Land in Tioga County fills in fast. A hayfield left alone for a few years in Newark Valley turns to brush, then to a young woodlot. Old fence lines grow into wide hedgerows. When you want that ground back for a house, a garden, a view or grazing, clearing is the first step.
Tubbs Tree Service is based in Spencer, and land clearing is where Jason Tubbs’ 20+ years of experience in forestry and construction and property management comes together. His $50 on-site consultation sorts out what to keep, what to clear, and how to handle slopes and wet spots. The itemized plan gives you options at different scales, with the $50 credited when you accept.
Reclaiming fields, hedgerows and building sites
Every clearing job has a different end goal. A building site in Candor needs room for a foundation, driveway and septic. A pasture in Berkshire needs brush cut and stumps handled so equipment can run. A view clearing in Richford might take out only a handful of trees. We plan around the outcome, not just the acreage. Jason’s background in construction and property management helps here, because he thinks about where the trucks, the well driller and the excavator will need to go after the trees are gone.
Keeping the trees worth keeping
Clearing does not have to mean scraping everything. Mature sugar maple, red oak and black cherry, the same species found in the nearby state forests, can anchor a new yard or shade a home site. We flag those trees early. Norway maple and black locust are on New York’s regulated invasive species list, so they are often good candidates to remove while the equipment is already there.
Creeks, slopes and soft ground
Hilly Tioga parcels often have steep banks, seasonal wet spots and small streams. Clearing too much on a slope can invite erosion, and heavy equipment on soft ground leaves ruts. Jason will point out areas where hand work or a lighter touch is better, and where you may need to check with your town or the state before disturbing land near water.
Timing around wildlife
Bats and nesting birds use trees and brush in spring and summer. Where it fits your schedule, we can time larger clearing projects for colder months and do a quick wildlife check before starting. That small step helps keep your land good for the deer, birds and other animals many Tioga landowners value. Brush piles left at a field edge can also give small wildlife cover, if you want them.
Brush & Land Clearing Questions From Tioga County
Can you clear a house site in Richford and leave the big oaks standing?
Yes. Saving good trees is part of the plan from the first walk. Jason will mark the oaks you want to keep, look at where the driveway, foundation and septic will go, and explain whether any of those trees are too close to survive construction. You decide which to keep.
What happens to all the brush and logs?
Material is put to local use whenever possible. Brush can be chipped and spread as mulch or along trails, and logs can be cut for firewood or occasionally set aside as building material. Your plan spells out what stays on your land and what leaves.
Our land borders Oakley Corners State Forest. Anything we should know before clearing?
Oakley Corners covers more than 3,000 acres in Newark Valley and Owego, so many private parcels share a boundary with it. Know where your property line is before work begins, and use your survey if you have one. We only work on land you own or have permission to clear.
Want the full picture? Read our brush & land clearing guide, or see everything we do in Tioga County.