A full-grown tree carries the force of a stick of dynamite. There is nothing more majestic than a good tree in a good place, and nothing more dangerous than a bad tree in the wrong one. Hazardous tree removal is about taking that risk off your property before it turns into damage, or worse.
A hazardous tree is not always an emergency. Many are standing, stable for now, and on a slow path to failure. Spotting them early lets you deal with the problem on your schedule, at standard pricing, instead of after a storm when it is lying on the roof.
Warning Signs to Watch For
- Dead or bare limbs in the crown, especially over a roof, driveway or play area
- Cracks or splits in the trunk, or where two trunks join
- A new or worsening lean, or soil heaving on the side opposite the lean
- Mushrooms, conks, oozing or hollow sections near the base
- Roots cut, buried or crushed by construction or drainage work
- Large broken limbs hung up in the canopy after a storm
- Ash trees thinning from the top down, a common sign of emerald ash borer
Why Hazard Trees Need a Different Approach
Dead and decayed wood behaves unpredictably. A limb that looks solid can snap under a climber’s weight or shatter when a rigging line loads it. Ash killed by emerald ash borer is known for turning brittle quickly once it dies.
So the first step is always an assessment of what the wood can safely handle. From there we decide whether to climb, work from a bucket truck, or use a crane to take the weight so nobody has to rely on the tree itself. On the worst trees, the crane is often the safest tool on site.
Reducing Risk Without Always Removing
Hazard work is not only removal. Depending on the tree, the plan might include taking out dead limbs, reducing the weight on one side, or supporting a weak union with cabling and bracing. Jason will tell you which option fits your tree and why, and lay the choices side by side in your plan.
Standard, Next Day or Right Now
How fast you need us decides which path to take.
- Standing but worrying you: book the $50 on-site consultation. Requests are prioritized by severity.
- Clearly failing, cracked or hung up, but nothing hit yet: the $300 Emergency Assessment gets us on site the next business day.
- On a house, car or road, or actively coming down: the Emergency Response, $5,000 minimum, dispatches the crew and equipment immediately.
Protecting People, Property and Wildlife
Dead trees are also homes. Woodpeckers, owls and bats use cavities and loose bark. When a hazard tree can be safely reduced to a tall stub away from targets instead of cut to the ground, that habitat can stay. When it cannot, we check for nesting activity before we cut and time the work where we can.
Hazardous Tree Removal by County
Every county we serve has its own trees, terrain and rules. See what hazardous tree removal looks like where you live:
- Hazardous Tree Removal in Tompkins County, NY
- Hazardous Tree Removal in Tioga County, NY
- Hazardous Tree Removal in Chemung County, NY
- Hazardous Tree Removal in Cortland County, NY
- Hazardous Tree Removal in Schuyler County, NY
- Hazardous Tree Removal in Seneca County, NY
Common Questions
How do I know if my tree is dangerous?
Dead limbs, trunk cracks, a new lean, fungus or rot at the base and lifting roots are the most common warning signs. An on-site consultation lets Jason look at it in person and tell you how urgent it really is.
Is a dead ash tree really that dangerous?
Ash killed by emerald ash borer tends to become brittle fast, which makes it harder and riskier to remove the longer it stands. If an ash near your house is dying, it is usually cheaper and safer to deal with it sooner.
Should I call the emergency line or book a consultation?
If nothing has been hit and the tree is standing, start with the $50 consultation. If it is visibly failing, choose the $300 next-business-day assessment. If it is on a structure or blocking access, call (607) 375-7681 for the immediate response.
Will my homeowners insurance pay for it?
It depends on your policy and on whether the tree has already caused damage. Call your insurer before the work if you can. We can provide an itemized plan and photos that help with a claim.
Can a hazard tree be saved?
Sometimes. Removing dead wood, reducing weight or adding cables can lower the risk of a tree with a sound trunk and roots. If the decay is in the trunk or root flare, removal is usually the honest answer.