part most people never think about. Green wood is heavy, and a white pine log holds a lot more water than it looks like it should. A crane is also rated by how far out the load sits, so the same machine that picks a heavy piece up close cannot hold nearly as much at full reach. We size each cut to what it can carry at that distance, with room left over. That is why a big removal comes down in more pieces than you would expect.
Then the setup. The crane needs firm, level ground under the outriggers, and we put protection down so the weight spreads out instead of sinking into a lawn or cracking the edge of a driveway. We pick a landing zone that is clear of the house, the septic, the well, and anything else that costs real money to fix.
Once the crane is set, the climber or the bucket goes up and sets the pick point. Every section gets strapped before the saw touches it, so the crane is already carrying the weight when the piece comes free. Nothing swings loose. A ground crew keeps the landing zone clear and stays in contact with the operator through the whole lift.
That planning is the difference between a controlled removal and an expensive accident. It is also why we look at a tree in person before we put a number on it.
Does your tree need the crane or the bucket truck?
They do different jobs. Here is how we decide which one shows up.
The crane carries the weight
When wood cannot be allowed to fall, the crane holds each section and lifts it up and over whatever is in the way. This is the answer for trees over a roof, trees in a fenced back yard, and anything too heavy to rig down by rope.
The bucket truck carries the crew
For pruning, deadwooding, and takedowns where we can get the truck near the trunk, the bucket puts an operator at height without anyone trusting their weight to a tree that may be rotted inside. It is also the faster option on routine tree trimming at height.
Often both on one job
On a large removal the bucket sets the rigging and takes the limbs while the crane handles the trunk sections. Two machines working together is usually what turns a multi-day job into a one-day job.
Then the ground equipment
Chipper for the brush, and skid steer equipment to move logs out and grade the ruts back flat. The removal is not finished until the yard looks like we were never there.
Our crane and bucket removal process
Free estimate
We look at the tree, the access, and what is around it, then give you a fair quote.
We plan the lift
Section weights, where the crane sets up, and where each piece comes down, worked out before the day.
We set up safely
Ground protection down, outriggers set, landing zone cleared and kept clear by the ground crew.
We lift it out in sections
Each piece is strapped before it is cut, then lifted up and away, so your property stays protected.
We clean up
Wood and brush hauled out, ruts raked back, the site left clean the way we found it or better.
What drives the price on a crane removal?
A crane job costs more than a straightforward climb because of the machine and the crew it takes to run one. It is also often faster and a lot safer on a big tree. These are the things that move your number:
- Size and species. Height, trunk diameter, and how heavy the wood is green. A mature white pine and a same-height maple are not the same lift.
- Where the crane can set up. A machine that can sit in the driveway and reach the tree is a shorter day than one that has to work at long reach from the street.
- What is underneath. A roof, a pool, a septic field, a fence, or wires all mean smaller sections and more picks.
- Condition of the tree. Dead and rotted wood has to be handled differently than a healthy tree, because you cannot trust it to hold a rigging point.
- Where the wood goes. Hauled off, chipped on site, or left stacked for firewood.
- Stump work. Grinding the stump afterward is priced separately. See stump grinding and removal.
- Emergency or scheduled. A tree already down on a house goes to the front of the line. That is a different job than one we can book for next month.
We will not quote a crane job over the phone. We come out, look at the tree and the access, and give you a written number. The visit is free and there is no pressure.
Why do people call us for the hard ones?
Because we own the crane and the bucket truck and we have operators who have run them on hundreds of tough jobs. The equipment is only half of it. The other half is knowing how to bring a heavy section out over a house without touching the roof.
It is a local, family run crew, which is part of why the same care shows up on every property. Customers have called us the best equipped for the job, and said we took down tall pines in one day, safely, with minimal effect on the yard. One wrote that the property was spotless afterward, like nothing had happened.
You can see more of this work in the project gallery.
Real reviews from local customers
We recently hired Maple Leaf Tree Services to remove three massive trees, and I couldn’t be more impressed with the entire experience. Carl, the owner, was professional, honest, and easy to work with from start to finish. He had his son Justin and a great crew with him, and it was clear they take pride in what they do. They worked efficiently and safely, and when the job was done, our yard was left incredibly clean. Honestly, it looked like we never even had multiple trees taken down. On top of that, their pricing was very fair. Highly recommend them if you’re looking for reliable, personable professionals who do excellent work. Thank you again!
Meghan D.Carl and his team were exceptional. They showed up on time and as a team. They methodically setup and got right to work. They removed all the trees with precision and ease. At the end of the day the property was spotless like nothing happened. Could not be happier with these guys. Quoting process was also quick and easy.
AJ B.WOW! I can’t be happier with these guys. The pricing was more than fair and the quality of the work performed was top notch. I would confidently recommend them.
John W.Verified reviews from our Google Business Profile.
Where do we run the crane?
We are based in Hampstead, NH and work across southern New Hampshire and the northern Massachusetts Merrimack Valley, roughly 30 miles out.
Need help with something else?
One local crew for the whole property, start to finish.
Have questions about crane and bucket work?
When is a crane needed instead of climbing?
When a tree is too large, too tall, or too unsafe to climb. Dead trees, big pines and oaks, and trees leaning over a house are safer to lift out with a crane than to climb and rig by hand. The deciding factor is usually whether the wood can be allowed to fall at all. If the answer is no, the crane goes.
What is the difference between a bucket truck and a crane?
A bucket truck lifts a person. A crane lifts the tree. The bucket puts an operator up at height to cut, which works when there is drive access and the pieces can come down on ropes. A crane actually carries the weight of each section and moves it up and over the house, the fence, or whatever else is in the way.
Is crane removal safer?
Yes, for the right tree. A crane lets us lift heavy sections straight up and away instead of dropping them, which protects your house, your yard, and our crew. It also keeps a climber out of a tree that may be rotted inside. On a large or hazardous tree, that control is the safest way to do it.
Will the crane damage my lawn or driveway?
That is what the setup is for. Outriggers get protection under them so the load spreads out instead of punching into soft ground, and we pick the setup spot with the lawn and the driveway edge in mind. Ruts get raked back before we leave. Customers regularly tell us the yard looked untouched afterward, and that is the standard we hold.
Does it cost more?
A crane or bucket job can cost more than a simple climb because of the equipment and crew involved, but it is often faster and far safer on a big tree. Size, access, what is underneath, and where the wood ends up are what set the price. We give you a clear, fair quote up front so there are no surprises, and the estimate is free.
Can you reach a tree behind or over my house?
Often, yes. A crane can pick a back yard tree up and over the roofline from the driveway or the street, which is exactly the situation it exists for. A bucket truck gives safe reach to high limbs where we can get close. We will look at the access during your free estimate and tell you straight if it will work.
Can you come out for a tree that is already down on my house?
Yes. Storm work gets top priority and a tree on a structure gets treated as urgent. Call (978) 725-0125 and keep everyone clear of the area, especially if there are wires involved. See emergency tree service for what to do while you wait for the crew.
Have a big or risky tree that needs to come down?
Tell us about the tree and the access to your property. We will follow up with a fair quote and a time that works for you.
Photos help. If you can get a shot of the whole tree and what is around the base, send them along and we can tell you quickly whether this is a crane job.
Prefer to talk? Call (978) 725-0125
Got a tree too big or risky to climb?
If it is large, dead, leaning, or hanging over your house, we have the equipment to lift it out safely and clean up when we are done.