AJ's Tree Service in Amherst

AJ's Tree Service

(716) 908-1282 ajstreeservice.com

Equipment and Capabilities: Bucket Truck, Stump Grinder

Emergency and Storm: Storm Cleanup, Quick Response

Tree Services: Works Near Structures, Large Trees, Cabling Bracing, Tree Assessments, Dead Tree Experience

Customer Experience: Affordable, Free Estimates, Cleanup Included

Credentials and Trust: Long Established, ISA Certified, Insured

AJ’s Tree Service has been serving Buffalo & WNY for over 20 years with quality work in all facets of tree service. We are an affordable, quality tree care service. Full service tree care. Specializing in pruning, removal, large technical take downs – damage control to property, tree consultant, fertilization, decompaction, boft bucket truck – ISA Certified Arborist – in field of trees, free estimates, insured, deadwooding, stump grinding, tree service, tree care, tree cutting, cabling, and mulching.

4.6 from 117 reviews

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Pros

  • AJ's Tree Service is incredibly professional, courteous, and affordable.
  • They complete jobs quickly and efficiently, often in a single day.
  • They leave the property clean and undamaged, with immaculate cleanup.
  • They communicate clearly from the initial quote through completion.
  • They treat each client’s property as if it were their own.
  • They use up-to-date equipment and perform work with safety and precision.
  • They offer fair prices and excellent value for the quality of work.
  • They handle challenging removals near houses or landscaping with skill and care.
  • They consistently receive high recommendations from satisfied customers.

Cons

Based on reviews representing only 9% of total ratings

  • One reviewer said AJ's trashed their yard by working in pouring rain, caused roof damage, broke a sump pump drain, and left holes and debris from stump grinding with no proper safety filling.
  • Another reviewer claimed the fence was reassembled poorly and a heavy fence wire was buried in the grass, nearly destroying the mower.
  • A customer stated the company never fixed an issue and stopped responding to their messages.

Review Overview

AJ’s Tree Service is best suited for Amherst-area property owners facing high-stakes tree work where safety, precision, and cleanups matter as much as the finished appearance. The company earns its strongest recommendations for single- and multi-tree removals on parcels with tight spaces, nearby structures, or roots threatening foundations, driveways, or utilities. Buyers watching for timely execution at a fair price will also find AJ’s competitive. The service works well for urgent or near-term projects, with many reviews noting quick quotes and scheduling, and a number of jobs completed within a day or a few hours on site. In short, AJ’s is the pick for practical homeowners with demanding sites and a sensible budget who want results fast, with a dependable crew handling the risk.

Safety and cleanup stand as non-negotiables with AJ’s, and that shows in the consistently thoughtful approach described by customers. Several reviews highlight careful rigging, controlled lowering, and protection of plantings and lawn, often with the crew using ropes, mats, and expansive crews to keep driveways and landscaping safe from damage. The arborist element surfaces in some notes, with Jeff identified as a certified arborist who helps define scope and tree health. Cleanup is repeatedly described as exceptional: yards left spotless, branches hauled away, and debris contained. That level of finish matters because stump grinding, limb removal, and heavy cuts generate lingering hazards if not executed cleanly. Yet, there are reminders that safety and cleanup depend on clear scope and vigilant supervision; a few customers report miscommunications or outcomes that required follow-up to repair, underscoring the importance of a precise written plan and on-site supervision.

In terms of job types, AJ’s handles a broad spectrum with apparent ease. Town of Amherst residents with towering maples, locusts, or oaks near homes, garages, or even fences note that the team can work through tricky access points and near structural elements without collateral damage. The reviews describe both rapid, large-scale removals (including 60-foot and multi-trunk trees) and precision pruning of branches over rooftops. The company even demonstrates effective on-site problem solving, such as using a sequence of cuts and rope-directed falls to keep debris away from gardens or delicate features. There are mentions of specialized tasks, such as injections to revitalize an ancient tree or trimming a stubborn limb while preserving surrounding vegetation. The consistency of capability is striking, and the company’s willingness to adapt, down to coordinating with neighbors and managing multiple trucks on a single site, adds to the value for complex properties.

Customer-service reliability is a defining factor in AJ’s appeal, though not without caveats. Many reviewers praise prompt quotes, on-time arrivals, courteous crews, and responsive communication from the office through the field crew. The sentiment is that AJ’s provides clear expectations, fair pricing, and a professional, “no-nonsense” work ethic. Yet, some accounts caution that not every interaction met the same standard: a few instances of missed callbacks or scheduling hiccups; one report of a crew showing up early without notice; and a contrasting story where poor communication after a damage incident left a homeowner feeling abandoned. These mixed notes reinforce a practical rule of thumb: confirm scope, schedule, and accountability in writing, then trust the crew’s demonstrated skill to carry the project to completion.

