A1treeboyz of Indiana
1401 Lindley Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46241
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Listed on Google but not yet reviewed there. Ask them for recent local references when they call.
Listed direct: (317) 513-2407
Are black walnut roots a problem for foundations or pipes?
Answered for Indianapolis, Marion County.
June 29, 2023 derecho — 70 mph measured at Indianapolis International, tree damage logged at the NWS office lot, Brookside Park and Bates Hendricks, outages lasting several days. July 15-16, 2024 derecho — 58 mph at the airport and multiple power lines down across the city. September 14, 2008, remnants of Hurricane Ike — sustained 25-40 mph with 50-70 mph gusts for hours, 63 mph at the airport, thousands without power and a tent collapse at the Speedway. Black Walnut holds up better than most under it. Removing a black walnut around Indianapolis runs roughly $400–$1,900, and in Irvington, Broad Ripple and Meridian-Kessler access is usually what decides where in that range you land.
What's actually growing in Indianapolis
In Indiana DNR's 2008 statewide i-Tree STRATUM sample inventory, silver maple was the most common street tree in Indianapolis at 14.0% of 119,036 inventoried street trees, followed by sugar maple 6.0%, hackberry 5.1%, apple 4.9% and white ash 4.9% — that ash share is a pre-EAB-collapse figure and is effectively gone since emerald ash borer was confirmed in Indiana on April 21, 2004. The big silver maples over the 1920s-50s streets are the recurring job: included bark, codominant leaders and brittle wood that sheds limbs in every wind event.
Indianapolis's housing stock, and what it means for tree size
Median year built is around 1974, but that hides two cities: the streetcar-suburb ring (Irvington, Broad Ripple) went up 1890s-1930s, while the outer townships filled with tract subdivisions from the 1960s through the 1990s. A pre-war near-north lot carries 90-to-120-year-old shade trees over the roofline; a Franklin Township subdivision from 2005 is still on nursery stock.
What's specific to black walnut
Deep taproot, which is why walnut sits tight in wind and why nursery stock is difficult to move, and why the roots causing problems are generally under the tree rather than out in the drive. The real root issue here is chemical rather than mechanical: juglone concentrates in the roots and lingers in the soil, so a bed that failed under a walnut often keeps failing for a season or more after the tree is gone.
Marion County rules
No permit is required to remove a tree standing entirely on private property in Indianapolis/Marion County. What is regulated is the right-of-way: a Flora Permit, administered by the Department of Code Enforcement (1200 Madison Ave, Suite 100; permit numbers carry an FLR prefix), is required for planting, pruning, removal including the stump, chemical application, or invasive-removal work in the public right-of-way. Pruning applications must name a certified arborist and certification number, and crown reduction is granted only to mitigate an existing moderate-to-severe physical conflict with a structure or utility.
Crews near Indianapolis
Sorted by distance4 Seasons Tree Service LLC
1360 E 30th St, Indianapolis, IN 46205
5.040
“I had asked multiple tree companies to remove a partially fallen Ash tree that was lodged in between an adjacent tree. No company would touch it…”
Jeff C. Indianapolis · 4 months ago · Google
Dave's Tree and Lawn
1138 S Drexel Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46203
4.916
“Dave and his friendly crew cut down 4 trees, trimmed/thinned 7 more in 2 days! Great communication, quick response time, great price compared to…”
Jon Caudle · a month ago · Google
Lulos Tree Service, Llc
820 S Roena St, Indianapolis, IN 46241
5.015
“Once again, Benito and his crew went above and beyond! We have used them twice for both tree removals and trimming/shaping. They are so professional…”
Jenny Rollins · 2 years ago · Google
Nova Tree Care
4180 N Keystone Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46205
5.0193
“We are absolutely thrilled with the work Brad and Nova Tree Care did on 3 of our backyard trees. Probably the best experience, and price, we’ve had…”
Kathryn DeCloedt · 3 months ago · Google
A Tree's Worth Tree Care
2213 E 45th St, Indianapolis, IN 46205
5.0109
“I highly recommend A Tree’s Worth this company did an awesome job cutting down a large tree in my front yard. My first point of contact was with Sal…”
Jacque Green · 4 months ago · Google
Distance measured from Indianapolis.
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