Expert Tree Service has been handling tree work in Rhinebeck and across Dutchess County since 1936. We’re a fourth-generation family business based in Saugerties, just across the river and about 15 minutes north. Our crew works in Rhinebeck regularly — from the big maples along Market Street to estate properties out on Route 9G and rural parcels in the surrounding areas.
Whether you need a hazardous tree taken down near your home, stump grinding after a removal, or storm cleanup after a nor’easter, we have the equipment and experience to handle it safely. We provide professional tree service for every type of tree on your property, and we’re available 24/7 for emergency tree services.
We’re licensed, fully insured, and ready to help.
Our Tree Services in Rhinebeck
We handle everything from single-tree removals on compact Village lots to large-scale work on Rhinebeck’s bigger rural properties. If your tree is in the Village’s Right of Way, we’re familiar with the removal request process and can help you navigate it.
Tree Removal
Safe takedown of dead, dying, storm-damaged, or hazardous trees of any size. We section and rig limbs down piece by piece to protect your home, landscaping, and utility lines. Our tree removal services cover everything from a single backyard maple to large trees on estate properties along Route 9G.
Tree Trimming & Pruning
Crown reduction, deadwood removal, and clearance tree pruning to support the long-term health of your trees. Keeps trees healthy and off your roof, gutters, and power lines. Regular trimming services are essential for maintaining trees in the Village Right of Way — and for protecting the plant health of mature specimens that contribute to Rhinebeck’s canopy.
Crane-Assisted Removal
For large trees in tight spots where climbing isn’t safe. We lift sections out over structures instead of dropping them through your yard — critical on Rhinebeck’s tighter Village lots where homes and landscaping are close together.
Emergency Storm Cleanup
24/7 response for trees on homes, blocking driveways, or tangled in power lines. Storm damage is unpredictable, and emergency tree services are one of our most frequent calls in the Rhinebeck area. We’ve been the crew Dutchess County calls after every major storm for decades.
Stump Grinding & Stump Removal
After a tree comes down, the stump doesn’t have to stay. Our stump grinding equipment reduces stumps to 6–12 inches below grade, so you can replant, resod, or reclaim the area for landscaping. For homeowners who need the root ball out entirely — common before foundation work or new construction — we do full stump removal as well. Most residential stump grinding jobs in Rhinebeck are done in under an hour.
Cabling & Plant Health Care
Structural cabling for mature trees with wide canopies or co-dominant stems, plus deep-root fertilization to support plant health in Rhinebeck’s compacted village soils. Cabling prevents branch failure during storms and extends the useful life of older sugar maples, hemlocks, and other established trees. Proper plant health care is especially important for Rhinebeck’s heritage trees — the ones identified by the Tree Commission as having exceptional community value.
Land Clearing
Complete land clearing for new construction, driveways, or property improvements on Rhinebeck’s larger rural parcels. We remove trees, stumps, brush, and debris so your site is ready to build.
Call us today at 845-331-6782 to schedule a consultation!
Rhinebeck, NY’s Most Common Trees
According to Rhinebeck’s most recent tree inventory, here are the most common trees in town:
- Norway Maple – 258
- Sugar Maple – 142
- Thornless Honeylocust – 123
- Plum – 114
- Callery Pear – 102
- Eastern Hemlock – 86
- Apple Tree – 76
- Red Maple – 65
- Norway Spruce – 65
Tree Threats Facing Rhinebeck
Rhinebeck’s trees face several active threats that property owners should be aware of. Some are already causing damage; others are approaching.
Spotted Lanternfly
Dutchess County is within New York’s Spotted Lanternfly Protective Zone. While SLF doesn’t directly kill most trees, heavy infestations weaken maples and other hardwoods, encourage sooty mold growth, and compromise the long-term health of trees that are already stressed. With Norway maples and sugar maples making up the top two species in Rhinebeck’s inventory, the village’s canopy is particularly exposed. Property owners should inspect trees for SLF egg masses and report sightings to the DEC.
