Tree Service in Oyster Bay, NY

What tree work do homeowners here hire us for?

Most calls we get fall into five kinds of work. Each one solves a different problem, and on a lot of properties we end up doing two or three of them in the same visit.

Removing trees that are dead, dying, or too close to the house

Some trees can't be saved. When a red oak has a hollow base or a Norway maple has roots lifting the driveway, we take the tree down in sections with ropes and rigging so nothing drops on the roof, the fence, or the neighbor's garage. Tight lots are normal work for us.

Trimming limbs over roofs, driveways, and wires

Long limbs over a roof collect leaves in the gutters and scrape shingles in every wind. We handle cutting branches back from the house using proper pruning cuts at the branch collar, so the tree seals the wound instead of rotting behind it.

Grinding stumps below the lawn

A stump left in the yard sprouts, draws carpenter ants, and gets in the way of the mower for years. Our grinder chews it down below grade so you can plant grass or a garden bed over the spot.

Emergency work after storms

When a nor'easter or a tropical storm drops a tree on a house, the first job is getting the weight off the roof without making the damage worse. We take urgent storm calls and work to make the property safe the same day.

Cabling big trees you want to keep

An old white oak with two main trunks can split apart in heavy wind. Before it gets to that point, we can install support cables between the leaders to share the load and buy the tree many more years.

Why do trees fail on the North Shore of Long Island?

Trees in this part of Nassau County come down for a handful of local reasons. Knowing which one applies to your yard tells you what kind of work the tree needs.

Hills and sandy glacial soil

The land around Oyster Bay Harbor was left behind by glaciers. It's hilly, and the soil is a mix of sand and gravel that drains fast. Trees on slopes lean toward the downhill side over time, and sandy soil holds roots poorly when it's soaked. After a week of rain, a tall tulip poplar on a hillside lot can tip out of the ground with the root plate still attached.

Nor'easters, tropical storms, and wet snow

Long Island takes wind from the ocean side and the Sound side. Storms like Sandy and Isaias knocked down thousands of trees across the island, and plenty of those were healthy trees with full summer leaves acting like sails. Heavy wet snow in March does the same thing to white pines and hemlocks, snapping tops and bending limbs until they tear.

Salt air near the water

Properties close to the harbor get salt spray in every strong east wind. Salt burns leaves and needles on the windward side, so spruces and pines near the water often thin out on one side and become lopsided. A lopsided crown puts extra strain on one side of the trunk.

Old trees on older lots

Many homes near East Main Street and South Street sit under oaks and beeches that are close to a hundred years old. Big old trees add a lot to a property. They also carry decay you can't see from the ground, and they were often planted long before anyone ran power lines or built an addition beneath them.

Which tree pests and diseases should you watch for on Long Island?

Several pests and diseases are active in the area right now. Most of them are easier and cheaper to deal with when they're caught early.

• Beech leaf disease shows up as dark bands between the veins of beech leaves. It spreads through the canopy over a few years and has hit American and European beeches hard across the North Shore.
• Oak wilt has been confirmed on Long Island. Leaves on a red or black oak wilt and brown from the top down in summer. New York recommends no pruning of oaks from April through July, when the beetles that spread it are active.
• Emerald ash borer has reached the island. Ash trees it kills turn brittle quickly and become dangerous to climb, so dead ash should come down sooner rather than later.
• Hemlock woolly adelgid leaves small white cottony tufts on the undersides of hemlock needles. Heavy infestations thin the tree out over several years.
• Spotted lanternfly gathers in large groups on tree of heaven and maples, weakening them and coating everything below in sticky residue.

How can you tell if a tree near your house is dangerous?

You don't need training to spot most warning signs. Walk around the tree and look for any of these:

• A new lean, or soil and moss cracking or heaving on one side of the base
• Mushrooms or shelf fungus growing on the trunk or roots
• A long crack running down the trunk, or a V-shaped split where two trunks meet
• Dead limbs larger than your arm hanging over the roof, driveway, or play area
• Bark falling off in sheets, or sawdust piling up at the base
• Branches with no leaves in summer while the rest of the tree is green

If you see one of these on a tree that could hit something, have it looked at before the next storm. An estimate costs you nothing.

How does a tree job with us work from start to finish?

1. Estimate. We walk the property with you, look at the tree, and explain what we'd do and why. You get a written price.
2. Planning. We check for wires, septic lines, and anything the tree could fall on. If a limb touches a power line, we coordinate with PSEG Long Island before anyone climbs.
3. The work. Our crew uses ropes, rigging, and a chipper that stays in the street or driveway. We put down plywood where equipment crosses the lawn.
4. Cleanup. Brush gets chipped and hauled. We rake and blow the yard and driveway before we leave. Firewood can stay if you want it.

What affects the price of tree work?

No two tree jobs cost the same, and anyone quoting a price over the phone without seeing the tree is guessing. These are the things that actually move the price:

• Size of the tree. Height and trunk width set how much wood has to come down and how long it takes.
• What's underneath it. A tree over open lawn can be dropped in larger pieces. A tree over a roof has to be lowered on ropes, piece by piece.
• Access. Backyard trees behind a fence or up a steep slope mean more carrying by hand.
• Condition. Dead or rotted wood is less predictable and needs slower, more careful work.
• Extras. Stump grinding, hauling the logs away, and emergency hours all add to the total.

Frequently asked questions about tree service

How much does tree service cost?

Tree service pricing depends on the tree's size, what's around it, how easy it is to reach, and whether you want the stump ground and the wood hauled off. We give free estimates in person and put the price in writing, so you know the full cost before any work starts.

Do you clean up after the job?

Yes. Cleanup is part of every tree job we price. Branches are chipped, logs are hauled away or stacked where you ask, and we rake and blow off the lawn, beds, and driveway before the crew leaves.

How soon can you get to my tree?

Routine trimming and removals are usually scheduled within one to two weeks of the estimate, depending on the season. Trees that are already cracked, leaning, or resting on a structure get moved to the front of the line.

Are you insured, and will my homeowners insurance pay for tree removal?

We carry liability insurance and workers' compensation, and we can send a certificate before the job. Homeowners insurance often covers removal when a tree falls on the house or another covered structure. Take photos of the damage before any work starts and call your insurer, because policies differ.

How do I schedule an estimate?

Call (516) 604-3946 or send the form on this page. We'll set a time to walk the property, and you don't need to be home if the tree is easy to see from the yard.

Where is our office?

Oyster Bay Tree Service Pros runs out of Spring Street, a short drive from Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park and the shops on Audrey Avenue.