Tree removal in Federal Way
Federal Way is in the southwest corner of King County, just north of the Pierce County line and a short drive up I-5 from Tacoma. It is one of the largest cities in Washington, with about 101,000 residents in the 2020 census. We are based in Pierce County, in Orting, and Federal Way is one of the nearby areas we serve.
The area started out as a logging settlement, and the name comes from the old federal highway, U.S. Route 99 — today's Pacific Highway South. Much of the city was built out after I-5 opened in the 1960s, so many neighborhoods are now several decades old, with Douglas firs and cedars that have grown tall right beside houses, fences and driveways. Add the lakes, the wooded ravines and the shoreline toward Dash Point, and there is a lot of tree work to do.
Recent storm job in Federal Way
A storm brought down an evergreen that crushed a backyard outbuilding, and our crew cleared the fallen tree with a mini excavator. These are real photos from that job.
Lakes, ravines and the shoreline
Federal Way has several lakes, including Steel Lake and Lake Killarney, and the west side of the city slopes down to Puget Sound around Dash Point State Park. The city is also known for its green spaces — West Hylebos Wetlands Park, PowellsWood Garden in the Cold Creek ravine, and the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden and Pacific Bonsai Museum on the former Weyerhaeuser campus. Homes near the water, on slopes and at the edge of wooded ravines often have big trees in tricky spots, where wood has to be rigged and lowered in sections rather than dropped.
If a fir or maple has grown up and blocked your view of the water or the mountains, our view clearing uses selective limb removal, crown thinning and crown raising to open sight lines while keeping the tree healthy. We avoid topping, which leads to weak regrowth.
Trees we see most often around Federal Way
- Douglas fir — tall, heavy and often the biggest tree on the lot, sometimes left standing alone when neighborhoods were built.
- Western red cedar — common in yards and ravines. Many are showing thin crowns or dead tops after recent hot, dry summers.
- Bigleaf maple — fast-growing with long, heavy limbs that can fail over roofs and driveways.
- Red alder — common on disturbed ground and in ravines, relatively short-lived and prone to decay.
Storm damage and emergency help
Fall and winter windstorms and saturated soil bring down trees across south King County. If a tree has fallen on your house, across a driveway or onto a fence — or is hung up in another tree — call our 24/7 emergency tree service. If anything is touching a power line, stay well back and call the utility first.
Tree services in Federal Way
- Tree removal, including sectional removal next to houses and in tight backyards.
- Low impact removals that protect lawns, gardens and hardscape.
- Tree trimming and pruning for clearance and healthier structure.
- Wind sailing to help tall evergreens catch less wind.
- Stump grinding after removal or as a separate job.
- 24/7 emergency tree service and storm clean up.
What to expect
We start with a consultation to understand your goals and look at what is around the tree, then give you a free, no-obligation quote. On the day of the job, our crew handles the climbing, rigging, cutting and clean up, and we can grind the stump if you want the area ready for lawn or landscaping. Not sure the tree needs to come out? We will tell you if trimming or pruning is the better choice.
Why Federal Way homeowners call us
We are a family-owned, licensed and insured tree service. We answer 24/7 for emergencies, and we clean up thoroughly when the job is done. Live closer to Tacoma? See our Tacoma tree removal page.
More of our tree work
More tree services
Tree removal · Tree trimming & pruning · Stump grinding · 24/7 emergency service