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How much does it cost to remove an osage orange?

Answered for Franklin, Johnson County.

Franklin is not among the 23 communities in the Indiana DNR street tree sample, so the two-tier picture here is inference from build dates rather than inventory: the pre-1935 blocks around Martin Place and the courthouse square carry the oldest, largest shade trees, while the late-1990s subdivision belt is now 25-30 years old and big enough that crowns are into rooflines and service drops. Ash is effectively gone to emerald ash borer, and the city Tree Board's approved street tree list governs what goes back into the right-of-way. That context matters for osage orange: not native to indiana but planted across the state as living fence before barbed wire and again for erosion control in the 1930s, so nearly every one in central indiana is a hedgerow relic that a subdivision later grew around. Removing an osage orange around Franklin runs roughly $250–$1,400, and in Martin Place Historic District, Franklin Lakes and Knollwood Farms access is usually what decides where in that range you land.

What's actually growing in Franklin

Franklin is not among the 23 communities in the Indiana DNR street tree sample, so the two-tier picture here is inference from build dates rather than inventory: the pre-1935 blocks around Martin Place and the courthouse square carry the oldest, largest shade trees, while the late-1990s subdivision belt is now 25-30 years old and big enough that crowns are into rooflines and service drops. Ash is effectively gone to emerald ash borer, and the city Tree Board's approved street tree list governs what goes back into the right-of-way.

Franklin's housing stock, and what it means for tree size

Platted in 1823 and incorporated as a city in 1861, Franklin has a genuinely old residential core — the Martin Place Historic District covers homes built roughly 1850-1935 in Italianate, Queen Anne, Foursquare and Craftsman styles. The bulk of the modern housing stock came in two waves: a heavy late-1990s subdivision run (Canary Creek Estates, Branigin Creek, Whispering Ponds, Knollwood Farms, Franklin Lakes) and a second 2009-2024 push (Cumberland Commons, Deer Meadows, Legends West, Bluffs at Youngs Creek).

What's specific to osage orange

Not native to Indiana but planted across the state as living fence before barbed wire and again for erosion control in the 1930s, so nearly every one in central Indiana is a hedgerow relic that a subdivision later grew around. It lands on a quote almost never for structural reasons — it is the softball-sized fruit and the thorns that generate the call.

Johnson County rules

No permit is required to remove a tree in your own yard. Franklin's tree ordinance regulates STREET trees only: pruning, planting, treating, spraying or removing a street tree goes through a Tree Board permit, and topping is restricted. The ordinance's specific conditions — who may hold a removal permit, the trimming threshold, insurance and bond requirements and penalty terms — could not be verified from a retrievable source, so confirm them with the City before quoting right-of-way work.

Crews near Franklin

Sorted by distance
Brown's Tree Service LLC, photo 1 of 3

Brown's Tree Service LLC

201 S Morton St, Franklin, IN 46131

4.8335
  • Tree Removal
  • Tree Trimming
  • Stump Grinding
  • +1

Browns tree service provided A-1 service from the estimate from Kevin to crew supervisor Eliel and his amazing crew. They arrived on job site and…

Mike Synesael · 3 months ago · Google
Center Grove Tree Service., photo 1 of 1

Center Grove Tree Service.

1251 U.S. Hwy 31 N, Greenwood, IN 46142

4.526
  • Tree Removal
  • Tree Trimming
  • Stump Grinding
  • +1

Our pear tree broke in half and was blocking part of our neighborhood road. These guys came out quickly, trimmed the fallen branch down and removed…

Steve Sewell · 4 years ago · Google
Black Cherry Tree Service, photo 1 of 3

Black Cherry Tree Service

4035 E Stop 11 Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46237

4.894
  • Tree Removal
  • Tree Trimming
  • Stump Grinding
  • +2

They were 1 of 3 tree companies (highly regarded) I called for estimates after a storm took down a huge limb in our backyard. 1 never called back, 1…

Wendy Foley · 3 years ago · Google
Airbourne Tree Service Inc., photo 1 of 3

Airbourne Tree Service Inc.

8909 Chitwood Dr, Indianapolis, IN 46227

4.932
  • Tree Removal
  • Tree Trimming
  • Stump Grinding
  • +2

If you need a fast, reliable, and AFFORDABLE tree services, I highly recommend speaking with Paul at Airbourne Tree Services. Paul came and gave me a…

Desiree Kirk · a year ago · Google
McDaniel’s Tree Service, photo 1 of 3

McDaniel’s Tree Service

5741 Gallagher Dr, Greenwood, IN 46142

4.640
  • Tree Removal
  • Tree Trimming
  • Stump Grinding
  • +1

McDaniels Tree Service did an excellent job on a recent work order for tree removal. Their crew arrived on time, worked efficiently, and handled the…

Carl Schwander · 5 months ago · Google
Jimmy's Tree Service, photo 1 of 2Photo author: Dena Marks

Jimmy's Tree Service

597 Shady Brook Hts, Greenwood, IN 46142

4.115
  • Tree Removal
  • Tree Trimming
  • Stump Grinding
  • +2

I had a tree blow over and hired Jimmy’s crew to cut it up and haul it away. I was expecting to have to do clean up after the job, but I came home to…

Tim Doyle · 3 months ago · Google

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