Frequently Asked Questions
Plain answers on cost, permits, insurance, storm damage, stumps and trimming, from the crew at A One Tree Services in Monroe County.
Most people call a tree service for the first time on a bad day. A limb came down in the wind, a maple is leaning over the garage, or an estimate showed up and nothing about it made sense. This page collects the questions we hear most from homeowners around Rochester, and answers them the way we would at the curb with a coffee in hand.
We have grouped them by topic: cost and hiring, permits and legal, insurance and liability, emergency and storm damage, tree health and safety, stump grinding, and trimming and timing. Where a longer explanation exists, we link to it. Where a rule depends on your town, we say so rather than guess, because permit and ordinance details change from one village to the next.
A note on how to use the answers. They are general guidance from people who work in these yards, not a substitute for someone standing under your tree. Two maples of the same size can call for completely different plans depending on the lean, the soil, and what sits underneath. So treat each answer as a starting point, then let a free on site look settle the specifics for your property. That includes the cost questions, since we do not quote prices without seeing the job.
If you would rather talk than read, call (585) 888-9232. We are open 24 hours, 7 days, and every job starts with a free estimate.
It depends on the tree, and anyone who quotes a flat number without seeing it is guessing. Height, trunk width, how close the tree sits to a house or wires, whether a spider lift can reach it, and how much cleanup you want all move the price. A small tree in an open yard costs far less than a big maple leaning over a garage. Our tree removal cost breakdown explains each factor, and a free on site estimate gives you your real number.
The written scope should say which trees or limbs are being cut, whether the wood and brush are hauled away or left on site, whether the stump is ground, and when the work is planned. It should also name the equipment, since a job done with a spider lift or climbing and rigging is a different job than one done with a crane. If the estimate is one line with a total, ask for more detail. You can start with our free estimate request.
Because the scopes are rarely the same. One quote may include chipping, hauling and raking, while another leaves logs in your yard. Access matters too: a tracked spider lift can reach a tree in a tight backyard without tearing up the lawn, while a bigger machine may not fit through the gate. Compare what is covered, not only the bottom line. Our tree removal service in Rochester NY page shows how we scope a job.
No. Every job starts with a free estimate. We look at the tree, check access for equipment, talk through what you want done with the wood and the stump, and give you a plan before any work begins. Call (585) 888-9232 or use the contact page to set up a visit.
Rules differ from one town and village to the next, and some places regulate certain trees by size, species or location. We do not guess at them for you. Before a big removal, check with your town code enforcement or building department, and read our post on whether you need a permit to remove a tree in Rochester NY.
Trees in that strip are often treated differently from trees inside your property line, and in many places the municipality has a say even if you have always mowed around it. Call your town or village before cutting or hiring anyone. The Monroe County website is a good starting point for finding the right office.
Boundary trees cause real arguments between neighbors. Who owns the tree can depend on where the trunk actually stands, and sorting that out may take a survey or advice from an attorney. Before anyone picks up a saw, talk with your neighbor and agree on a plan in writing. Our post on who pays when a tree falls on a neighbor's property covers the related questions.
That depends on your policy and on what the tree hit. A tree that lands on a house, garage or fence is often handled differently from one that falls in an empty corner of the yard. Read your policy and call your insurer before you sign anything. The Insurance Information Institute has plain language explainers on homeowners coverage. For next steps, see what to do after a tree falls on your property.
Ask for a certificate of insurance and read it. Any serious company can send one without fuss, and you can call the insurer listed on it to confirm it is current. A's One Tree Services is fully insured, and we are glad to answer that question before you hire us. Do this before the crew shows up, not after something goes wrong.
Call your insurance company and let your neighbor know right away. Who pays often depends on the details, including the condition of the tree beforehand and the policies involved, so do not assume either way. Keep photos and notes. Our post on a tree that falls on a neighbor's yard walks through the usual questions.
Take wide shots of the whole scene, then close ups of the damage to your roof, fence, car or lawn, and the broken trunk or limb itself. Note the date and the weather. Photograph before anything is moved if you can do it safely from a distance. Those pictures help when you talk to your insurer, and they help us plan the job during the estimate.
Get everyone out of the area, stay clear of any downed wires, and call 911 if anyone is hurt or there is a fire or gas risk. Then call us at (585) 888-9232. We are open 24 hours, 7 days, and you can read how it works in what happens when you call for 24/7 emergency tree service. Our emergency tree removal in Rochester NY page has more.
