Locally Owned and Operated Since 2015
Professional Tree Service in Mt. Lookout, OH
Caring for the Mature Trees That Shade Cincinnati's Oldest Neighborhoods
since 2015
Deep Local Roots. Experienced Tree Care.
Mt. Lookout's character comes from its hillside lots, its historic homes, and a mature tree canopy that's been growing for generations. Alongside neighboring Columbia Tusculum, this part of Cincinnati is home to some of the city’s oldest landscapes — and some of the most technically demanding tree work we do.
It's also work we know better than most. Priority Tree has been caring for trees in this part of Cincinnati for more than 11 years, and Andrew Wilson, our founder and ISA Certified Arborist, grew up in Columbia Tusculum. The streets around Alms Park, Ault Park, and Mt. Lookout Square aren't just service area for us — they're home turf.
services
We Provide a Full Range of Tree Care for Mt. Lookout
Mt. Lookout's mix of historic homes, mature trees, and hillside terrain calls for a tree service with the right equipment, the right credentials, and the willingness to take on the harder jobs. Here's what we do:
Pruning & Trimming
Mature trees on tight lots and hillside properties need careful, structured pruning — both to reduce storm risk and to maintain the views these homes were built for. We handle maintenance pruning, clearance pruning, vista pruning, and dead wood removal.
Tree Removal
Removals in Mt. Lookout often involve limited access, steep grades, overhead utilities, and homes built close together. We regularly handle these jobs using cranes, spider lifts, and advanced climbing techniques when standard equipment can’t safely access the site.
Emergency Tree Service
When a mature tree comes down on a Mt. Lookout property — or starts threatening to — we respond quickly with the equipment to handle real damage on tight lots and complicated terrain.
Tree Preservation
The mature oaks, maples, and river birches that define this part of Cincinnati deserve more than removal when they develop structural problems. We provide cabling, bracing, and fertilization to keep trees standing safely for years to come.
Lot & Land Clearing
For Mt. Lookout homeowners with overgrown back acres, wooded hillside sections, or buildable lots being prepped for a project, we handle the clearing with forestry mulchers and the right heavy equipment.
Tree Planting
Replacement trees after a removal, evergreen privacy screens, or accent plantings for a renovated landscape — our Certified Arborist helps you pick the right species for the soil and sun on your specific lot.
Yard Waste Removal
After a storm or a major pruning job, our grapple trucks haul away the debris pile in a single visit — no chipper noise, no scattered cleanup, no waiting for next month's curbside pickup.
Commercial Tree Service
Keep your commercial property safe, professional, and well maintained with reliable tree care tailored to the needs of businesses, HOAs, and property managers.
Got a complicated tree situation? Request an estimate and our Certified Arborist will walk the property with you — including the steeper, harder-to-reach spots.
Why These Streets Require Specialty Care
Most tree services are built around easy access, flat lots, and standard truck setups. The streets of Mt. Lookout and Columbia Tusculum don't offer any of those — which is why a lot of tree services pass on the harder jobs here, and why we've built our company to take them on:
Hillside Lots and Limited Access: A lot of properties in this part of the city sit on slopes or have driveways too steep, too narrow, or too tight for standard bucket trucks. Spider lifts, climbing rigs, and sometimes crane setups in the street are how we get into spots most crews would have to pass on.
Tight Removals Near Historic Homes: Cincinnati's oldest neighborhoods have some of its oldest, biggest trees — many growing within feet of homes that have been standing for over a century. Removals here aren't a matter of dropping a tree and cleaning up. They're a coordinated set of small picks, careful rigging, and crew communication that doesn't allow for mistakes.
Vista Pruning: A lot of Mt. Lookout properties were built for the river, valley, and downtown views. Over time, mature canopy can close in on those sightlines. We selectively prune to reopen views without compromising the long-term structure or health of the tree — work that takes a Certified Arborist's eye, not just a chainsaw.
Bring Us Your Hardest Tree
Give us a call or request an estimate online. For Mt. Lookout and Columbia Tusculum homeowners, we typically schedule estimates within a few days — and same-day for true emergencies.
Recent Tree Work in Mt. Lookout and Columbia Tusculum
A few of the more memorable projects we've handled in the area:
Massive Oak Removal — Mt. Lookout
A homeowner called us about a declining oak in their backyard — a massive tree that had grown over the years into a deck the previous owners had built around it. With the tree pressed up against the home and surrounded by landscape, conventional removal wasn't an option.
