Our history

After working for a national tree care company for over twenty years, George Pogue, Sr. with his wife, Nancy Pogue established Cumberland Valley Tree Service, Inc. in 1978. The initial tree crew consisted of George Pogue Sr., his nephew and a friend.

For the first twenty five years, CVTS was operated out of the home of George Sr. Initially the primary focus of CVTS was residential tree care services, however during the 1980s the expansion to utility line clearance paved the way for the addition of a second crew. Donald Engle joined staff in 1983, heading the utility crew. That same year son, George Pogue Jr. graduated from Penn State University and came on board full time, running the original general tree care crew.

Son-in-law, Fred Schrom made his debut in the winter of 1989. He established the first satellite office in Carlisle, PA in 1994. This endeavor gave a third tree care crew to the company.

The landscape division began in 1995 with the hire of the first landscape employee. Landscape maintenance was the sole focus back then.

1998 brought yet more new services with a Plant Health Care Division lead by Jamey Schwartz. This division added much needed pest and disease management services to our clients.

In 2003 the landscape division added the first full-time landscape manager, as well as, a full-time landscape designer.

During the summer of 2003 the move was made to the Philadelphia Avenue location. Improvements and changes have been implemented to the property and grounds to display the skills of the landscape and tree care staff.

The true identity of the expanding CVTS was firmed up in 2004. CVTS began to market their talents as Arborists, Horticulturists and Landscape Professionals. The plant holding nursery was also developed and unveiled in 2004 with the hiring of Brent Lucas.

2005 brought 2 more full time landscape designers and the implementation of our Gettysburg Satellite office at the home of Dave Poe.

For 2006, son, Jim Bard, set the course for the new Utilities and Stump Division.