Expert Tree Service has been removing, trimming, and caring for trees in the Hudson Valley since 1936; nearly ninety years and four generations of the same family.
We’re based on Route 9W in Saugerties, NY, and we serve homeowners, municipalities, and commercial properties across Ulster, Dutchess, Greene, and Columbia counties. Our grandfather always said, “Give the best price first, not last.” That’s still how we run this business.
David Hughes, Sr., a World War II veteran, founded Expert Tree Service in 1936 in Saugerties, NY. At the time, Ulster County was seeing a growing need for professional tree care — local newspapers had been warning about “quack tree doctors” and unlicensed operators charging exorbitant prices for shoddy work since as early as 1915. Hughes built his business as the opposite: licensed, safe, and fairly priced.
By 1948, when the Daily Freeman first covered the company, Expert Tree Service was already established as a trusted name in Kingston and the surrounding area. The business grew through word of mouth and repeat customers — the same approach that still drives most of our work today. As the Hudson Valley grew, so did the company, expanding from Saugerties and Kingston to serve homeowners and municipalities across four counties.
Today, Expert Tree Service is in its fourth generation. Keith Hughes Jr. leads the crew, working alongside family members and long-time employees who know this region’s trees, terrain, and weather as well as anyone. The equipment has come a long way from the original truck — we now operate a full fleet of crane trucks, bucket trucks, chippers, and log loaders — but the approach hasn’t changed: show up on time, do the job right, charge a fair price.
Some tree companies quote high and then offer a “discount” to close the deal. We don’t do that. Every estimate we give is based on what the job actually requires — the size and condition of the tree, access to the site, equipment needed, and disposal. The number we quote first is the number we stand behind.
We schedule estimates around your availability, and we show up when we say we will. If you want to compare quotes, we encourage it — we’re confident in our pricing because we know what the work costs and we don’t pad it. For a free estimate, call 845-331-6782 or use the form below.
Tree work is dangerous for the crew and for your property. Hiring an uninsured company can leave you personally liable if something goes wrong. Expert Tree Service carries full insurance through Michigan Millers / Marshall & Sterling Inc., including a $2 million general liability policy and a $5 million umbrella policy. We also carry workers’ compensation coverage for every member of our crew.
We’re happy to provide a certificate of insurance before any job starts. If your insurance company or municipality requires proof of coverage, just ask.
We own and operate all of our own equipment. We don’t rent and we don’t subcontract. Our fleet includes crane trucks for complex removals near structures, bucket trucks for canopy access, wood chippers, log loaders, and skid steers for lot clearing. Having the right equipment on hand means we can handle any job safely and efficiently, from a single backyard tree to a multi-acre clearing project.
From our home base in Saugerties, we serve the entire mid-Hudson Valley. Our core service area covers Ulster County (Kingston, Saugerties, New Paltz, Ellenville, Rosendale), Dutchess County (Poughkeepsie, Rhinebeck, Red Hook, Pawling), Greene County (Catskill, Athens), and Columbia County (Germantown, Clermont, Copake).
For a full list of towns we serve, visit our services page. For emergencies anywhere in our service area, call 845-331-6782, we’re available 24/7.