Yes. A One Tree Services runs a 24/7 emergency line, and storms rarely wait for business hours. When you call, tell us what the tree is touching, whether anyone can get in or out of the house, and whether wires are involved. That lets us plan the right equipment. After a big storm the phones are busy, so expect us to work through the most dangerous situations first.
Please do not. Hung up limbs and ice loaded branches can drop without warning, and the one that falls often is not the one you were watching. Keep people and cars out from underneath and call us. Crews who do this daily use rigging to lower them in controlled pieces. See our guide to emergency storm cleanup tips.
Not if it is leaning, cracked, or touching your house. Waiting leaves a hazard over your roof or walkway, and another round of wind or snow can finish the job. A tree that is down but not touching anything can often wait for a proper estimate. Our post on whether it is safe to remove a tree in winter answers the common worries.
Yes. Rot inside the trunk, damaged roots from a past dig, and girdling roots can sit under a full canopy of green leaves. Mushrooms or shelf fungus at the base, a hollow sound when you tap the trunk, and fresh cracks are warning signs. Read how to identify hazardous trees, and call us for a look if one worries you.
Look at the trunk first. A sound trunk with some broken limbs can often be saved with careful pruning. A trunk with deep decay, a major split, or a lean that has changed after a storm usually cannot. Location matters as much as condition: the same weak tree in the back corner is a different problem than one over your bedroom. Our signs a tree needs removal post covers it.
It could be. Emerald ash borer is a real threat to ash trees across our region, and thinning crowns, bark splits and woodpecker damage are common signs. Other problems can look similar, so get the tree looked at. The emerald ash borer information network explains what to look for. A dying ash can turn brittle quickly, so do not leave one standing over a house.
Less than most people expect. The grinder works at the stump and leaves a pile of wood chips, which we can haul off or leave for you to use as mulch. Expect a patch of disturbed ground where the stump was. Clay soil, common around Rochester, can leave a heavy, damp mix that needs topsoil and seed. Our stump grinding in Rochester NY page covers the process.
Grinding chews the stump down below ground level. Full removal digs out the stump and larger roots, which leaves a bigger hole and more repair work. Most homeowners choose grinding. Regrowth is uncommon after grinding, though some species send up sprouts from leftover roots. Read stump grinding vs stump removal for the full comparison.
Calling 811 before you dig is the standard way to have underground utility lines marked, and stump work goes below the surface. Mention the stump when you call us, and let us know about any irrigation lines, invisible fences or buried cables you know about. Dig Safely New York explains how the process works. See also stump grinding cost in Rochester NY.
There is no single schedule. Fast growing trees like silver maples and willows may need attention more often than slow growing oaks, and young trees benefit from light structural pruning early. Many mature trees do well with a professional look every few years. Our post on how often to trim trees in Rochester NY goes species by species.
Many trees are pruned while dormant, from late fall through winter, because the structure is easy to see and there is no leaf mess. Dead or dangerous limbs should come out any time of year. Heavy pruning on flowering trees depends on when they bloom. Our guide to the best time to trim trees has more, and our tree trimming in Rochester NY page lists what we do.
Yes. Topping a tree, cutting flush against the trunk, or stripping out too much canopy leaves big wounds that heal poorly and invite decay. The tree often responds with weak, fast growing shoots. Reputable tree care follows industry pruning standards. The Trees Are Good site from the International Society of Arboriculture explains proper pruning for homeowners.
Light pruning from the ground with sharp hand tools is one thing. Climbing, ladder work, and cutting anything near a roof or power lines is another, and falls and chainsaw kickbacks can injure homeowners. Our post on DIY vs professional tree trimming lays out what you risk, and the services page shows how we handle the harder jobs.
A few minutes of prep makes any estimate more accurate, ours included. Take two or three photos of the tree from different sides, and one that shows what is underneath or beside it: a roof, a fence, a pool, a driveway, a line running from the street. Note how wide the gate or side yard is, because access decides which equipment can reach the tree. A tracked spider lift fits places a bucket truck never will, and it leaves a lot less rutting in a soft Rochester lawn.
Decide what you want done with the wood. Some people want logs stacked for the fireplace, others want everything chipped and hauled away. Say whether the stump should be ground now or left for later. Tell us about anything buried that you know of, like a sprinkler line or a dog fence. If the tree is in a shared yard or on a boundary, have a quick talk with the neighbor first. It is much easier than explaining a surprise after the fact.
