Contents (Click To Jump)
- 1 What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Cocoa?
- 2 Does the City of Cocoa Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
- 3 Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Cocoa?
- 4 How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Cocoa?
- 5 Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Cocoa?
- 6 What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Cocoa?
- 7 How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Cocoa?
What Are the Most Common Tree Issues in Cocoa?
Large trees are wonderful for the hot weather in Cocoa, and the area is home to a diverse selection of native and nonnative trees. Here are a few of the most common trees that we see in Cocoa:
- Hickory
- Elm
- Pine
- Ash
- Maple
- Basswood
- Oak
Some of these trees grow to awesome heights. When one of the trees in your Cocoa yard needs to be removed, you wonder what happened. Here are a few of the most common tree issues that we see in the Cocoa area:
Damage from Storms
With its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, Cocoa sees its share of tropical storms and hurricanes that come up the Eastern Seaboard in the fall months. Tropical storms bring wind gusts between 39 and 73 mph while hurricane wind speeds start at 74 mph and go up from there, depending on the category.
With winds that high, the trees in your Cocoa yard can easily get knocked over. Part of the root system from a tree can be pulled up, putting it at risk. Another consideration with these storms is the flooding that usually occurs during or immediately after. Fast-moving water can knock over a smaller tree, while the excess water takes a week or longer to completely drain from the soil, placing your tree at risk for root rot.
Root Rot
Root rot is a disease that trees develop when their roots spend too much time in water. In Cocoa, the area receives over 55 inches of rain annually, above the national average of 38 inches. Additionally, Florida and the South are infamous for their high humidity rates. When the humidity is high in Cocoa, you may feel like you’re breathing through a wet rag.
The humidity adds moisture to the soil, placing your trees at further risk for root rot. You may notice that a tree seems to suddenly stop growing. Another sign of root rot is small and pale leaves on a tree that normally has large, lush green ones.
If you suspect a tree is suffering from root rot or some other disease, our team can evaluate its overall health and suggest a course of treatment. We might be able to treat a tree that has root rot if it’s caught early enough.
Pest Infestations and Insect Damage
The warm, moist weather in Cocoa is a haven for all sorts of critters, and some see your tree as a home or food source. Insects and other pests can destroy a tree of almost any size. Here are some insects that we see most often in the Cocoa area:
- Gypsy moth
- Eastern tent caterpillar
- Wood borer
- Emerald ash borer
- Bagworms
- Bark beetles
- Aphids
- Red spider mite
Pests and insects have an important role to play in the Florida ecosystem. However, they are a menace to the trees in your Cocoa yard. If you catch an infestation early, some treatments can save the tree.
How do you know you have an insect infestation? You may see the critters climbing or see holes and channels in your tree. Discolored or misshapen leaves can be a sign of insect infestation. If you think you have an insect problem, our team can evaluate the tree in your Cocoa yard.
Does the City of Cocoa Provide Any Assistance in Tree Removal Problems?
The City of Cocoa doesn’t provide any assistance for tree removal in most cases. It’s considered the homeowner’s responsibility to remove a tree from their yard. If the tree happens to be on an easement owned by the city, the City of Cocoa will handle removing a dying tree or treating it if it’s viable. To find out if a tree is on an easement, you can always check with the City of Cocoa.
Who Is Responsible for Fallen Tree Removal in Cocoa?
In Cocoa, as the homeowner, you’re considered the responsible party when a tree falls in your yard. There are a few exceptions. Sometimes, the City of Cocoa or one of the local utility companies might have an area of easement on your property. If this is the case, and the tree needs to be removed, the owner of the easement has to do it.
If you’re a homeowner?
Cocoa homeowners are almost always responsible for removing fallen trees from their yards. When a tree falls in the part of your yard that’s an easement for the city or utility company, the other party is almost always responsible for the tree’s removal. You can always call the City of Cocoa or the utility company to check and see if it is their responsibility.
If you’re a renter?
As a renter, the lease for the Cocoa home rental might require you to take care of the yard. This means the basics such as mowing the grass, trimming the hedges, and raking leaves. When a tree dies, it’s the responsibility of the homeowner to arrange and pay for its removal. However, you need to let the homeowner know about any problem trees you see.
If you’re a landlord?
As a general rule, the landlord and the Cocoa homeowner are the same person. This means that you’re responsible for removing the fallen tree in the yard, even when you have renters living there.
If you’re a neighbor?
Trees don’t fall neatly onto the yard. The homeowner of the property where the tree once grew is responsible for its removal. If it’s your neighbor’s responsibility to remove the tree and they don’t, the City of Cocoa can send a code enforcement agent to assess if it’s a safety hazard.
They may cite your neighbor if the fallen tree is a safety issue. It’s almost always beneficial to discuss a fallen tree with your neighbor before taking this step.
How Does the Soil Affect Trees in Cocoa?
The most common soil type in Cocoa is sandy. This soil can absorb a lot of water, but it isn’t as successful at draining it. This extra moisture can lead to root rot in the trees in your yard. You may find the soil acidic, making it difficult for trees to grow tall and healthy without adding nutrients.
Does Weather Affect Tree Health in Cocoa?
Yes, the weather in Cocoa affects tree health. The plentiful rainfall and high percentage of humidity in the air can saturate the soil and lead to root rot or other issues. The storms that roll in from the Atlantic Ocean in the fall can easily knock over trees in your yard or remove them entirely.
What if Dead Trees Are Near Power Lines in Cocoa?
If a tree is near the power line, it probably grew on an easement. These are small parcels of land on your property that the City of Cocoa or the utility company has the right to use. When a tree grows and dies on an easement, the City or utility company might be responsible for removing it. A dead tree on a power line requires immediate attention from emergency services. As a homeowner, you’re responsible for trimming trees that are close to a power line.
How Much Does Tree Removal Usually Cost in Cocoa?
This is the question that we hear most often. We can offer you a range of costs, but every situation is different and we can’t give you an exact cost until we evaluate the tree in your yard. We see a typical range of costs for tree removal in Cocoa between $490 to $668 and an average cost of $579. However, the largest trees can approach $2,000 for removal. The most common price factors that we see in Cocoa are:
Other Services
Remember that acidic soil in your yard and the need for mulch? As part of additional services, we can place the tree we remove from your Cocoa yard into a wood chipper, and you can use the wood chips as mulch. Another additional service that affects the cost of removing a tree is removing the stump at the same time.
Location of the Tree
When a tree is close to your home, we take extra time and safety precautions to ensure that it doesn’t crash into your home or roof. This requires extra safety equipment and team members. Sometimes, we need to remove a tree that’s part of a group. You don’t want all of them removed, so we need to take extra precautions to ensure that only a single tree is removed from your Cocoa yard. All of these safety measures, extra time, and additional crew members can raise your costs.
Size of the Tree
The size of the tree that needs to be removed from your yard plays a large role in your final cost. Cutting down bigger trees requires more time and safety measures for our team and your home. We always start at the top of the tree and cut it into sections. Tree width can also increase the time it takes for removal, so you can expect it to be a factor, too.
