Tompkins County has been hit by three tree pests and diseases in a short span. Hemlock woolly adelgid was documented here in 2008, emerald ash borer was confirmed in 2018, and beech leaf disease showed up in 2021. The result is a lot of standing dead and declining trees in Ithaca backyards, along rural roads in Dryden and Caroline, and on the wooded slopes of Enfield and Newfield.
Hazardous trees are harder to take down than healthy ones. Dead wood can snap under a climber or a rope, so Jason Tubbs often plans these jobs around a crane or bucket truck that keeps people out of the weakest part of the tree. Consultations are scheduled weekly, with priority based on how severe the risk looks, and the $50 fee is credited when you accept your plan.
Three problems killing trees in this county
Tubbs does not apply chemical treatments. What we do is remove dead and failing trees, or the dangerous parts of them, and talk through your options for the healthy trees that remain.
- Emerald ash borer: first confirmed in Cornell’s Arnot Forest in 2018, where ash is about 15% of the trees. Infested ash dries out and becomes brittle fast.
- Hemlock woolly adelgid: present since 2008, in a county where hemlocks dominate the steep slopes around headwater streams.
- Beech leaf disease: newly detected in Tompkins in 2021, adding beech to the list of trees worth watching.
Signs that a tree needs a professional look
- Large dead limbs, or a crown that leafs out thinner every spring
- Bark peeling off an ash in strips, often with heavy woodpecker work
- Mushrooms or soft, punky wood at the base of the trunk
- A new lean, or soil lifting on one side after heavy rain or wind
- Cracks running down the trunk or through a main fork
- Hemlocks with sparse needles and white, woolly tufts on the undersides of twigs
Ravine lots and gorge edges
Homes near the gorges that run toward Robert H. Treman and Buttermilk Falls state parks, and the ravines around Ithaca and Enfield, often have trees leaning over steep drops. You can’t set a bucket truck on a steep bank, and a tree felled down the slope can take out everything below it. On these lots the crew often works from the top with rigging, or uses a crane to lift sections back up to level ground.
If something already looks like it is moving, skip the regular queue. Our Emergency Assessment is $300 and puts Jason on site the next business day to assess and quote. Emergency Response is a $5,000 minimum and sends crew and equipment immediately to reduce the risk. Both fees are credited toward the job.
Hazardous Tree Removal Questions From Tompkins County
My ash tree in Dryden still leafs out. Could it already be a hazard?
It could. Ash attacked by emerald ash borer can carry leaves on some branches while others die, and the dead wood gets brittle quickly. Thinning at the top, bark splitting and heavy woodpecker activity are the usual clues. Jason can check it during a $50 visit and tell you whether it can wait or should come down soon.
Can you treat my hemlocks for adelgid instead of cutting them?
We don’t apply treatments of any kind. What Jason can do is look at each hemlock, separate the ones that are failing from the ones that are still holding up, and plan removal or limb work only where the risk is real. He can also talk through the options you have for the healthy trees.
How soon can someone look at a tree I think is dangerous?
Regular consultations are booked weekly, and Jason gives priority to the most severe cases. If the tree is cracked, lifting or hanging over something you can’t move, choose the Emergency Assessment at $300 for a next business day visit, or Emergency Response at a $5,000 minimum for an immediate crew.
Want the full picture? Read our hazardous tree removal guide, or see everything we do in Tompkins County.