Most tree removal calls in Cortland County come from two kinds of property. In the City of Cortland and the Village of Homer, the trees are old, tall and close to houses, garages and neighbors. Out in Virgil, McGraw and the hill towns, the trees are spread across bigger acreage, but driveways, barns and wires still run right through them.
Tubbs Tree Service handles both. Jason Tubbs looks at where each piece of the tree can safely come down, what equipment fits the access, and what should happen to the wood afterward. Then you get an itemized plan with choices, so you decide how far the job goes. Your $50 consultation fee is credited back when you accept that plan.
Why so many ash trees are coming down now
Emerald ash borer was confirmed near Cortland before 2018, and infested ash trees decline over a few seasons. As they die, the wood dries out and becomes brittle, so a tree that could have been climbed and rigged one year may need a crane or bucket truck the next. If your ash has thin crowns, bark splits or woodpecker damage, earlier is usually simpler and less costly.
How we take a tree down beside a Cortland house
- Climbers with ropes and rigging lower limbs in controlled sections when the drop zone is a roof, deck or fence.
- A bucket truck reaches over yards in Homer and Cortland where the street gives us a place to set up.
- A crane lifts larger pieces clear of the house when there is no safe ground to lower them onto.
- A knuckle boom truck with a log grapple loads the wood without dragging it across your lawn.
Street trees in the city are a separate conversation
A tree in your own yard is yours to manage. A tree between the sidewalk and the curb in the City of Cortland is usually a public tree, and city code controls work on it. Before anyone removes or heavily cuts a street or park tree, call the city first. Jason will point out on the walk-through which trees look like they sit in the right-of-way.
What happens to the wood afterward
Your plan can send logs and brush to local use as firewood, mulch, or sometimes building material, instead of hauling everything off as waste. New York limits moving untreated firewood more than 50 miles from where it was cut, which helps keep pests like emerald ash borer from hitching a ride, so keeping wood local makes sense. You can also keep rounds for yourself.
Tree Removal Questions From Cortland County
What makes one tree removal in Homer cost more than another?
Height and trunk size matter, but access matters more. A maple leaning over a roof with no room to drop pieces needs rigging or a crane, which takes more time than a tree in an open yard. Dead ash adds care because brittle wood breaks unpredictably. Stump grinding and wood cleanup are separate line items in your plan, so you can choose.
Is stump grinding part of a tree removal?
Only if you want it. Stump grinding can be added to any removal, and it shows up as its own choice in the itemized plan Jason gives you. Some Cortland County owners leave stumps in a back woodlot and grind only the ones in the lawn. You can also book grinding later on its own.
Can I keep some of the wood from my tree in Virgil?
Yes. Tell Jason during the consultation and the plan will note which logs stay, how long they should be cut, and where they get stacked. Whatever you don’t want can go to local use as firewood or mulch. Just keep it local, since state rules limit how far untreated firewood may travel.
Want the full picture? Read our tree removal guide, or see everything we do in Cortland County.