Expert Tree Service has been handling tree work in Athens and throughout Greene County since 1936. We’re a fourth-generation family business based in Saugerties, just south on Route 9W, about 15 minutes from the village.
Our crew works in Athens regularly, from the old sugar maples in town to the bigger wooded lots. Whether you need a dead tree taken down near your home or storm damage cleared after a summer thunderstorm, we have the equipment and experience to handle it safely.
We’re licensed, fully insured, and available 24/7 for emergencies.
Call us today at 845-331-6782 to schedule a consultation!
Athens, NY’s Most Common Trees
According to the town’s most recent tree inventory as of 2020, the most common trees in Athens, NY are:
- Sugar Maple – 51
- Norway Maple – 39
- Callery Pear – 35
- Red Maple – 22
- Crabapple – 20
- Honey Locust – 12
- Silver Maple – 12
- Black Walnut – 11
Our Tree Services in Athens
We handle everything from single-tree removals on village lots to large-scale clearing on Athens’ bigger rural properties. If your tree is near a public street or right-of-way, we’re familiar with the Village’s DPW rules and can help you stay ahead of any issues before the town gets involved.
- 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.
- Tree Trimming & Pruning: Crown reduction, deadwood removal, and clearance trimming. Keeps trees healthy and off your roof, gutters, and power lines. Important for the sugar maples, silver maples, and Norway maples common throughout Athens.
- Crane-Assisted Removal: For large trees in tight spots where climbing isn’t safe or practical. We lift sections out over structures instead of dropping them through your yard — essential when big maples or walnuts are close to homes along Athens’ village streets.
- Emergency Storm Cleanup: 24/7 response for trees on homes, blocking roads, or tangled in power lines. Athens sits right on the Hudson and takes direct hits from storms moving up the valley — we’re the crew that shows up fast.
- Feeding & Cabling: Deep-root fertilization and structural cabling for mature trees worth preserving. Extends the life of older sugar maples, black walnuts, and other established trees on your property.
- Lot Clearing: Complete clearing for new construction, driveways, or property improvements. We remove trees, brush, and debris so your site is ready to build.
Why Athens 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.
Athens, NY’s Tree Removal Laws
Athens’ tree canopy is dominated by sugar maples (51 counted in the 2020 inventory), followed by Norway maples, Callery pears, and red maples. Norway maples and Callery pears are both problematic species, with Norways known for developing aggressive surface roots and weak branch attachments as they age, and Callery pears are notorious for splitting in storms. Silver maples, with 12 in the inventory, are another species that tends toward structural failure in high winds. We remove and trim all of these regularly throughout the village.
In the Village of Athens, the Department of Public Works can prune the branches of any tree that hangs over streets and rights-of-way, even if they are on private property. They can also remove trees after giving 60 days of notice (they will bill you afterwards). If you remove a tree, a stump that’s larger than 12 inches of diameter must be ground to “several inches below the existing level of soil” and then re-seeded.
According to the 2020 tree inventory, the most common trees in Athens include sugar maple, Norway maple, Callery pear, red maple, crabapple, honey locust, silver maple, and black walnut. These species define much of the tree canopy across both the village and surrounding areas.
In most cases, you don’t need a permit. However, the Village of Athens Department of Public Works has the right to prune or remove trees that extend into public streets or rights-of-way—even if they are on private land. They must provide 60 days’ notice and may bill you for the work.
Yes. If you remove a tree in the Village of Athens, any stump wider than 12 inches must be ground down to several inches below the soil surface. The area must then be properly re-seeded to restore the landscape.
Absolutely. We’re familiar with local ordinances and stump removal guidelines in Athens and can ensure your tree work meets village requirements.
Yes. We’re available 24/7 for storm cleanup, dangerous limb removal, and fallen trees—whether the issue is in a residential yard, roadside, or commercial property.
Call us at 845-331-6782 or use the form on our website. We’ll schedule a free consultation to evaluate your tree needs and provide a no-obligation estimate.
Serving Athens and Surrounding Areas
Expert Tree Service provides tree removal, trimming, and 24/7 emergency service throughout Greene County and the surrounding Hudson Valley and Catskills. In addition to Athens, we serve homeowners and businesses in:
Catskill
Germantown
Kingston
Saugerties
Get a Free Estimate in Athens
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 and no upsells. Just honest pricing from a family business that’s been doing this since 1936.