We brought in a 120-ton crane, set it up in the street, and flew our climber into the canopy to start the removal. Many of the picks were blind — meaning the crane operator couldn't see the cuts — so the entire crew coordinated through helmet headsets to keep the work safe. The tree came down cleanly without damage to the home, the deck, or the surrounding landscape.
Hackberry Tree Near a Historic Home — Mt. Lookout
A homeowner reached out about a large hackberry, heavily decayed at the base, growing in close proximity to both the home and the street. The decay made the tree unsafe to climb, and the tight quarters ruled out a standard ground-based approach.
We used a spider lift to access and drop most of the canopy, then used our grapple truck to reach over the landscape plantings and lift the larger trunk sections out as they were cut. Tight, technical work — finished without disturbing the surrounding property.
Crane-Assisted Removal Above Zip's Cafe — Mt. Lookout Square
A tree removal directly over one of Mt. Lookout Square's busiest restaurants brought a different kind of challenge — coordination with the business, working over an occupied building, and keeping the work zone safe in a tight commercial corridor.
Careful rigging, the right equipment, and constant communication between the crew made the difference between a job we could safely handle and one most tree services would have passed on.
A Reputation Earned
Why Mt. Lookout Keeps Calling Us Back
We've been doing tree work in these neighborhoods for over a decade, and most of the jobs we take on here now come from a neighbor's referral or a yard sign two streets over. A few reasons that residents throughout Mt. Lookout and Columbia Tusculum continue calling us:
It's Home Turf
Andrew Wilson, our owner and ISA Certified Arborist, grew up in Columbia Tusculum. The streets around Alms Park and Mt. Lookout Square aren't just a service area to him — they're where he learned to climb. There's a different level of care that comes with working on the trees in the neighborhood you were raised in.
We Bring the Equipment Most Companies Don't
We have spider lifts for the hillsides, crane-capable setups for the largest oaks, and grapple trucks that lift heavy debris over established landscape plantings instead of dragging it across them. For a Mt. Lookout property, the right equipment isn't a nice-to-have — it's the difference between getting the work done and turning the job down.
A Certified Arborist Makes the Calls
Andrew Wilson is an ISA Certified Arborist (OH-7178A), and in neighborhoods where tree work can impact views, structures, and long-term tree health, that experience matters. Decisions like vista pruning, structural mitigation, cabling, or removal require trained judgment — not just a chainsaw and a quote.
We Treat Your Property Like It’s Our Own
This is the part that earns the yard signs. Historic properties and established landscapes deserve more care than a typical cleanup, and they get it from us — every time.
From Milford to Your Mt. Lookout Address
Our Milford office is just a short drive from Mt. Lookout, Columbia-Tusculum, Hyde Park, Oakley, and other east-side neighborhoods, making it easy for our crews to respond quickly throughout the area. Most jobs in this area are about a 20-minute drive.
Not sure if you're in range? Check the full service area or give us a call at 513-872-8733.
reviews
What People Are Saying After the Work Is Done
Plenty of tree services have good sales pitches. We'd rather let the results do the talking. Here's what some of our Mt. Lookout and Columbia Tusculum customers have said about us.
Elizabeth Neyer, Mt. Lookout
Colin Bomprezzi, Columbia-Tusculum
Emily Thurman, Mt. Lookout
A Few Local Favorites in Mt. Lookout and Columbia Tusculum
A decade of work in these neighborhoods has given us a deep appreciation for the parks, restaurants, and corners of Cincinnati history that make this part of town what it is. A few local spots worth knowing about:
Ault Park
A historic park with gardens, walking trails, and scenic views, plus a regular calendar of summer events.
Alms Park
Best known for its sweeping views of Lunken Airport and the Ohio River, plus playgrounds and historic architecture.
Painted Ladies of Columbia Tusculum
The neighborhood's signature row of Victorian homes, with bright colors and ornate trim details — a defining piece of the neighborhood's character.
Mt. Lookout Square
Walkable dining, nightlife, and small businesses at the heart of the neighborhood.
Zip's Cafe (Mt. Lookout)
A Cincinnati institution and arguably one of the best burgers in town.
Mt. Lookout Tavern
Local favorite for great wings.
Protect What's Been Growing for Decades
Mt. Lookout's Mature Trees Deserve Mature Tree Care
From routine pruning and long-term preservation to storm damage response, our crew has the experience and the equipment to handle the work right. Call or request an estimate and we'll walk the property with you.
