Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Concord?
- 2 Does the City of Concord Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible For Fallen Tree Removal in Concord?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Concord?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Concord?
- 6 What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Concord?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Concord?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Concord?
Concord’s trees are susceptible to many common pests and diseases. Some of the most common issues are listed below.
Sycamore Anthracnose
Anthracnose is a very common fungal disease that attacks California sycamore trees. This stubborn issue causes mature trees to look unsightly with large brown spots on infected leaves, cankers, and dieback. Have your sycamore trees inspected regularly for signs of this fungal disease, and if it’s infected, have our arborists treat it right away.
Fire Blight
This disease affects pear and apple trees, and if left untreated, fire blight can kill an entire orchard in one season. The first sign of fire blight is usually a tan or reddish-colored liquid that leaks from infected spots on the tree. If you notice this problem, have our arborists check it out right away. They can assess the problem and come up with a course of action to treat your tree and stop the spread. Otherwise, you’ll have a dead tree on your hands very quickly.
Borer Beetles
Borer beetles like to burrow into the tree’s bark, leaving tiny holes behind with a tiny pile of sawdust underneath. These pests eat away at the flesh under a tree’s bark, causing the tree to weaken and become unstable. If left untreated, borer beetles can take out a mature tree within a few years. If you notice any signs of an infestation, have our experts assess the damage. We’ve got the necessary tools to combat a beetle infestation to save your tree.
Sudden Oak Death
Sudden Oak Death has been estimated to have killed over one million trees in central and northern California. This devastating pathogen reveals itself in seeping cankers on trunks of oak trees. Eventually, the foliage will die back and the tree will die. There is no cure for this disease, but there are treatments we can use that slow the process and help the pathogen from spreading to nearby trees.
Does the City of Concord Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
If you need to have a tree removed on your property, you will need to call our arborists to get the job done. The city of Concord does not offer any assistance in removing trees on your property. Concord does, on the other hand, require a permit for tree removal on private property. Many of the city’s tree species are protected, so you’ll have to have a good reason for removing the tree on your property. Some acceptable reasons for obtaining a permit include trees that are hazardous and at risk of falling and trees that are interfering with the home or power lines.
Who Is Responsible For Fallen Tree Removal in Concord?
The answer to this question is not so cut and dry. When a tree falls over property lines, things can get a little muddy. We’ll break it down so you’ll know exactly what to do if a tree falls across property lines.
If you’re a homeowner?
Homeowners are responsible for pruning and maintaining all of the trees within their property lines. If a tree falls during a storm or other unforeseen event, your homeowner’s insurance will cover the cost of the tree’s removal. You will only need to pay your deductible.
If you’re a renter?
As a renter, you do not own the property on which you are living or any of the trees on it. That means that if a tree falls, you aren’t responsible for having it removed. Your landlord’s insurance will pay to have the tree removed. If your personal property like your car or bike were damaged in the fall, you may need to consult a lawyer to make sure you receive payment from your landlord’s insurance company.
If you’re a landlord?
Landlords own the homes and trees on all of their rental properties. As a landlord, you are responsible for regularly pruning away dead branches and inspecting your trees for signs of weakness. If a tree falls during an unforeseen event, your insurance will pay to have the tree removed. You will just need to pay your deductible.
If you’re a neighbor?
When a tree falls across property lines, neighbors tend to argue about where the fault lies. Fortunately, insurance companies generally agree that if a tree falls onto their client’s property, they’ll cover the cost. That means that if your neighbor’s tree falls onto your property, your homeowner’s insurance will take care of the removal. And if your tree falls onto your neighbor’s property, their insurance will pay to have it removed.
If your insurance can prove that your neighbor had been negligent, leaving their tree in a hazardous condition, your insurance may go after theirs for payment.
To avoid these problems, try to be a good neighbor and look out for one another’s trees.
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Concord?
This illustrated soil map of Contra Costa County shows that Concord has well-drained clay and silty loam soils. Clay loam simply means that the soil is composed of clay and sand while silty loam is highly nutritious soil that can easily support the growth of many types of plants and trees. You likely don’t need to add any fertilizer or compost to your soil, but you can ask our arborists to test it if you’d like.
Adding a layer of mulch is the best thing you can do to help your trees thrive in Concord’s soil. Simply putting mulch around the base of your tree will provide several benefits to your tree’s health. The mulch will lock moisture and nutrients into the soil near the tree’s roots. This is especially beneficial to trees that are drought-resistant. The mulch will also act as a barrier against the heat as well as several pests including borer beetles.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Concord?
Concord trees bask in the warm temperatures year-round, but drought conditions can cause them to suffer. Trees begin showing symptoms of drought stress, and if you’re watching closely, you can respond and keep your tree from becoming weak and at risk of an infestation or disease. Some symptoms include wilted or scorched leaves that may turn yellow. If your tree is showing symptoms of drought stress, make sure you properly water your tree to make up for any lost hydration.
Some common mistakes can also kill a tree that is already stressed from a season of drought. Make sure you don’t prune or fertilize your tree during a drought. Both practices encourage trees to grow and a stressed tree doesn’t have the energy to do that. Some exceptions include adding mulch or compost around the base of your tree. Both of these organic materials will add nutrients to the soil near the tree’s roots.
As an added note, it is never a good idea to plant new trees during a season of drought for similar reasons. Drought conditions do not promote growth and a young tree can die if planted during a dry season.
What If Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Concord?
PG&E inspects and prunes trees along nearly 81,000 miles of distribution lines each year. They will take care of any tree branches that interfere with power lines between poles. Any tree branches that are pruned will be cut and left on your property to keep or share with a friend. If PG&E determines that a tree needs to be removed, they will take care of it at no cost to you.
Your service line is the power line that goes from a pole to your home. If branches interfere with this line, you as the homeowner, are expected to take care of the problem. If you choose to prune your branches near the service line, make sure you contact PG&E before you begin. They’ll shut off your power so you can do it safely.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Concord?
Tree removal in Concord costs, on average, between $590 and $799. However, some trees cost close to $2,000 to remove. No two trees are alike and we consider several factors when determining your final price. If you’d like a quote for a specific job, call our arborists. We’ll consider several factors when calculating your total cost. Some of them include:
Tree Size
The first thing our arborist will do is measure your tree. We’ll measure the height as well as the trunk’s diameter to calculate your cost. The tree’s size will likely be the biggest factor in determining your final price. Larger trees make for more manpower, time, and equipment, and that means they’re going to cost much more to remove.
Tree Location
Trees that are in an open field are easy to remove because there’s nothing around to worry about. If, on the other hand, your tree is located near your home or power lines, the job instantly becomes more complicated. We’ll need to figure out how to safely work around these obstacles as we remove the tree and that will cost you a little more.
Accessibility
When we remove a tree, we have to bring along a lot of equipment. If your tree is hard to access, it makes the job harder for our arborists to do and they will factor that into your price. A tree that is near a road or other drivable path will be a much easier job to access and complete.