Emerald Ash Borer
The emerald ash borer has been confirmed in Dutchess County and is actively killing ash trees throughout the Hudson Valley. Infested ash trees typically die within 3–5 years and become brittle and dangerous — they drop large limbs without warning. If you have ash trees on your Rhinebeck property, have them inspected before they become hazardous trees requiring emergency removal.
Callery Pear & Norway Maple Decline
Callery pear (102 trees in the village inventory) and Norway maple (258 trees) are both non-native species that develop structural problems as they age. Callery pears are notorious for splitting in storms — their tight branch angles make them prone to catastrophic failure. Norway maples develop girdling roots, sidewalk heave, and extensive deadwood. Both species are increasingly discouraged by tree care professionals because they crowd out native species and create long-term maintenance issues. If you have aging specimens of either type of tree, proactive removal and replanting is often the better path.
Rhinebeck, NY’s Tree Removal Laws
Rhinebeck’s tree canopy is dominated by Norway maples, with over 250 according to the Village inventory, along with sugar maples, thornless honeylocust, and Callery pears. Norway maples and Callery pears are both non-native species that tend to develop structural problems as they age. Norways get surface root heave and limb failure; Callery pears are notorious for splitting in storms. We remove and trim both species regularly throughout the Village.
Rhinebeck makes it easy to track down relevant local laws pertaining to tree removal.
“Only trees within the Right of Way (in the median, or—if in the yard—within 30 feet from the center of the road) require permission from the Village to be pruned or removed. These trees are considered part of the Village’s greater good because they impact the Village’s wellbeing at large by providing shade, cooling, supporting biodiversity and natural beauty. However, Village law states that pruning or removal is the homeowner’s financial responsibility.”
The tree removal request form, to be filed with the Village Clerk, can be found here.
Why Rhinebeck Homeowners Call Us
David Hughes Sr. founded Expert Tree Service in 1936, and the business has passed through four generations of the Hughes family. Our founder’s rule still stands: give the best price first, not last. We show up, look at the job, and give you an honest number with no games. Every job gets a written estimate before we start, and we don’t collect payment until the work is done and you’re satisfied.
We carry full liability insurance and workers’ compensation. That means your property is protected if anything goes wrong. After 90 years, our name is our reputation, and we treat every job accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to the Village of Rhinebeck’s most recent tree inventory, the most common trees include Norway maple, sugar maple, thornless honeylocust, plum, Callery pear, eastern hemlock, apple, red maple, and Norway spruce.
You may need permission if the tree is within the public Right of Way, defined as within 30 feet from the center of the road or in a median. These trees are considered part of the public benefit and require a removal request form to be filed with the Village Clerk. However, the cost and responsibility remain with the property owner.
The homeowner is responsible for both the cost and coordination of pruning or removal, even for trees that fall within the Village’s designated Right of Way. You must obtain permission from the Village before proceeding.
Yes. We are available 24/7 for emergency storm response, fallen trees, and hazardous limb removal. Our team has provided reliable, licensed service to Rhinebeck homeowners and businesses for nearly 90 years.
While these species are common in the area, both are considered non-native and may crowd out native trees or create long-term ecological issues. We can help assess whether these trees should be pruned, maintained, or removed.
Simply call us at 845-331-6782 or fill out the contact form on our website. We’ll provide a prompt, professional assessment and a free estimate tailored to your property’s needs.
Serving Rhinebeck and Surrounding Areas
Expert Tree Service provides tree removal, trimming, and 24/7 emergency service throughout Dutchess County and the surrounding Hudson Valley. In addition to Rhinebeck, we serve homeowners and businesses in:
Kingston
Pawling
Poughkeepsie
Red Hook
Get a Free Estimate in Rhinebeck
Call 845-331-6782 or fill out the form below. We’ll come out, look at your trees, and give you a straight answer with no pressure, no upsells. Just honest pricing from a family business that’s been doing this since 1936.
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