Ottawa's tree canopy takes a beating every year, from emerald ash borer working through the older ash stock to summer storms that bring down limbs across Kanata, Barrhaven, and Orleans alike. Finding someone qualified to take a tree down safely, rather than just cheaply, matters. This list was built by searching public review platforms (Google, HomeStars, BBB, Yelp) and reading each company's own site for service area, specialty, and history. It is not a ranking by preference, just ten real businesses currently serving the Ottawa region.
1. Croft Tree Experts
Area: Ottawa and the Valley, including Nepean, Kanata, Westboro, Orleans, Barrhaven, Stittsville, and Manotick · Specialty: Rural and urban tree removal · Since: 2015
Founded in February 2015 by David Koshurba and Kyle Hewitt, Croft covers both dense urban lots and the more rural properties out toward the Valley. Their site leans on a "proactive tree care approach" rather than reactive removal only, and it carries a long run of named customer testimonials from across the city. They're a solid fit for homeowners who want an arborist relationship, not just a one-off removal.
2. Wright Tree Service
Area: Ottawa and surrounding communities · Specialty: Tree pruning and removal, hedge trimming · Since: 2010
Wright has been operating in Ottawa since 2010 and positions itself around ISA-affiliated certified arborists on staff rather than general labourers with a chainsaw. Reviews cited across search results point to skilled crews and reasonable pricing as the recurring theme. Good for both routine pruning and full removals.
3. VS Tree Services
Area: Ottawa region, including Kemptville, Brockville, Barrhaven, Kars, Greely, Manotick, Westboro, Orleans, Kanata, and Nepean · Specialty: Tree removal, stump grinding, emergency response · Rating: 4.9 on Google
VS Tree Services advertises a 4.9-star Google rating directly on its site and covers a wide radius that stretches well south of the city into Kemptville and Brockville. Customer feedback highlighted on the site focuses on safe removal of dead or dying trees on both residential and commercial properties, plus a fast response for emergencies.
4. Tree King Ottawa
Area: Ottawa and surrounding areas · Specialty: Hazardous and emergency tree removal
Tree King leans into the harder jobs, its portfolio specifically calls out a hazardous Norway maple removal, and the company promotes 24/7 emergency response for storm-damaged trees. Named customer testimonials on the site describe crews dropping large trees cleanly and cutting them up on site. Worth a call when a tree is actively a safety risk rather than a routine trim.
5. Green Thumb Tree Specialists
Area: Ottawa, Kanata, Nepean, Barrhaven, and out to Casselman, Chesterville, and Crysler · Specialty: Large and permit-regulated removals, 24/7 emergency work · Since: 2018
Founded in 2018 by Riley Sheldrick, Green Thumb specifically markets its ability to handle the tougher removals: tall trees crowded against a house, and trees that require a City of Ottawa permit before they can come down. The company is recognized by Dun & Bradstreet, Houzz, Three Best Rated, and the BBB, though a specific review count wasn't listed on their site.
6. Rock's Tree Service
Area: Gloucester, Nepean, Barrhaven, Kanata, Orleans, and the wider Capital Region · Specialty: Certified removal, emerald ash borer treatment, land clearing · Since: 15+ years operating
Rock's crews are trained through Arboriculture Canada and the company specifically addresses emerald ash borer, a real problem for Ottawa's older ash trees, alongside standard removal and stump grinding. They cite more than 15 years in the Capital Region and carry recognition from HomeStars and Three Best Rated.
7. Campbell Tree Experts
Area: Ottawa and surrounding areas · Specialty: ISA-certified pruning, removal, cabling, storm damage · Since: 1992
One of the longer-running names on this list, Campbell was founded in 1992 by Glen Campbell and Lynn Arbour-Campbell and built its reputation on ISA-certified arborists and tree workers. The company is now a division of Bartlett Tree Experts following an acquisition, but continues to operate under the Campbell name in Ottawa with the same certified staff. Reviews found through search results describe fair quotes and thorough cleanup after each job.
8. Kanata Elite Tree Services
Area: Kanata, Stittsville, Nepean, Carleton Place, and surrounding areas · Specialty: Technical removals and pruning
Owned by arborist Derek Howe, who spent several years working as a tree climber on Australia's east coast before returning to Ottawa, Kanata Elite focuses on the technical end of removal work, tight urban lots and trees that need to come down in pieces rather than dropped whole. The company has over 20 years of combined experience among its owners in removing hazardous trees.
9. Bisson Services
Area: Ottawa and Orleans · Specialty: Tree pruning, cutting, removal, wood chipping, 24-hour emergency service
Bisson is a BBB-accredited business with an A+ rating and covers the full range from routine hedge and branch trimming up to removal of dead or dangerous trees, with on-site assessment before any work starts. A BBB customer review described the crew as fast and efficient while keeping neighbourhood safety in mind throughout a removal.
10. Trillium Tree Experts
Area: Ottawa, based out of Kanata/Carp · Specialty: Certified arborist pruning and removal · Since: 1990
The oldest company on this list, Trillium has been locally owned and operated since 1990. It holds an A+ BBB rating, employs certified arborists, and is a member of Landscape Ontario. HomeStars reviews found in search results praised the company's professionalism and responsiveness on both scheduling and follow-up.
How We Built This List
This list was compiled from public web sources, including each company's own website and review platforms such as Google, HomeStars, BBB, and Yelp. It is not a paid placement and no business on this list paid for inclusion or ranking. Ratings, review counts, and founding years are included only where they were verifiable at the time of research; several companies did not publish a specific review count or star total, and those fields were left out rather than estimated. This list was last reviewed in August 2026.
Sources consulted include company websites (crofttreeexperts.ca, wrighttreeservice.ca, vstree.ca, treekingottawa.ca, greenthumb-ottawa.com, rockstreeservice.ca, campbelltreeexperts.com, kanatatree.net, bissonservices.com, trilliumtree.ca), BBB, HomeStars, and Yelp listings for Ottawa tree services.