Finally, ask the same questions of every company you call. Are they insured, what exactly is included, who handles cleanup, and when can they start? A solid tree company answers all four without hesitation. You can see how we handle each job on our tree services in Rochester NY page.
Rochester sits on Lake Ontario, and the lake shapes almost every tree question we get. Lake effect snow piles weight onto branches, ice storms coat them, and strong spring and summer thunderstorms test whatever made it through winter. Check the National Weather Service Buffalo forecast before a storm and you will know when to move the cars out from under that big limb.
Species matter too. Silver maples grow fast and shed limbs, which is why they top so many storm cleanup lists. Norway maples, oaks, white pines, spruce, willows, poplars and Callery pears each have their own habits. Ash trees face the emerald ash borer. Heavy clay soil in many neighborhoods holds water, stresses roots and makes stump holes slow to settle. Older neighborhoods in Brighton, Pittsford, Fairport and Gates have large mature trees close to houses, which makes careful rigging a regular part of our work.
If your question is about a specific town, our service area page links to local pages for every town we serve, and our tree care blog has longer guides on most of the topics above. The NYS DEC site is worth a look for state level tree and forest information.
On the day of the work, the crew walks the site with you, confirms which trees or limbs are coming out, and sets up around the tree before a saw starts. Vehicles get moved, gates get checked, and anything breakable near the drop zone gets cleared. Then comes the work itself: climbing or lift work for trimming, rigged removal in sections for trees close to a house, and cleanup once the last piece is down. Branches go through the chipper, logs get cut and moved by loader or by hand, and the area gets raked.
When you are comparing companies, a few things should make you stop and think:
The International Society of Arboriculture runs a professional site that explains industry standards, and our post on why homeowners choose professional tree services lays out what to expect from a good company. Use both as a checklist when you compare quotes, ours included.
Winter. Questions in winter are mostly about weight. Wet lake effect snow and freezing rain load up branches, and homeowners want to know what is safe to leave and what is not. Our pages on emergency snow damage tree removal and winter storm tree cleanup cover what to expect. The Ready.gov winter weather guide is a useful household checklist.
Spring. Once the thaw arrives, people notice what winter did: split limbs, a new lean, dead branches that were hidden by summer leaves. This is the season for inspections and corrective pruning. We keep a page on spring tree trimming in Rochester NY and a spring tree maintenance checklist you can work through yourself.
Summer. Thunderstorms and lake winds arrive quickly in summer, and fast growth pushes limbs toward roofs and wires. The common questions are about clearance trimming and storm damage after a squall line. Our summer tree care tips cover watering and stress signs in a dry stretch.
Fall. This is the planning season. Homeowners ask about removing risky trees before snow, thinning crowns that will catch ice, and scheduling stump work before the ground freezes. Read how to prepare trees for winter if you want a head start, and call early, because the weeks before the first big storm fill up fast.
We take care of tree removal, tree trimming and pruning, stump grinding, emergency tree removal, storm damage cleanup and land clearing for homes and commercial properties across Monroe County. The same crew can take a tree down, chip the brush, grind the stump and haul the rest, so you deal with one phone number instead of three.
Our equipment is chosen for tight Rochester lots: spider lifts that fit through a gate and reach over a house, bobcat loaders for moving logs and brush, and high capacity chippers that keep the cleanup moving. Climbing and rigging gear covers the trees no machine can reach. The crew works in orange high visibility gear, so you can tell who is on your property at a glance.
We also work in neighborhoods all around the city, from the lake shore in Greece and Irondequoit to Victor, Pittsford and Henrietta. If you are not sure we cover your street, check the about page or the service area page, or just call. We are happy to tell you whether we can help and when we can look at your tree.
Ask us. If it involves a tree that looks risky, send a photo or call, and we will tell you plainly whether it needs work now or can wait. For tree removal, trimming, stump grinding, storm cleanup or land clearing anywhere in Rochester and Monroe County, a free estimate is the next step. There is no obligation, and you will leave the conversation knowing more than when you started, even if you decide to wait. If it is after hours and a tree is down on your house, car or driveway, do not wait for morning. Call the number below.
A One Tree Services · Phone: (585) 888-9232
Get a Free EstimateCall us 24/7 or fill out the quote form at the top of the page, and we’ll get back to you quickly.
