Big Darby Tree Services LLC

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Columbus, OH
Big Darby Tree Services LLC

Providing State of the Art Tree Preservation Solutions When it's no longer feasible or reasonable to save a tree, we offer removal services.

Big Darby Tree Services provides a variety of tree preservation solutions, from structural pruning to cabling and bracing. Sometimes trees need a little more help from pests or disease, so plant health care services are also available. And of course we can't forget about tree establishment. Big Darby Tree Services offer new tree establishment services and expert guidance for choosing your next tree.

04/26/2026

We'll be at the Green Columbus Earth Day Celebration all day! Come check out the tours and talks at Scioto Audubon Metro Park!
11am-7pm

01/28/2026

Are Trees Actually Exploding Right Now? Let’s Talk About It. 💥🌳
If you’re seeing articles about “exploding trees,” you’re not alone.

The good news is that trees are not detonating.
What’s likely happening is a frost crack. When temperatures drop quickly, water inside a tree’s trunk can freeze and expand. That expansion creates pressure inside the wood and can cause the trunk to split with a loud crack.

It is not a fiery explosion. It is not trees launching bark into the stratosphere. It is physics doing its thing.
Frost cracks often occur on the south or southwest side of a tree, where winter sun warms the bark during the day, and temperatures plunge again at night. That rapid shift stresses the trunk, and sometimes you get a very dramatic sound. Most of the time, trees can heal from frost cracks. They may develop a visible scar along the trunk, but they often survive just fine. So if you hear a boom during a deep freeze, take a breath. It might just be a tree reacting to extreme temperature swings, not a woodland explosion.

Nature is dramatic. Just not that dramatic.

Learn more here:
https://spectrumnews1.com/oh/columbus/news/2022/03/17/exploring-ohio--frost-crack

Photo Credit: Amy Stone, OSU Extension - Lucas County

11/11/2025

This past Saturday, Big Darby Tree helped out at Deer Haven Park. This was the second year in a row for this event. Honeysuckle is one of many woody invasive plants found in Ohio.

But what makes it invasive?
-Prolific seeder
-Easily resprouts when herbicide isn't used
-Leafs out early and stays leafs out longer than most native species

Why is honeysuckle and other invasives bad? They're pretty, right?
-Less preferable for native wildlife (low quality mast)
-Often grows too dense for habitat suitability
-Outgrows native species that native wildlife depend on for habitat and food

What are other invasive species found in Ohio?
-Autumn olive, tree of heaven (Ailanthus), privet, grapevine (native but still considered invasive in certain contexts), Bradford pear, burning bush, amur cork tree, paulownia, Japanese knotweed, Japanese barberry, Japanese honeysuckle (vine), kudzu (yes it's in Ohio), English ivy, and winter creeper euonymus (there's more). That's just some of the woody invasive species. There's still herbaceous species and the whole host of insects, worms, and fungi.

In urban areas it may seem less obvious the impact of these invasive species, but local wildlife already have fewer food and habitat options due to urban sprawl, impervious surfaces, and moving vehicles. So quality food and habitat is crucial.

If you have invasive species that need removed and treated, let us know!
www.bigdarbytree.com

06/15/2025

Recently went to Cape Cod to see whales, but as usual I focus more on the trees (we still saw humpback whales, seals, and birds!).

01/10/2025

Big Darby Forestry Consulting will now be under Big Darby Tree Services as it better encapsulates all the services that Big Darby Provides from woodland stewardship management plans and invasives treatment to urban tree preservation and establishment. The original emails and phone number will still be used. For any forestry related matters use [email protected] and any urban tree related matters use [email protected]. Of course you can also submit a request for for either services grouping through the website at www.bigdarbytree.com
Thank you!

Elliot Smith, CUCF
Owner
Certified Arborist OH- 6960A

04/29/2024

Be on the lookout for spotted lantern fly, one of the newest invasive pests. This image is of their egg masses. It happened to be around their favorite feeding tree, tree of heaven. But this isn't a tree of heaven branch. If you see egg masses, smush them! If you see spotted lantern flies, smush them!

For more info, check out:

https://bygl.osu.edu/index.php/node/2336

04/01/2024

Having fun with the family on the holiday weekend.

Trying to recreate the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

03/08/2024

Thanks to Adventure Films ltd. for these awesome in-canopy shots!

03/07/2024

Had the chance to deadwood a large red oak along the Scioto river today. It was one of the last days to prune oaks in central Ohio until next winter.

Professional shots of this climb coming soon!

02/12/2024

Know when to prune oak trees

01/31/2024

Why Prune Your Yard Trees?

Yard trees, often referred to as open grown, tend to have very good light availability which they take advantage of by growing additional branches with additional leaves to collect more sunlight. Forested trees compete with one another causing them to grow much straighter. A healthy forest grown tree will produce fewer branches and leaves as it’s inefficient to have leaves that aren't collecting light. The light is brightest at the top where other trees aren't blocking light. Some species groups like maple are adapted to lower light conditions and are considered shade tolerant.

Open grown trees, while aesthetically pleasing, tend to produce too many branches causing them to cross which given time will lead to rubbing branches. Rubbing produces wounds that stress the tree and attract pests and disease which stress the tree further. By pruning on regular intervals we can prevent many problems.
Training a tree when it’s younger is crucial for the tree to be healthy and live long. Techniques from young tree training will address multiple leaders, ladder branching, future clearance requirements and deadwood. As trees get older they will require less structural pruning, but more dead-wooding.

Time of year is crucial. Oaks should not be pruned in the summer. Fall is even pushing it. Winter is the best time to prune oaks to prevent the spread of oak wilt, a deadly disease. Dead-wooding is fine to perform any time of year. For most trees, it doesn’t matter when they are pruned. But fall/winter is ideal.

Interested in pruning your own trees? You can! But be careful, if you need a ladder to reach a branch, it’s best to hire a professional arborist. A Certified Arborist is recommended. Make sure they have insurance and follow best management practices. This includes not using spikes while pruning which damage trees and allow the introduction of disease. Spikes are fine for removals. Topping is a terrible practice and will only make the tree grow back taller than before. Find out more here:
https://www.treesaregood.org/Portals/0/TreesAreGood_Why%20Topping%20Hurts_0321.pdf

Here is a quick guide for at home tree pruning:
https://www.treesaregood.org/treeowner/pruningyourtrees

Address

Columbus, OH

Telephone

+16144469056

Website

http://www.bigdarbytree.com/

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