Arborist Services: Tree Removal, Trimming, Inspection, and Treatment
Also Known As: Tree Care, Tree Pruning, Tree Trimming, Tree Cutting, Arborist Services, Stump Grinding, Tree Safety, Tree Planting
What it is:
Professional tree care services to maintain strong, healthy trees and ensure safety through proper trimming and removal when necessary. We are tree advocates, not saw guys out to make a quick buck.
Why it matters:
Reduces the risk of falling branches and storm damage
Enhances tree longevity and promotes healthy growth
Protects surrounding landscape and structures from potential tree hazards
How we do it:
We provide expert pruning, tree health assessments, removals, and disease management. Our certified professionals evaluate each tree’s condition and develop a care plan that ensures safety and sustainability.
Did you know?
Ridgeline Outdoor Services started out as a tree service -> check out About Us and a photo of our humble beginnings below:
Ah, simpler times.
Anyway, our decision to focus on sustainable landscaping was a business decision and we are still super passionate about trees and highly capable of tree removals, pruning, treatments, and more.
We take on a lighter degree of tree work than full service tree businesses, but we can handle most residential work. For removals requiring lifts and cranes, we have some awesome partners we work with, so please feel free to call us. We’re out to find you the best solution to your tree care, and we will gladly bring in a team to achieve your goals within your budget.
We follow ANSI tree care industry safety and pruning practices, have Certified Arborists on call, and are insured properly for residential and light commercial tree work.
Simpler times, humble beginngings:
Learn more about our tree care services
-
Informative expert assessment of tree species, measurements, health, and potential risks.
-
Improve tree structure, remove dead or overgrown branches, and promote healthy growth while reducing storm damage risks.
We follow ANSI A300 Pruning Standards
-
Safely take down dead, diseased, or dangerous trees, including full cleanup and disposal. Stump grinding also available.
-
Select and plant the right trees for your space, ensuring strong roots, proper spacing, and long-term success.
***We are glad to plant containerized or b&b trees you purchase, but cannot guarantee survival of any tree plantings. We currently do not have any satisfactory local sources for nursery grown, balled and burlap trees. The tree nursery business is a tough place right now. There are a few local options we can put you in touch with.
However, we cannot recommend enough planting trees from native seed, or planting seedlings. This patient approach is better for long term tree health and should be more widely adopted. We are glad to help you source seedling trees or grow trees naturally. -
Targeted treatments for pests, diseases, and nutrient deficiencies to keep your trees thriving. We follow Integrated Pest Management practices which strives use as little chemical intervention as possible.
-
Remove unsightly stumps quickly, preventing tripping hazards and regrowth while making room for new landscaping.
-
Reinforce weak limbs and split trunks with strategic support to extend a tree’s life and prevent failure.
-
Rapid response to remove fallen trees, broken limbs, and storm debris to restore safety and order.
Why We Should Plant More Seedlings
What’s a Seedling?
A seedling is a young tree grown from seed, typically planted when it is just a few inches to a couple of feet tall. Unlike more mature nursery trees, seedlings develop strong root systems in their new environment from the very start, making them more adaptable, resilient, and cost-effective.
Tree Purchase Choices:
Bare-root Seedlings – Young trees without soil, best planted in early spring or fall. Affordable and easy to transport but require careful planting.
Containerized Trees – Trees grown in pots, often 1-3 years old. They establish well but may have circling roots if left in containers too long.
Balled & Burlapped (B&B) Trees – Larger, field-grown trees dug with an intact root ball wrapped in burlap. These provide an instant landscape presence but can suffer transplant shock.
Why Choose Seedlings?
Stronger Adaptation – Seedlings grow in place, developing a deep root system suited to their soil and climate.
More Affordable – A single B&B tree can cost the same as planting dozens of seedlings.
Eco-Friendly – Large-scale seedling planting is a key part of reforestation and ecosystem restoration.
Long-Term Benefits – While they take longer to mature, seedlings provide shade, habitat, and carbon storage for decades to come.
