An empty spot where a tree used to be can feel like an open question. Should you plant the same kind again? How close to the house is too close? Will the deer eat it before it grows? Around Schuyler County those questions come up constantly, because emerald ash borer has thinned out ash and the June 2026 tornado took down numerous trees on its path from Seneca Lake.
Tubbs Tree Service helps you plan and prepare for new trees, from clearing and grinding the old stump to choosing the spot. Jason Tubbs looks at sun, soil, slope and what is underground during a $50 on-site consultation, then lays out a plan with options. The $50 is credited when you accept it.
Replanting after ash and storm losses
The simplest rule is variety. Ash borer reached far western Schuyler before 2018, hemlock woolly adelgid has been reported in the county, and beech leaf disease arrived here in 2022. Yards that relied on one or two species felt those losses hardest. Mixing several kinds of trees means one new pest or disease cannot clear the whole yard at once. Skip Norway maple and black locust, which are on New York’s regulated invasive list.
Site prep before the first hole
- Grind and clear old stumps, roots and chips from the planting spot
- Remove invasive brush and vines that will compete with young trees
- Mark buried utilities, irrigation and drainage before anyone digs
- Check drainage, since soggy low spots and dry shale banks need different trees
- Plan protection from deer browse and from mowers and string trimmers
Septic fields, wells and lake setbacks
Many properties around Seneca Lake run on septic systems, and tree roots will find a leach field. Keep new trees well away from tanks and lines, and away from the house foundation by at least the spread the tree will reach at maturity. On lakefront lots, deep-rooted trees on the bank help hold soil, so they are often the right place to plant, as long as they will not one day block the view you came for.
Where Tubbs fits in a planting project
Planting goes better when the heavy work is done first. Tubbs can remove the failing tree, grind the stump, clear competing brush and open up light for new trees in one plan, so the planting spot near your Watkins Glen or Montour Falls home is ready when you are. Jason will lay out the steps in order, with options at each stage, so you can do it all at once or spread it over a couple of seasons.
Tree Planting & Pre-Planting Questions From Schuyler County
What should I plant in place of the ash we lost in Burdett?
Pick a tree suited to that exact spot rather than a one-size answer. A wet corner, a dry bank and a front lawn each call for different species. The safest approach is to choose something different from what is already common in your yard. Jason can talk through options that fit the light, soil and space you have.
Will deer eat new trees on my property near Hector?
In rural parts of Schuyler County, deer browsing is one of the main reasons young trees fail. Plan for tree tubes, fencing or cages for the first several years, until the leader grows above browse height. Protection is part of the pre-planting plan, so it is not an afterthought once the tree is in the ground.
Is spring or fall better for planting in Montour Falls?
Both work. Fall planting lets roots grow while the soil is still warm and the air is cool, and spring gives a full season of growth ahead. The real key is watering the first year through any dry spells. Booking your consultation a season ahead leaves time for stump grinding and site prep.
Want the full picture? Read our tree planting & pre-planting guide, or see everything we do in Schuyler County.