Long Island’s Tree Service Industry Faces a Perfect Storm of Consolidation and Labor Challenges in 2025
The tree service industry on Long Island is experiencing unprecedented changes in 2025, as companies grapple with severe labor shortages while simultaneously navigating a wave of consolidation that’s reshaping the competitive landscape. This dual challenge is forcing both established operators and smaller family-owned businesses to adapt their strategies or risk being left behind.
The Labor Crisis Hitting Long Island Tree Services
The tree service industry has seen its share of challenges recently, including tree care businesses facing labor shortages. On Long Island, this crisis has been particularly acute due to several converging factors. Many tree services depend on seasonal migrant workers who come to America through the H2-B Visa Program, but recent policy changes have dramatically cut the number of these visas that are approved each year, with the annual cap for workers currently standing at 66,000.
The National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) found that 70 percent of landscaping companies reported difficulty in filling open positions. This is especially true for small to medium-sized businesses that lack the resources to compete with larger companies and corporate chains. For Long Island tree service companies, this means competing not only with each other but also with construction and other industries experiencing similar workforce challenges.
Consolidation Accelerates as Companies Seek Survival
The response to these pressures has been swift and decisive. The industry witnesses moderate mergers and acquisitions activity, as larger companies seek to expand their geographical reach and service offerings, with acquisitions helping enhance operational efficiency and market share. National players like Bartlett Tree Experts have been particularly active, expanding on Long Island through acquisitions such as Halls Tree and Shrub Care in May 2024.
This leads to a diverse market landscape with opportunities for players of all sizes, though consolidation and strategic partnerships may be observed in the future as larger companies seek to expand their market reach and service offerings. The trend reflects a broader pattern where companies are using mergers as a strategic tool to overcome operational challenges and achieve economies of scale.
Technology and Innovation as Competitive Advantages
Forward-thinking companies are leveraging technology to address workforce constraints. New technology is helping teams do more with smaller crews and increase efficiency and safety. Robotic lawnmowers can help businesses lower costs, reduce noise, and manage labor shortages, while also being controlled remotely, which may attract younger, more tech-savvy workers.
Companies are also investing in environmentally friendly solutions that appeal to sustainability-minded workers. Environmentally friendly, organic weed control technology not only opens a new, premium-priced market of customers, it can also attract sustainability-minded workers who already enjoy the outdoors but don’t want to work with chemical herbicides.
Local Success Stories: Adapting to Change
Long Island Best Tree Service exemplifies how local companies are adapting to these challenges. With 20+ years of experience in providing high-quality residential and commercial tree services, the company has been providing top-notch residential and commercial tree services for homeowners and business owners across Long Island, New York City, Brooklyn, and the Bronx for more than 20 years. Based in Uniondale, the company prioritizes safety and offers some of the most affordable tree care rates in the area.
What sets successful local operators apart is their commitment to service quality and transparency. They promise that the price quoted is the price customers pay, with no unexpected fees or hidden charges, while believing in transparent and competitive pricing. This approach has helped them maintain customer loyalty even as larger competitors enter the market through acquisitions.
The Path Forward: Building Company Culture and Retention
In an industry marked by labor shortages and hiring challenges, companies are crediting high employee-retention rates to treating their people well. Tree care professionals must put their best foot forward and create company cultures that encourage career growth and present new hires with the information and motivation that they need to turn tree care and arborist work into a fulfilling career.
A positive and supportive company culture is key to attracting and maintaining quality talent, which involves engaging with all team members, listening to their ideas, and meeting individually with each employee a few times a year to learn about their experiences.
What This Means for Long Island Property Owners
For consumers seeking tree services, these industry changes present both opportunities and challenges. The consolidation trend means that while some smaller, family-owned operators may be absorbed by larger companies, the surviving businesses are likely to offer more comprehensive services and greater operational stability.
When selecting a Tree Company Long Island, property owners should look for companies that demonstrate strong safety protocols, transparent pricing, and a commitment to employee development—factors that indicate long-term viability in this evolving market.
Forward-thinking small- to medium-sized tree and turf care companies can overcome labor shortages with longer-term planning and investment in people, taking the time to invest in apprentices and adapting to a younger workforce to create decades-long careers for Gen Zers and young Millennials.
As Long Island’s tree service industry continues to evolve through 2025, the companies that will thrive are those that successfully balance operational efficiency with quality service delivery, while building sustainable workforces through competitive compensation, strong safety cultures, and meaningful career development opportunities. The consolidation wave may be inevitable, but it’s creating opportunities for both established players and innovative newcomers who can adapt to the new landscape.