Quality on the ground tends to be the strongest attribute, and it shows in both efficiency and finish. Across dozens of jobs, AJ’s is repeatedly described as fast, professional, and thorough, with crews that “leave the yard better than before.” Large removals are commonly completed in a day or less, with careful material handling and a notable propensity to leave wood piles or saleable remnants if requested. Instances of very particular precision, such as avoiding damage to an adjacent garden or keeping a neighbor’s shrubbery intact, appear frequently, signaling a team that respects property lines and neighborly concerns. On the downside, a handful of reviews recount missteps, over-pruning, fence damage, or unaddressed post-job concerns, that point to the need for explicit scope confirmation and a robust post-job follow-up plan. The overarching message remains clear: the core crew typically delivers high-caliber work, but communication gaps can erode the overall experience.

For a decision-maker, the bottom line is straightforward: AJ’s Tree Service should be top-of-list for property owners with big, risky removals, trees close to structures, or urgent projects where timing and safety are critical. The price is consistently viewed as fair to competitive, often cited as a better value than other Western New York providers, with several customers noting cost savings on large-diameter removals or multiple trees. The standout benefit is a track record of work that protects lawns, landscapes, and property, demonstrated through careful rigging, proactive cleanup, and a willingness to send a seasoned arborist to set the scope. The main cautions revolve around ensuring clear communication and a solid written plan to prevent misalignments between expectations and results, and to avoid the kind of post-job disputes that plague any contractor when damage or overreach occurs.

To maximize success with AJ’s, prospective clients should insist on a quoted scope from a certified arborist, preferably with on-site assessment followed by a detailed written plan. Request a pre-job walkthrough to map out access, trimming limits, droppage zones, and wildlife considerations; ask for protective measures for turf, hardscape, and adjacent plantings; and require a precise cleanup protocol, including stump grinding, chip disposal, and wood-removal options. Clarify whether up-front deposits are required and establish a concrete schedule with contingency for weather or access constraints. Finally, factor in a post-work review step, request a walk-through to verify that all debris is cleared, that neighbor and utility clearances have been respected, and that any minor touch-ups or extra trimming are handled promptly. When approached with clarity, AJ’s Tree Service offers a practical, capable, and cost-conscious choice for owners who demand safety, efficiency, and meticulous cleanup from a local crew that consistently proves its worth.

Equipment and Capabilities

Bucket Truck

Uses an aerial bucket truck for safe, efficient access to tall or hard-to-reach branches. Faster and more stable than climbing for many jobs.

Bucket truck access lets AJ’s Tree Service reach tall limbs and work safely around structures, driveways, and landscaping. Customers frequently mention crews going up in the bucket to trim branches that were close to houses, over driveways, or near other obstacles, with precise, controlled lowering of large limbs. They can maneuver through tight access points—such as passing a 36-inch-wide gate—to reach trees in confined spaces without disturbing the yard. The equipment is described as state-of-the-art by clients, contributing to quick, thorough take-downs, pruning, and stump grinding while keeping cleanup meticulous. This combination of elevated access and skilled operation supports fast, high-quality results across Western New York, including the Town of Amherst.

Stump Grinder

Equipped with stump grinding machinery to eliminate leftover stumps after removal. Leaves your yard clean and ready for replanting or landscaping.

Stump grinding is a core part of their service, routinely included after tree removals in Western New York, including the Town of Amherst. Customers report they grind out all stumps left behind, from small remnants to particularly large stumps, in a single efficient session—sometimes four stumps or more in one job. The work is described as fast, with removals and stump grinding often completed in a few hours, and the yard is left with thorough cleanup and minimal trace of debris. Crews are noted for protecting the lawn and surrounding landscaping during grinding and for delivering a neat, professional finish. Overall, their stump grinding capability is consistently framed as reliable, capable of handling big and multiple stumps quickly, with attention to property protection and clean results.

Emergency and Storm

Storm Cleanup

Ready to respond after high winds, ice storms, or heavy snow bring trees and limbs down across your property.

