Hazardous tree removal in Chemung County usually starts with a tree that has changed. Ash trees in Horseheads and Elmira are losing bark and dropping limbs as emerald ash borer works through them. Beech leaf disease reached the county in 2022. Along the Chemung River and Newtown Creek, soft banks and old flood damage can leave a big tree leaning a little more every season.
A tree in that condition does not always need a crew tomorrow, but it does need a clear look. Jason Tubbs brings 20+ years of experience in forestry and residential tree work to that question. During a $50 consultation he judges how the tree is likely to fail, what it would hit, and how urgent the fix really is, then lays out choices in writing.
Warning Signs Worth a Second Look
- Bark falling off in sheets, or woodpecker damage up and down an ash trunk.
- Thin, striped or curled beech leaves, with the upper crown thinning first.
- A new lean, cracked soil or lifted roots on the side away from the lean.
- Mushrooms or soft wood at the base, or a cavity you can push a hand into.
- Large dead limbs hanging over a roof, deck, play area or Southport sidewalk.
Why Dead Ash and Sick Beech Change the Method
An ash killed by emerald ash borer dries out and becomes brittle. Climbing it can be unsafe, and limbs may snap instead of bending under a rope. On those trees Tubbs leans on the bucket truck or crane so the crew works from outside the tree rather than in it.
Tubbs does not spray or inject. If you have a declining beech or a struggling ash, Jason can help you weigh removal now against monitoring, based on what is underneath it.
Riverbank and Floodplain Trees
The 1972 Agnes flood put large parts of Elmira under several feet of water, and the river set its record crest of 25.2 feet that June. Trees on low ground near the Chemung live with saturated soil in wet years. Roots can loosen, and a tree that stood straight for decades may start to tip toward the water or the house.
Removing a leaning tree on a soft bank calls for careful rigging so the crew is not loading the weakest side. Jason will note access, ground conditions and the safest direction for each piece.
Planned Visit or Emergency Tier
If the tree is standing and stable for now, a regular consultation is the right start, and visits are scheduled weekly with priority given to severity. If it is actively cracking, hanging on a roof or blocking a road, go to /emergency-tree-service/ for the Emergency Assessment or Emergency Response options.
Hazardous Tree Removal Questions From Chemung County
The bark is peeling off my ash tree in Horseheads. Is it dangerous?
Peeling bark on an ash is a common sign of emerald ash borer, which is present across New York. Once an ash dies, its wood gets brittle and limbs can drop without warning. It is worth having Jason look at it, especially if it hangs over a house, driveway or play area, so you can decide on timing.
My beech leaves look striped and thin. Does the tree have to come down?
Not always right away. Beech leaf disease was first detected in Chemung County in 2022, and trees decline at different rates. Jason can look at the crown, the wood and what is below it, then give you options that range from watching it for a season to removing it before it becomes a hazard.
After a week of rain, my Southport tree leans more toward the house. What should I do?
Keep people and cars out of the area it would hit. If the lean is getting worse or the soil is heaving, book an Emergency Assessment, which puts someone on site the next business day for $300, credited to the job. If it looks stable, request a regular consultation and mention the change.
Want the full picture? Read our hazardous tree removal guide, or see everything we do in Chemung County.