Thinking about planting trees? We can help select, plant, and nurture the right species for your property.
The State of the Trees: Current Tree & Pest Problems in State College
Like much of Pennsylvania, State College’s trees are facing increased threats from invasive pests, diseases, and environmental stressors. Some of the most pressing concerns include:
Invasive Insects & Pests
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) – A tiny, sap-sucking insect that kills Eastern hemlocks slowly by draining their nutrients. Infested trees decline slowly, appearing thin and sometimes ashy. Treatments are very effective, but must me maintained annually.
Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) – This invasive beetle has devastated ash trees across Pennsylvania. Once infested, trees typically die within a few years. EAB is extensive and completely wiped out our ashes. A fading concern in the Centre Region, but there are still some ash trees in decline. There are no treatments that we consider economically viable.
Spotted Lanternfly – This new invader is expected to start showing up in State College in 2025 in larger numbers. We found our first invader in Patton Township this past October. It’s of special concern to vineyards, but otherwise damage is limited to annoyances and messy habits. It’s a good excuse to get rid of invasive tree of heaven, their host plant.
Lymantria Moth (Renamed Spongy Moth, also/formerly known as Gypsy Moth) – A major defoliator of oaks, maples, and other hardwoods. Severe outbreaks can weaken or kill trees. 2022-2024 was bad. We’re hoping for a break in 2025. Treatments are effective but must be timed properly.
Two-Lined Chestnut Borer – A native beetle that attacks stressed oaks, particularly red and white oaks affected by drought or prior defoliation. This tree kills a lot of white oaks in State College, including one of my own, unfortunately. Stressed trees (changing climate) are especially susceptible. Keeping oaks happy and healthy is the best defense. Some treatments are effective.
Elm Sawfly – Another new insect invader bursting on the scene. It’s a large insect whose larvae feed on elms, willows, and other deciduous trees, sometimes causing significant leaf loss. Easily treatable when detected early.
Diseases & Environmental Stressors
Oak Wilt – A lethal fungal disease that spreads through root connections and insect activity, primarily affecting red oaks. Requires notification of authorities and prompt treatment when detected due to the ability to spread rapidly in our communities with vibrant oak canopies, such as Park Forest and Oakwood.
Anthracnose & Other Leaf Diseases – Fungal pathogens that cause leaf spots, defoliation, and branch dieback, especially in cool, wet springs.
Soil Compaction & Drought Stress – Many urban and suburban trees struggle due to poor soil conditions, leading to weak root systems and increased susceptibility to pests and disease.
Over-Pruning & Improper Care – Poor pruning techniques, including tree topping, can cause long-term damage, structural weakness, and decay.
How We Help
We offer preventative care, pest monitoring, and targeted treatments to keep your trees thriving despite these challenges. Whether it’s choosing resistant species, managing soil health, or pruning correctly, our team is dedicated to maintaining State College’s tree canopy for future generations.
Not a happy sight. My first Centre County Spotted Lanternfly sighting. October 2024, Gray’s Woods, Pantops, during an invasive Tree of Heaven removal. Centre County’s climate is at the edge of the SLF’s cold tolerance. We’re not sure how bad they’ll be yet in 2025.
Another two-lined chestnut borer victim, in my neighborhood, near Toftrees. Nobody is really sure why this native beetle seems to be surging recently, but a lot of oaks have been lost in Park Forest, Oakwood, Toftrees, and throughout the County. We recommend extra care with infected oak firewood. We personally believe firewood movement is a real and valid concern with these beetles. Infected wood should be burned on site or preferably safely disposed of.
The Fungus Among Us
Fungi and trees are intertwined in incredible ways through symbiotic (mycrorhizal) and parasitic (saprophytic) relationships. The fungi and mushrooms that interact with the trees in your yard can cause significant, dangerous damage that can be very hard for the untrained eye to see in time. When you have questions about the mushrooms in your yard, call Ridgeline to inspect the health of your trees.