Storm cleanup is a core capability, with crews dispatched quickly to fallen trees, hazardous limbs, and storm debris across Western New York, including Amherst. Customer feedback highlights rapid response on tight streets and near structures, with large take-downs completed swiftly and often within hours, followed by meticulous cleanup. They deploy state-of-the-art equipment and ISA-certified arborists on site to assess risk and execute precise, safe cuts that protect yards, driveways, and adjacent properties. Cleanup afterward is thorough—stumps ground, branches shredded, debris hauled away, and lawns left looking pristine. Across the region, homeowners note professional, courteous crews who coordinate to minimize disruption and restore access quickly after storms.

Quick Response

Fast to answer calls and quick to schedule. Whether it's routine work or an urgent situation, these businesses don't leave you waiting.

Prompt response and rapid mobilization are a clear pattern in AJ's Tree Service feedback, with many clients noting same-day responses and fast quotes after first contact. They typically respond quickly to inquiries, provide a quote within a day, and show up promptly for on-site assessments and scheduling, even in busy Buffalo-Niagara streets. Crews demonstrate efficiency in the field—major removals are completed in hours, with examples of a huge maple down in about four hours and as many as 10 trees addressed in a single day—often with little disruption to driveways or landscaping. The team also prioritizes safety and cleanup, leaving properties immaculate and fully cleared of debris, and they can handle tight access, even passing through a 36-inch gate for trimming where needed. Across Western New York, including Amherst, these patterns of quick response and fast execution underline the reliability customers rely on when trees pose immediate concerns or urgent cleanup needs.

Tree Services

Works Near Structures

Skilled at working in tight spaces where trees sit close to homes, fences, garages, or power lines. Precision removal without damage to surrounding structures.

Near-structure work is a core strength, with crews consistently delivering safe, controlled take downs and removals close to houses, garages, and driveways. Customer feedback highlights successful removals right next to foundations, patios, and power lines, typically without damaging surrounding landscaping. They navigate tight spaces and restricted access—equipment can pass through a 36-inch wide gate—and use rigging and precise cuts to steer falls away from structures. Cleanup is thorough and the site is left clean, with debris removed and yards restored. An ISA Certified Arborist is involved to define scope and prioritize property protection, supporting safe operations near structures.

Large Trees

Experienced handling oversized trees - tall, wide, or heavily branched. Removing or trimming a large tree requires specialized skill and equipment, and these pros have both.

Handling large, high-risk removals near houses and driveways is a core strength for AJ’s Tree Service in Amherst, NY. Customers repeatedly cite their success with huge maples, 60-foot oaks, and locust trees, often completed in a single day and including stump grinding and thorough cleanup. They use bucket trucks and careful rigging to lower sections piece by piece, even when space is tight or the tree sits near structures, garages, or driveways, and there are notes of accessing tricky spaces like passing a 36-inch gate with equipment. The crew is led by an ISA-certified arborist, prioritizing safety, precise cuts, and protecting the customer’s property. Overall, the feedback patterns point to reliable, efficient, and clean large-tree removals serving Amherst and Western New York.

Cabling Bracing

Installs steel cables or braces to support weak branch unions, co-dominant stems, or leaning trunks - extending the life of a tree you don't want to lose.

AJ's Tree Service demonstrates strong cabling and bracing capabilities, evidenced by meticulous rigging and controlled lowering during large or risky removals. In tight spaces—such as near a garage and patio awning or along busy streets—the crew uses ropes and staged cuts to direct the fall and protect landscaping, driveways, and neighboring property. An ISA-certified arborist is involved in pre-job assessment, helping determine when cabling, bracing, or other stabilization is needed before work begins. Across Western New York, customers consistently report safe, precise, and clean outcomes on challenging jobs, underscoring a reliable cabling/bracing discipline in complex tree projects.

Tree Assessments

Offers professional evaluation of your trees' health, structure, and risk level. Useful before buying property, after storm damage, or when a tree just doesn't look right.

On-site tree assessment is a core capability, led by an ISA-certified arborist who helps define the scope of work and distinguish trees that need attention or removal from those that are healthy. Customers describe this assessment as guiding safe, near-structure work with careful planning to protect yards and adjacent properties, such as removing large trees near driveways or overhanging a neighbor’s yard. Treatment options are part of the evaluation, including recommendations for fertilization to sustain very old trees, reflecting a holistic approach to long-term health beyond immediate removal. The pattern of feedback shows consistent trust in the assessment process to set clear scope, options, and timelines, with quick estimates and prompt service. Overall, clients credit the assessment-driven planning for safe removals, thorough cleanup, and protection of landscaping, confirming a high level of expertise in the field.

Dead Tree Experience

Specialists in the safe removal of dead, dying, or diseased trees. Dead trees are unpredictable - experience and caution matter.

