In October 2024, Whitney Tree Service was called to evaluate a large ash tree growing on a steep bank beside Route 12 in Montpelier, Vermont.

The tree had been noticed by the City Arborist, who observed fungal fruiting bodies on the trunk and was concerned about its condition and proximity to a covered pedestrian walkway and the state highway. Although the tree was ultimately determined to be privately owned rather than a city tree, the arborist contacted the homeowner and provided a list of qualified tree care companies to consider for the work.

After evaluating the tree and site, Whitney Tree Service was selected to perform the removal.

Because of the tree’s location, the job required careful coordination and traffic control. We hired a professional traffic-control crew and positioned our crane in one lane of Route 12. A four-person Whitney Tree Service crew — crane operator, climber, ground worker, and wheeled excavator operator — worked together to dismantle the tree safely and efficiently.

The brush was chipped, the logs were removed, and our wheeled excavator was used to handle the larger wood and assist with cleanup.

Once the tree was opened up, the extent of the internal decay became very apparent. Large portions of the trunk were hollow and heavily deteriorated, confirming the concerns that had prompted the original inspection.

Despite the challenging location, the removal was completed in less than a morning, and the roadway was fully reopened to traffic shortly afterward.

This project was a good example of how early recognition of tree defects, professional evaluation, proper equipment, and careful job planning can allow a potentially hazardous tree to be removed safely with minimal disruption.

Whitney Tree Service
ISA Certified Arborists
Professional Tree Care in Central