
Josh Clawson spent 15 years working trees before putting his name on the truck. He learned the trade job by job, climbing, cutting, and clearing across Carter County and Johnson City. That kind of time on the job teaches you things a book never will. Josh built JC's Top Down Tree Service on a simple idea: do honest work at a fair price and treat people right. Today he runs the crew himself and stands behind every cut. When you call, you reach the owner who's been doing this for over a decade.
This is a local owned business, not a franchise running calls from out of state. Josh lives and works in these mountains, so he knows how storms move through and what these trees do under pressure. Pricing stays affordable, and we'll work with you any way we can to get the job done. Need help after hours? We answer 24/7 because trees don't fall on a schedule. You get an owner who shows up, does the work right, and respects your time and your property.
Our Team
Owner & Tree Service Specialist
Josh handles the cutting, clearing, and tough calls himself. With 15 years in the trade, he reads a tree before the first cut and brings it down safe, even in tight spots near homes and power lines. His approach is straightforward: honest pricing, careful work, and clean cleanup. You deal with him directly, start to finish.

Got a tree that needs to go? We take it down safe, no matter how tight the spot. We work around your house, fence, and power lines so nothing gets damaged. Then we clear the debris and leave your yard clean. Big or small, the tree comes down our way.

A tree doesn't wait for business hours, and neither do we. Call any time, day or night, and we'll be on the way. We handle trees on roofs, across driveways, and blocking your road. When it's an emergency, fast response keeps a bad situation from getting worse.

Overgrown branches crowd your house and block your view. We trim them back the right way so the tree stays healthy and your property looks sharp. Good pruning also keeps weak limbs from snapping in the next storm. Your trees grow stronger when they're cut with care.

A leftover stump is an eyesore and a tripping hazard. We grind it down below ground level so you can plant grass, lay sod, or just reclaim the space. No more mowing around it. No more roots taking over your yard.

Storms hit hard in the mountains, and they leave a mess behind. We clear fallen trees, snapped limbs, and tangled brush off your property. Fast cleanup means you get back to normal sooner. We handle the heavy lifting so you don't have to.

Not sure if that big oak is safe? We take a close look and tell you straight. We check for rot, lean, weak joints, and disease. Then we give you honest options instead of pushing work you don't need. You'll know exactly what you're dealing with.

Some trees are accidents waiting to happen. A dead tree near your house or a cracked trunk over the driveway puts your family at risk. We spot the danger and take it down before it falls on its own. Safe removal protects what matters most.

A heavy, top-loaded tree catches wind and breaks. We reduce the crown to lighten the load and balance the shape. Regular maintenance keeps your trees strong for years. Healthy trees add value to your property and shade to your yard.

service description


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You Call, We Look
Reach out by phone any time and tell us what's going on. Josh comes out to look at the tree, the spot it's in, and anything around it like fences or power lines. Then you get a free estimate with honest pricing and no pressure. You'll know exactly what the job costs before we ever start. No surprises, no hidden fees.
We Do the Work
Once you give the go-ahead, we get to it. Josh brings the right gear and takes the tree down in sections to keep everything around it safe. Big removals near your house get the same careful handling as a simple trim. We work clean and steady, and we keep an eye on your property the whole time. Safety comes first on every job.
We Clean Up
When the cutting's done, we don't leave you with a mess. We clear the debris, haul off the brush, and leave your yard looking better than we found it. Want the stump gone too? We can grind it down so the space is ready to use. The job isn't finished until you're happy with how it looks.
Ready to get started?
Tree removal pricing depends on size, location, and complexity. A 30-foot tree in open space costs way less than one near your house or power lines. We give free estimates — call (423) 213-3421 and describe what you need. We'll tell you the price before any work starts.
Yes. If it's dangerous or just came down, call (423) 213-3421 immediately. We handle emergency removals 24/7. Response time depends on where you are and our current jobs, but we prioritize safety issues. For non-emergencies, we usually fit you in within a few days.
First, make sure everyone is safe — stay away from power lines and unstable branches. If it's a safety risk, call 911. Then call us at (423) 213-3421 for removal. We work with insurance companies and document everything for your claim. Get your family to safety first, then let us handle the cleanup.
We serve Johnson City, Kingsport, Carter, Elk Park, Roan Mountain, Hampton, Bristol, Mountain City, Jonesborough, Blountville, Telford, and Elizabethton. If you're in Northeast Tennessee and not sure, call (423) 213-3421 — we probably can help. We cover a wide area and respond even to remote locations.
Dead or dying trees show signs: no leaves in spring, missing bark, bare branches even in summer, or fungus growing on the trunk. Many trees look sick but recover with pruning. We inspect for free and tell you honestly what the tree needs. Sometimes it's removal; sometimes it's just better care.
Yes. We're fully licensed and insured — both liability and workers' comp. You can verify our credentials and ask for proof anytime. Professional insurance protects you if anything goes wrong. It's one reason you can trust us with your property and your safety.
Trimming removes branches while keeping the tree. Removal takes the whole tree down. Trimming is for trees you want to keep but need to shape or thin. Removal is for trees that are dead, dangerous, or no longer wanted. We assess which your tree needs and explain why.
We handle both. After removing a tree, we can grind the stump below ground level so you can plant something new or just reclaim the space. Stump grinding is separate from removal — you can hire us just for that if another company already removed the tree. It's optional but recommended.