The hill towns of Cortland County have a lot of land that was farmed and then left alone. Fields in Cincinnatus, Harford, Marathon and Virgil fill in with brush and young trees within a few years, and old fence lines grow into tangled hedgerows. Owners call us when they want that ground back for grazing, a garden, a view, a driveway or a new house.
Tubbs Tree Service clears selectively. Jason Tubbs has 20+ years of experience in forestry and property work, and he walks the parcel with you to mark what stays and what goes. Your plan lays out different levels of clearing and what happens to the material. The $50 consultation fee is credited to the job when you accept.
Saving the good trees while you clear
Not every tree in a brushy field is a weed. A healthy sugar maple, oak or black cherry can be the anchor of a future yard or shade for livestock. Before cutting, Jason flags trees worth keeping and talks through spacing. Struggling ash and declining beech often go, since emerald ash borer and beech leaf disease are both in the county.
Invasive trees worth taking out
Norway maple and black locust are both on New York’s regulated invasive species list, and both spread readily along fence lines and field edges. Clearing is a good time to remove them before they reseed. We can work them into the plan so the ground you reclaim does not fill right back in with the same problem.
Where the material ends up
- Logs set aside for local use as firewood or, for good straight stems, sometimes building material.
- Brush chipped into mulch for paths, beds or erosion control on bare ground.
- Some brush piles left at the woods edge as cover for wildlife, if you want them.
- Wood kept within the area, since state rules limit moving untreated firewood beyond 50 miles.
Slopes, wet ground and nesting season
Hillside parcels near James Kennedy State Forest in Harford and Virgil can be steep, and spring ground stays soft. We plan equipment routes to avoid rutting slopes or wet spots. Bats and nesting birds use trees and thickets, so timing and a quick wildlife check matter. Many owners choose late fall or winter clearing for that reason.
Brush & Land Clearing Questions From Cortland County
Can you clear a pine plantation that has gotten too thick on my Harford land?
Yes. Many hill parcels around Harford and Virgil have planted pine and spruce that were never thinned. We can thin out suppressed or leaning trees and open lanes for access, leaving stronger trees with more room. Jason will walk it with you and give options, from light thinning to fuller clearing for a specific use.
Do you pull stumps when clearing land for a house in Cincinnatus?
For a building pad or driveway, stumps usually need to be ground or otherwise dealt with so the site can be graded. Stump grinding can be added to any clearing plan. For areas that will stay as pasture or woods edge, many owners leave low stumps in place to save cost.
Do I need a permit to clear brush on my land in Virgil?
For brush and trees on your own rural parcel, a permit is often not needed, but rules for wetlands, streams and new construction can apply. Your town office is the right place to confirm before work starts. Jason will point out wet ground or drainage areas he sees on the walk-through.
Want the full picture? Read our brush & land clearing guide, or see everything we do in Cortland County.