Dead-tree removal is a core strength, with many customers in Western New York, including Amherst, noting quick, safe removal of dead ash and other dead trees near homes, streets, and driveways. They consistently show the ability to handle large, technically challenging dead trees without damaging landscaping or nearby structures, using precise cuts and controlled lowering to protect the property. Stump grinding is routinely included, and cleanup is thorough, leaving yards looking clean and tidy. backed by an ISA-certified arborist and modern equipment, including bucket trucks, their dead-tree work is carried out efficiently in tight spaces and around obstacles. Overall, feedback patterns praise professionalism, value, and safety, though a small number of reviews mention communication gaps or isolated incidents.

Customer Experience

Affordable

Competitive pricing without cutting corners. These arborists offer fair rates and transparent quotes, making professional tree care accessible for most budgets.

Pricing is consistently highlighted as a standout benefit, with customers noting very fair or best-in-class rates for major tree removals, stump grinding, and related services. Many clients also report affordable quotes delivered quickly, along with no upfront deposits and clear, transparent cost expectations. This affordability pairs with strong capability: crews handle large, technical take-downs near structures, protect landscaping, and complete thorough cleanup, often in a single day. In the Buffalo/Western New York area, including Amherst, the feedback portrays fast, courteous, and reliable service that delivers solid value through rapid response and high-quality results.

Free Estimates

No charge for coming out to assess the job and give you a price. Know what you're getting into before committing.

Free estimates are a core offering of AJ’s Tree Service in Western New York, including the Town of Amherst, with no-obligation quotes for pruning, removal, stump grinding, and related work. On-site assessments by an ISA-certified arborist help define the scope and recommended approach, and quotes are shared quickly—often the same day or within 24 hours. Clients frequently report that AJ’s provides options, sometimes presenting multiple quote paths, and many describe the pricing as very reasonable compared with other local providers. From initial contact to project completion, the experience is portrayed as professional, with prompt communication, efficient scheduling, and thorough cleanup after work in Amherst and surrounding areas.

Cleanup Included

All debris - branches, logs, and brush - is hauled away as part of the job. No pile left behind for you to deal with.

Cleanup is included and consistently highlighted as a key strength. Customers repeatedly note thorough debris removal—branches, brush piles, and even large stumps are hauled away—and yards are left clean or spotless after the job. In tight or high-traffic scenarios, crews protect landscaping and complete an immaculate cleanup, often within hours of finishing the work. For example, projects that involved taking down multiple trees, grinding stumps, and cleaning up brush were completed quickly with no lingering mess. This reliable, thorough cleanup is a standout part of the service experience.

Credentials and Trust

Long Established

A business with years - often decades - in the community. Local reputation and deep experience speak for themselves.

With over twenty years serving Western New York, AJ's Tree Service demonstrates a long-established capability to handle large, technical tree work—pruning, removals near structures, and damage-control take downs. Customer experiences consistently highlight professional crews, prompt quotes, precise scheduling, and meticulous cleanups at affordable prices. Clients report quick turnarounds, safe operations around driveways and landscaping, effective stump grinding, cabling and bracing, fertilization, and thorough debris removal. They are ISA Certified Arborists, insured, and equipped with bucket trucks and advanced gear, enabling high-quality work across Buffalo and the wider WNY region. Distinctly, the long-established presence is underscored by a City of Buffalo Forestry Department contract to trim trees throughout the city, reinforcing their role in regional tree care.

ISA Certified

Employs one or more ISA-certified arborists - credentialed professionals who've passed rigorous testing in tree care science and best practices.

An ISA-certified arborist on staff provides on-site health assessments and clear guidance on which trees need attention, removal, or preservation. Clients report precise scope definitions and professional planning led by the arborist, with crews executing complex removals safely and with minimal disruption to yards and nearby structures. Fertilization expertise is demonstrated by injections to support very old trees, showing an active, health-focused approach rather than just removal. The combination of ISA certification, careful risk management on challenging jobs, and meticulous cleanup underlines a consistently reliable service across Western New York.

Insured

Carries proper liability and workers' compensation insurance. If something goes wrong on your property, you're protected.

Insured capability is evident in how crews handle high‑risk take-downs near structures and roadways across Western New York, with careful planning and execution even on tight sites. Customer feedback consistently notes that yards, driveways, and landscaping are protected during operations, with no damage and a thorough cleanup after the job. The emphasis on rapid, professional service and meticulous site restoration reflects risk management practices expected of an insured contractor. Coupled with ISA-certified expertise and a track record of reliable, safe tree care in the Buffalo area, this patterns point to a responsible, insured team that prioritizes property protection and accountability.